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Today we’re hearing from Chef Orlando Pagán from Wild Common – who is living with multiple sclerosis – about his healthy culinary approach.

World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day is on Sun., May 30, and it’s important for me to share my journey with MS by bringing awareness to the disease that millions of Americans live with every day.

MS is not a disease you can easily see the effects of from the outside — however the daily toll it takes on the body can be significant. Those who live with this disease usually experience some form of depression, a lack of sleep, muscle spasms and weakness, as well as several other symptoms.

After receiving my diagnosis – a time that was very dark and difficult to come to terms with – I worked with a doctor who helped me recognize how eating a clean diet could positively affect my body. From then on, I decided that I would make a complete lifestyle change to incorporate 75% veggies into my daily meals, which resulted in less inflammation and a total shift in my mentality.

Cooking at home for my family, our weekly meals now consist primarily of fresh fruits and veggies, gluten-free bread, plant-based proteins, and a vegan meal at least once a week. This transition has allowed me to reimagine my culinary approach and transform my life – so much so that I moved away from my classically French culinary training and began incorporating cleaner ingredients and smaller portioned dishes into my cooking process, which guests can experience via the tasting menu at Wild Common. My MS diagnosis also emphasized the importance of a true work-life balance and helped me to reprioritize the mental health of my team.

Chef Orlando Pagán says he cannot live without a digital scale, as the restaurant's recipes are measured in grams. | Photo by Jonathan Boncek via Wild Common

Whether you have an MS diagnosis or not, it’s a healthier and more enjoyable way to experience cuisine by incorporating more veggies, smaller portioned proteins and lighter bites.

I’ve worked closely with the team at the Charleston chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and would encourage others looking to support the MS community to do the same. Through the annual Walk MS event, donations from dinners hosted at Wild Common, and more, I’m proud to support this organization’s efforts to bring awareness to the disease here in Charleston.