Hi!! I’m so happy that you’re here to check out my website/ blog! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share my passion for healthy living through this platform! You can read more about me, and my food philosophies, below! Please feel free to contact me anytime with questions, comments, or to just say “Hi” back!
My Story:
With a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, I have spent most of my life promoting health and wellness. As a wife and mother of two (ages 13 and 15) it has always been important for me to encourage healthy habits at home. A big part of that is to provide home cooked meals as much as possible.
However, here’s the reality for me… preparing meals often feels like a chore, like doing laundry or vacuuming. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it. 80% of the time I’m more than happy to feed everyone! However, the other 20% of the time…. it’s a pain in my butt… often because I don’t have the time or the energy! Nevertheless, we all have to eat. So, over the years I have learned to simplify my meals; including the meal planning and grocery shopping. I’ve also learned to go with the flow, take smart shortcuts and set myself up for success while being honest about how much time I’m willing (and able) to spend in the kitchen.
I do not consider myself to be a recipe developer. I am more of a recipe “modifier”! I find inspiration in cookbooks, food magazines, and on the web. I’m always looking for new recipes to try… but I’m picky. The recipe must be easy, quick and mostly healthy. If not, I’ll try to modify it to suit my needs.
I have a great deal of respect for professional chefs and culinary experts who do such amazing things with food. I enjoy fine dining and consuming amazing food that someone else has made! But, at home I’m not interested in cooking if it’s too fancy, complicated or time consuming! Maybe at some point in my life I”ll try to expand my culinary repertoire. At this point, I just want to keep things simple!
Sound familiar? I know there’s got to be others like me out there! So, my goal with this blog is to share successful, easy, quick and (mostly) healthy meals, my methods and tools for keeping organized, and some of my favorite products and resources that help to make mealtime a breeze. You will not see any food styling or props… just real meals, that I actually feed my family, in their true form! (I will try my best to hone my photography skills!) My hope is that you will find the content on this blog practical enough to actually put into use… making your life just a little bit easier and healthier!
Whether you’re feeding yourself, or your family and friends, I believe meal time should be a source of joy… not stress. Simplify the process (planning, shopping, cooking), take it a meal at a time, and enjoy!
Start by checking out these super simple meal ideas: 10 Dinner Favorites.
Food Philosophies:
Exercise and nutrition are key to my pursuit of living a healthy, balanced life. It helps that I actually enjoy exercise and many healthy foods (like salad)! I’m fine with indulging once in a while, however, I try to stick to my healthy practices the majority of the time. I do not believe in diets. I do believe one has the power to make healthy choices that develop into a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few additional food philosophies that I try to live by!
1) I try to cook at home 5-6 times a week. I rely on a great restaurant, or take-out, for one night a week (usually Saturday). Cooking at home is healthier and often much less expensive (especially for a family of 4) so that’s why it’s important to me that I commit to cooking as much as possible.
2) I look for recipes that are actually simple. (Some say they are, but then they aren’t!) Often I keep the recipe as is, or I modify it to make it easier or healthier.
3) There are so many awesome products in the grocery stores to help me keep meals simple and fast. However, I do have criteria that I try to stick to when shopping.
- Organic (when possible and reasonably priced)
- Seasonal and Fresh (as much as possible)
- No Artificial Ingredients, Preservatives, Colors or Flavors
- No Partially Hydrogenated oils or trans fats
- Low Sodium
- Low Sugar
- For Packaged/ Processed foods… choose products with more Wholesome, Real Ingredients as opposed to a long list of ingredients I can’t even pronounce
*Tip: It is so important to read Food Labels and know what you are putting in your body!! Check out this link for more information: FDA Interactive Nutrition Facts Label
4) Junk Food is okay once in a while in our home (you know it has no nutritional value, but it just tastes good!). Still, I try to buy the “healthiest” version of junk food I can find.
5) Dessert… in moderation! My goal is to bake something once a week. I always try to make it as healthy as possible and keep portions small. If I bake… great, if not… I’ll often pick something up at the local bakery.
6) I do not count calories, but I am very conscientious about what I eat. It’s important that I always have breakfast, a post-workout snack/lunch, sometimes an afternoon snack, and dinner. I try to workout every day and I know what my body needs to stay fueled and to maintain my weight. If I overindulge, I’ll just have to work out a little harder the next day! Hydration is also key. I try not to consume a lot of calories and sugar in my drinks.
*Check out this post for more healthy lifestyle tips:
