Food is hands down one of the most powerful ways we can take care of ourselves, and I believe that it should also be celebrated and enjoyed.
Food is hands down one of the most powerful ways we can take care of ourselves, and I believe that it should also be celebrated and enjoyed.
Welcome to my website. Here, you will find nutritious and simple plant-based recipes inspired by local, seasonal foods, and global flavors. My goal is to help you feel more confident in the kitchen, and transform into a better version of yourself through food that positively impacts your health and make you feel amazing.
You'll also find that I offer a variety of services, from personalized health coaching, to plant-based meal prep, private and public classes and workshops, and more. I've been fortunate to work with hundreds of clients and assist them in optimization of their own habits and routines to support their health goals. Beyond food, I emphasize the banishment of diet rules and restrictions, cultivating a positive mindset, and increasing energy and confidence from within. The food, then, is just a delicious perk!
I love watching the transformation that happens with a little encouragement and the right tools and knowledge. When clients send me videos of their kids loving a new healthy dish, or when they can't believe their chronic pain has disappeared, or that they are sleeping through the night for the first time in years, or they dropped 10 lbs. without even trying, but more importantly feel fabulous in their skin - THESE are the moments that fuel me most.
You'll also find that I offer a variety of services, from personalized health coaching, to plant-based meal prep, private and public classes and workshops, and more. I've been fortunate to work with hundreds of clients and assist them in optimization of their own habits and routines to support their health goals. Beyond food, I emphasize the banishment of diet rules and restrictions, cultivating a positive mindset, and increasing energy and confidence from within. The food, then, is just a delicious perk!
I love watching the transformation that happens with a little encouragement and the right tools and knowledge. When clients send me videos of their kids loving a new healthy dish, or when they can't believe their chronic pain has disappeared, or that they are sleeping through the night for the first time in years, or they dropped 10 lbs. without even trying, but more importantly feel fabulous in their skin - THESE are the moments that fuel me most.
So, how did my journey begin?
I became interested in cooking back in 2011. Before that, I was eating a pretty Standard American Diet (SAD) which included things like packaged ramen, frozen dinners, chicken wings, delivery pizza, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. I liked most vegetables, but they certainly weren't the foundation or central focus of my diet.
So there I was, entering my first year of graduate school, when I decided that I wanted to try eating vegetarian. I honestly can't remember what my original motivation was (health? curiosity? saving money?), but I quickly realized that I was diving into something much bigger than myself and my own diet. I began consuming all of the information I could get my hands on, and it became clear that I had never before considered where my food really came from. I stumbled across undercover videos of factory farming and slaughterhouses, and learned the truths behind the egg and dairy industry. I looked into my dog Price's eyes, and as an animal lover, I knew I couldn't participate in it anymore. My research also opened my eyes to the disastrous environmental impact of raising animals for food.
I became interested in cooking back in 2011. Before that, I was eating a pretty Standard American Diet (SAD) which included things like packaged ramen, frozen dinners, chicken wings, delivery pizza, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. I liked most vegetables, but they certainly weren't the foundation or central focus of my diet.
So there I was, entering my first year of graduate school, when I decided that I wanted to try eating vegetarian. I honestly can't remember what my original motivation was (health? curiosity? saving money?), but I quickly realized that I was diving into something much bigger than myself and my own diet. I began consuming all of the information I could get my hands on, and it became clear that I had never before considered where my food really came from. I stumbled across undercover videos of factory farming and slaughterhouses, and learned the truths behind the egg and dairy industry. I looked into my dog Price's eyes, and as an animal lover, I knew I couldn't participate in it anymore. My research also opened my eyes to the disastrous environmental impact of raising animals for food.
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" I realized that a big delicious door was opening, not closing, and I was enjoying flavors and foods more than ever before. " |
Now what? I had just decided to stop eating nearly all of the foods I had ever known and loved. I started to devour all of the health-related information I could, hoping to get a grasp on how I could successfully go about this new lifestyle. To my surprise, I learned that vegans live significantly longer, and have a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancers, to name a few. I was on board, but I still had to figure out what I could eat.
Dating back to middle school, I suffered chronic digestive upset, acne, and inflammation that would present itself in a variety of interesting ways. I would get sick more frequently and intensely than I do now. The crazy thing is - it was never once brought up to me by a doctor or anyone else that these "normal" issues were actually not normal at all, or they didn't have to be! My digestive issues never ended in a diagnosis, no solution was offered, nor was the suggestion that the food I was eating may have been causing or influencing these issues. My transition wasn't easy from the start - I had minimal cooking skills and I can't even count how many times I filled that one-bedroom basement apartment up with smoke! Keep in mind, this was 2012 and most people I talked to didn't understood why I or anyone would choose this lifestyle. Nevertheless, I stuck with it and slowly but surely, I learned how to prepare simple meals for myself, such as tempeh sloppy joes, chickpea salad, black bean tostadas, and hummus wraps. I'll never forget the first time I made this vegan lasagna - my mind was blown, and it's one of my favorite recipes to date. When I went out with friends, I ordered Thai curries, veggie burgers, and pizza, which was surprisingly still delicious without the cheese on top! I realized that a big delicious door was opening, not closing, and I was enjoying flavors and foods more than ever before. My new way of eating also inspired me to try new restaurants in my city, bringing even more excitement to my expanding palate. |
I quickly noticed that there were physical changes, as well. I wasn't having trouble falling asleep like I used to, and I had more mental clarity. The extra weight I was carrying around (and had tried various diets to "fix") easily dropped and stayed off, despite no other lifestyle changes or increases in exercise. My skin, which had gotten really bad with cystic acne, cleared up and the breakouts subsided. My eyes brightened. And best of all, I stopped getting those horrible and painful belly aches.
On a spiritual and emotional level, there were changes that I didn't even realize were happening at first, and certainly didn't anticipate. Now, I can identify them as a deeper connection to people, animals, and nature, as well as a deeper sense of purpose. They were the catalyst to healing many of the issues I had with my body, not feeling good enough, and a disordered relationship with food.
On a spiritual and emotional level, there were changes that I didn't even realize were happening at first, and certainly didn't anticipate. Now, I can identify them as a deeper connection to people, animals, and nature, as well as a deeper sense of purpose. They were the catalyst to healing many of the issues I had with my body, not feeling good enough, and a disordered relationship with food.
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a new chapter
Needless to say, this new lifestyle sparked a passion in me, and a thirst to learn more. I was studying and teaching sociology, so I found ways to intersect my studies with ideas surrounding the body, food industry, and health. I learned about childhood food insecurity in America, food deserts, school lunches and other nutrition programs, and explored solutions such as urban gardens and changing policy. For my thesis, I held focus groups in effort to get inside the minds of (D1 collegiate) female athletes, and more specifically, their experience in their bodies as it related to cultural ideals. After earning my Master's, I moved across the country from Colorado to Florida to New Hampshire, where I currently reside with my husband and our 2 rescue dogs. I began working for an organic juice bar/kitchen, and helped to build it from the ground up, creating the recipes, menu, and juice cleanse programs. I knew I wanted to make a career out of my growing excitement for nutrition, cooking, and holistic health, so I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and became a certified health coach. The next natural step to further my educational journey in wellness (and validate my self-taught skills) was to enroll in a Plant-Based Professional Culinary Certification program through Rouxbe Cooking School. |
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my mission
Now, with my background in nutrition and a passion for plant-based cooking, I've found a way to take all of the information and personal experience I've accumulated, and use it to help others. I am a supportive mentor and wellness professional that helps clients to feel their best through food, lifestyle, and behavioral changes. I am able to create and share flavorful, nutritionally balanced meals, and educate and inspire others to adopt their own healthy lifestyle. And beyond nutrition, my holistic perspective emphasizes the idea that relationships, movement, career, and spirituality are just as important to your health as the food on your plate. When it comes to diets, I do not subscribe to the idea that there is a "one-size fits all" solution. We are all on a journey, after all. Health = improvement, not perfection. *There's one thing I do preach, but it's pretty simple: "Eat more plants." |
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WHAT I’M ABOUT: Local and real food, satisfying and delicious meals, food from the earth, community, cultivating positivity, prioritizing enjoyment WHAT I’M NOT ABOUT: Diets, restriction, counting calories (or any number based systems for eating), fear of foods, food-guilt WHAT I DO: Cooking: personal chef services, cooking classes, retreats, dinner parties Coaching: coaching individual clients, guided detox program, kitchen makeovers, grocery store tours Community: speaking, wellness and nutrition workshops, events |
education and certifications:
Certified Plant-Based Professional from Rouxbe Cooking School
Certified Integrative Nutrition Coach from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition
Master's Degree in Applied Sociology from the University of Northern Colorado
Certified Nutritional Therapist from The Health Sciences Academy
Also: certified in Reiki 1, barre group fitness
