How am I different than all the other food bloggers on the web?  Like the majority, I love food, creating recipes, and inspiring others to cook.  What makes me unique is my approach.

Sure, I know my way around a commercial kitchen – Did that gig for years and got burned out on the fast pace.  I can put together a full-course catered dinner for 100 people.  Did that one for years too.  Again, the stress is high.

After many years of cooking complicated food in stressful situations, I came to the realization that I prefer simple.  Now I avoid complicated recipes and techniques because, in reality, they are just not sustainable for me.  As much as I savor eating, I simply don’t want to devote hours and hours of my time to cooking and I REALLY don’t like feeling overwhelmed! But I won’t sacrifice taste for simplicity.  Every bite must be wonderful.

Along with this minimalist approach to cooking, I absolutely believe in eating whole foods as close to nature as possible.  I  managed a health food store Deli for years and loved it; however, they closed down the kitchen to make more room for the store – And that’s how this blog was birthed. What I learned working there and studying on my own I now share with you.  At a glance, the following foods are the foundation of my whole foods program:

• Fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, eggs, raw cheeses, non-dairy milks, fermented soy products
• Slow-burning, low-glycemic vegetables – the green vegetables.  Medium-glycemic vegetables like potatoes, peas, and squash, I eat in moderation
• Dark berries and stone fruits
• Healthy fats: avocados, olive oil, olives, coconut oil, grass-fed butter
• Whole grains, gluten-free – brown, black, and red rice; quinoa & amaranth
• Organic plain unsweetened yogurt

I avoid the following:

• Processed carbs – white rice, white flour, white pasta, bagels, rolls, wraps (unless make with whole food ingredients)
• Gluten-containing grains
• Dried fruit
• High-fructose corn syrup, trans fats, hydrogenated oils, highly refined cooking oils, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, additives, coloring or dyes.

So I start with the healthy whole foods and I pair them with lightly processed packaged foods. And believe me, there are healthy choices available with packaged foods if you look and I am super excited to share them with you on this site. (For a quick reference, subscribe to my site and get my Free guide to kitchen short-cuts and products). These are the products and tips that will get you in and out of the kitchen…pronto!  Stress-free, Fuss-free, quick and easy short-cuts.  Because we all live in the real world and if it’s not convenient, most of us will not stick with it.

 Fresh + Convenient = A Healthy Compromise