Hello friends and family alike!
My name is Rachel and my greatest joy comes from experimenting in the kitchen and spending time with my husband and step-son.
I married my best friend and biggest supporter almost two years ago. Not long after we married, I made some much-needed and long-overdue changes to my diet. Even though I’m lactose intolerant, I had indulged in dairy products all my life and ignored the discomfort it always caused. Finally, I reached my limit and couldn’t ignore the pain anymore. I began researching and learning about nutrition and the effects that certain foods can have on our overall health. This prompted me to finally stop consuming dairy products–a change that I had long avoided but suddenly seemed necessary.
Eliminating dairy from my diet had such a wonderful impact on how I felt that I decided it should only be the beginning. Next, I cut out processed foods and sugars, gluten, soy, caffeine, and meat. More than anything, these “restrictions” to my diet forced me to branch out and try new foods. Suddenly I was eating more organic fruits, vegetables, and grains and experimenting with different foods and methods of cooking that I’d never before experienced. Rather than restricting my diet, new doors were suddenly open to me! The transition was certainly difficult at times, but it felt so natural and worthwhile.
This is only the tip of the iceberg! I’m learning how to grow organic vegetables and herbs in my own backyard and I dream of becoming a certified nutritionist. For now, I’m just so excited to share my passion for health and writing through this blog! I hope that my recipes and experiences–successes and failures–will inspire others to enjoy a healthier lifestyle, too. So, please make yourself at home! And let me know what you think 
WONDERFUL! Can’t wait to read more xox
I will love following your blog. I certainly need so more push.
Alice Lynn
some more* push.
Way to go Rach! Will be fun and informative to follow!
I have a similar affliction with gluten & food issues in general that I’ve recently dedicated myself to working on, so I can’t tell you what a blessing it is that SheShe told me about your blog. Great idea & I’ll be excited to follow!
I love seeing all your recipes! Very neat. Proud of you girly!
Kate, Al and Allie
Thank you so much sweetie!!
Yay, so glad to have found you + your blog – your journey to a vibrant, abundant diet sounds very similar to mine – it’s been such a blast discovering what works for ME and makes me feel ALIVE. Can’t wait to keep reading!
Thank you! Your blog has been such a wonderful inspiration for me along the way! It’s always more comforting and encouraging knowing that others are going through something similar
I just found your blog and I love it! I am intolerant/allergic to gluten, dairy and eggs so this is perfect for all my restrictions. Thanks for all your great posts!
Thank you so much for visiting the site!! If you try any of the recipes, please let me know what you think!
I found a link to your blog through Healthy Vegan Friday and I love it! You said above: “Rather than restricting my diet, new doors were suddenly open to me!” and I so have to agree! I eat a much more healthy and varied diet than I did when I relied on meat to be the central ingredient!
It’s funny how much my meals centered around meat before. Now, I’ve realized that I actually don’t like the taste of meat (which I didn’t think was possible) and I’ve fallen head-over-heals-in-love with veggies (which I also didn’t think was possible).
I’m really glad you stumbled upon the blog b/c it also led me to yours!
Your mom pointed me to your blog, Rachel. I cut out meat and dairy in April after watching Forks Over Knives. I feel better, sleep better, and actually lost a few pounds without trying. Susan is so proud, and tells me you’re a great writer just like your dad. I’m looking forward to reading previous posts and new ones as well.
Hey Melinda! I haven’t watched that yet, but I’m excited to watch it soon! That’s funny, I used to have problems sleeping and have found that I sleep wonderfully now since cutting out meat and dairy, too. My husband’s even begun to (finally!) cut back on meat and dairy and says that he feels better and sleeps better as well.
I’m glad you came by the blog! I’d love to hear from you again–please let me know how you’re doing and feeling!
My mom is so sweet–she’s the best
Love the way you display your dishes. As a Vegan, I make many of the same foods, but they don’t look quite this good
Thank you for sharing the true fact that this lifestyle is not about restriction, but expansion.
All the best to you, and your family in 2013!
Ma halo!
Thank you so much for the kind words
I wish the best to you and yours as well. Happy New Year!
I stumbled upon your site after googling “healthy homemade nutella” and I am so glad I did! I’m looking forward to reading more
Thank you! I’m so glad you stumbled across A&A too
Hi Rachel! Your story is very inspiring and I’m so excited to follow your blog. I’m looking into going back to school to become a nutritionist/ dietician. Did you know from the beginning that you wanted to be a nutritionist? I’m still deciding, I just wish the education that these fields teach weren’t regulated by the old food pyramid and paid by lobbyists (that support dairy farmers). If you have any information I’d love to learn more!
Thank you for all the fantastic recipes!!!
Actually Ashley, I’m in school to become an elementary school teacher-ha! Before returning to school, I was having a hard time deciding what I wanted to do, especially since it was just a month after starting the blog. I knew I wanted to help others lead a healthier lifestyle by learning more about healthy, making healthy recipes more accessible, and joining the great health-food community that’s out there. But, like you, I had my reservations about many of the nutrition programs (particularly the ones in my area as there aren’t many that espouse that same values that I do), so I opted to return to school to become a teacher instead. My goal is to eventually become a certified nutritionist, too, and to teach kids about health and nutrition (b/c many kids don’t have the means to learn about making healthy choices). For right now, I’m just doing as much research as I can on my own and waiting for the time when I can pursue my desire to become a nutritionist further.
Good luck to you though! I’m sure there are programs out there that are wonderful, though you may have to do online courses. Please keep me updated–I would love to hear what you decide!
Hi Rachel! Just found your blog (from Dr Frank Lipman’s Pinterest page). I just graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition! You would make a great health coach!
Kim
Thank you Kim! I love IIN–I have the book saved on my phone
I’ve definitely considered it for the future!
Oh, wonderful! Feel free to email me with any questions! It was one of the best investments I ever made! Looking forward to posting more of your fabulous recipes to my Facebook page! I’m planning to make your “Oreo” cookies after my 21 day Ayurvedic cleanse that I start tomorrow!!!
Kim
Thank you so much, I definitely will!
I’ve been looking into Ayurveda recently and I find it fascinating! I would definitely love to know more about the cleanse..
Hi Rachel! One of my teachers at IIN was John Douillard. He is an Ayurvedic doctor and I am doing his Colorado Cleanse (he lives in Boulder, CO). You can check out his web-site at http://www.lifespa.com for more info. Definitely subscribe to his weekly newsletter, it is awesome and full of tips on how to incorporate an Ayurvedic diet into our modern lifestyle!
Kim
Hi,
I’m currently following you on Instagram. You’re doing a great job and I really do like your recipes.It is very inspiring:) Keep it up!
Marloes van de Lavoir
Thank you so very much! So sweet of you
Hey Rachel, I just nominated your awesome blog for a bunch of awards! No pressure to do anything but bask in the recognition, but you’re of course welcome to spread the award love if you choose. Just link back to me (the nominator) and post the badges, as well as nominate some awards of your own.
http://celiackiddo.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/spring-is-in-the-air-finally-and-awards-too/
-Dana
Hi Rachel,
I was diagnosed with PCOS back in January and I’ve been procrastinating with making the necessary and important changes to my diet in order to treat the symptoms. I’m so happy I found your blog because all the recipes seem perfect for the lifestyle change I’m planning on making! I can’t wait to try all these new foods!
First of all, I’m proud of you for choosing to make important lifestyle changes! It’s definitely not easy (I used to eat pizza, Doritos, and ice cream on a more-than-regular basis), but it’s definitely worth the effort! Just remember that you have to be easy on yourself don’t beat yourself up when you have those “off” days…everyone slips up and I think it’s more than OK to splurge on something you really crave as long as you don’t do it all the time. Plus, it’s a lot easier to make changes when you do it a little bit at a time rather than all at once. Maybe try sticking to the new way of eating 3 or 4 days each week and work your way up to 5, 6, or even 7 days each week–that’s what I had to do and it made it much less daunting.
Good luck to you! Please let me know how everything goes!