I was recently asked if I was always “good in the kitchen.” My usual answer is “No! – I hardly knew anything about food before I moved to California.” But really… I have always had an instinct for food. When I was a kid, my mother worked hard to support our little family, so I would sometimes prepare meals for my younger brother and myself. I was picky about food, and, inexplicably, quite a food-snob. I developed a knack for preparing simple meals out of whatever was around. Hmmm… what could I do with this, this… and this? Add this and this, and voila! I enjoyed making everything look really good. We would play like we were “rich” – eating off real dishes, garnishing with sprigs or slices, drizzling soup or sauce, making towers of our food, sending something back. It was fun, and it made me feel good to nourish and nurture my little family. My brother and I would perform for each other, and laugh until we choked, or milk came out of our nose.
From there, I always enjoyed preparing food for others. I thrived on throwing large, lavish parties and preparing all the food. And I love throwing together a pot of something when ten or so people just “end up” at my house. I am a natural host, nuturer, and nourisher.
But it wasn’t until I started my business, that I became serious about nutrition, cooking, food preparation, food politics, and teaching others the same.
Even so, I still find it funny, sometimes, that life has led me here. For the past three years, I have been leading nutritional cleanses and lifestyle classes. These are week+long courses where I provide all the food (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for my clients. Fresh, organic vegetables, transformed into creative, flavorful dishes each day. After my clients are held for this time, they are in a place where they are ready to take responsibility for and take joy in preparing beautiful healthy food at home. I offer tips, tricks, recipes, and delicious inspiration. And my clients report a renewed energy, a lighter and brighter sense of themselves.
We are all here for a reason. How cliché, right? But a true belief in that reason is profound. It is a joy and a responsibility. And we should find that reason and live it whole-heartedly. How can you be your best on a diet of fatty, processed, toxic “food” that’s been in a box or a can for six months? How can we live extraordinary lives feeling sluggish and bloated? I want people to love themselves enough to take responsibility for nourishing their bodies in a way that transforms, energizes and heals.
