I started cooking like most people, watching my midwestern mom cook family meals. I was obsessed with reading her recipe books and looking at the pretty pictures. She made me plan, shop, prepare, and serve scratch suppers once a week starting around the age of ten. Scratch pie and biscuit lessons started when I was six from my stool so that I could reach the kitchen counter. My mom didn't have much growing up. Food and gardening were not a trend. They were her survival skills. My parents also liked to entertain - a lot. Everybody was welcome at our table. Guests came from many cultures and mindsets. It was the sharing of good food that created a positive, human feeling. Over a good meal, differences didn’t seem to matter or, they became the topic of lively and always respectful conversation. Since those days, I have worn several hats in my life. The delicate balance of good food, family, faith, and fitness are the ingredients that make me feel whole. I didn’t realize that those same factors are actually a science-proven necessity to sustain human health until I studied nutrition and integrative health. The stories and shiny pictures I create for you are intended to be wrapped around and celebrate things that can help the future of our bodies and our planet. There is no neat bow or ending to a health journey. I just hope that what I bring to your table lifts you up and empowers you to nurture your body and our planet.