So a little something different for you all….an interview!
Today I thought it’d be great if I shared some recent photography along with the new proprietress of Simply Real Health, Sarah. Her and I go back a couple of years (okay, try like back to the highschool days) and we’ve been able to keep in touch. I’ve watched her and her passion grow when she started a food blog, sharing healthy recipes and real advice for eating right on a day-to-day basis. Well, this little blog of hers exploded and after 4 years of certified nutrition coaching and counseling expertise, Sarah was venturing out on her own to persue the world of nutrition with her own company.
Of course with a new company, comes new needs, and one of those needs (especially when it comes to food) is photography. I was asked by Sarah to take some shots that she could feature on her new website. So, we packed up half of Trader Joes, a whole bunch of colorful outfits and trekked over to one of the most beautiful kitchens on Mercer Island (thank you to a very loving coworker + her friend). With that, enjoy some photos along with a brief interview with Sarah about SRH and eating right! Introducing Simply Real Health.
1. What inspired you start Simply Real Health?
I started SRH because I want to help as many people as possible understand what healthy eating actually is (and what it is not), and to show people that it doesn’t have to be so confusing or complicated to have a healthier lifestyle. Healthy eating is 95% of the game when it comes to being healthy, but its often the last place people look to make a change because they are intimidated or daunted by the task. I started Simply Real Health to solve that problem, teach people a fresh, simplified approach to healthy eating and make it more practical and relevant to actually follow through with in this day in age.
2. Do you look to anyone in particular as a role model in the industry and/or what inspires you?
There are a lot of people and things who inspire me- different foodie and cooking blogs, cookbooks, magazines, books, documentaries, places and people that are truly trying to re-educate our country about food (ranging from Jamie Olivar’s Food Revolution to Whole Foods, all the way to Bethenny Frankel and the skinnygirl marg). People that are passionate, joyful and creative with anything are inspiring to me, as are people that make it their mission to educate and help other people understand how to live to get the most out of life. My ultimate goal would be to be one of those people–to use my inspiration to breed more inspiration, motivation and awareness for others in ways that change their life in ways big and small.
3. What is your absolute all-time favorite thing to create in the kitchen?
I love cooking for people I love, so any occasion to do that makes me happy. I also love dishes that can be made ahead of time and altered slightly as the week progresses {I’m a busy lady too, and a full homemade dinner every night is just not in the cards}. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t also get intense joy out of making vegetables taste good, and seeing how many I can cram into a meal. I guess you could say it’s my hidden talent.
4. If you had to give one piece of advice to “beginners” regarding eating right what would it be?
Read your ingredients- not the marketing claims on the front or the calories on the back first. If you can’t pronounce everything on the label, your body probably can’t either when it’s trying to break your food down. Even if it’s from Whole Foods, Trader Joes or PCC, read the actual ingredients. Simple, normal and naturally occuring foods are always better than the braggy ones.
5. Lastly, what do you think the number one misconception is about food and eating right?
That it’s all about the mathematical equation of calories in vs calories out, especially when it comes to weight loss. We are not robots, and so much more happens on a hormonal level with our food than that over- simplifed equation. Most people ignore the connection of what they eat to how they feel, and the two are so connected, it’s crazy! Instead of eating quality foods that are good for us and will help us feel full, increase our energy, appearence, ability to sleep, etc., the focus is on “what can I get away with?”–leading to even more cravings, energy swings, aches and pains and weight gain over time. Focus on the quality of your foods, and what your body can take from what you are eating, instead of focusing on the quantity alone.
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Be sure to check out Sarah, Simply Real Health and all of her amazing recipes and tips on her blog! And also check back soon here as I’ll be posting some film shots I took this day as well.
Hope you enjoyed this as I’m trying a few new things out on the blog! P.S. did you know it’s been an entire year since I’ve started this thing? Time flies…
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