Hey there! I’m excited to welcome you to Foodamentally! If you’re after wholesome, nutritious recipes that cater to most dietary needs, you’re in the right place. For me, food is more than just fuel – it’s about the love we share and the memories we make. It’s the glue that holds us together as human beings.
Here, you’ll discover a wide range of recipes, from easy, kid-friendly meals to snacks, treats, and everything in between – all designed to be nutritious, flavorful, and fun to eat and share. And because everyone’s a little different, my recipes are crafted to be as versatile as possible. No one should miss out on a good meal just because their body or taste buds don’t follow the same rules.
I want to inspire you to cook nourishing meals that feed both your and your family’s body and soul. That’s why I share many allergy-friendly recipes, vegetarian meals, or treat foods that convey healthy, wholesome love. Most recipes feature naturally grown foods and organic ingredients. In my experience, food grown sustainably with love and care doesn’t just taste better. It’s also the healthiest choice for our bodies, planet, and possibly karma.
“The shared meal elevates eating from a mechanical process of nourishment
Michael Pollan
to a ceremony of community, identity, and culture.”
What Makes This Blog Different?
What sets my recipes apart is the perfect balance between nutrition and flavour. That means we’re not just throwing some kale on your plate and calling it a day. Nope! I want you to savour every bite, even if it’s a dish packed with serious nutritional benefits that you wouldn’t expect to taste so good. There are no compromises here, I assure you!
But that’s not all. Almost all my recipes can be adjusted to cater to various preferences and dietary restrictions. Because for me, meals should always be an opportunity to connect, laugh, and nourish not just our bodies but our souls, too. No one will be left behind!
You don’t have to be a perfectionist like me (please don’t; it’s exhausting!), but if you’re keen to cook and serve food that feels like a celebration of life – whether it’s a cosy family dinner, a quick lunch, a snack to curb that mid-afternoon slump, or a sweet treat that makes you feel fuelled and not defeated – you’ve come to the right place!
How I Got Here – My Story
Some of my happiest childhood memories involve sharing meals. The earliest possibly being a midnight scrambled egg feast that my mum whipped up. We had all woken up from a family-wide insomnia attack. I will never forget that feeling of connectedness as we sat around the table. It had something slightly naughty (mind you I was about four) and exhilarating. Or those buttery, flaky croissants when holidaying in France! They have become a delicious go-to when holiday magic is needed in my life. And last but not least, my grandmother’s famous apple cake! Made with apples from her garden and steeped with as much love as butter. Food really does create some incredible, lasting memories.
Nevertheless, my food journey wasn’t always sweet. As we all know, life can be quite challenging during those teenage years. And with no-one modelling positive body image and self-love to me, food became my tool to cope. I began withdrawing from it as a means to gain control over myself and my surroundings. And when I began to eating again, I used food to suppress my emotions. It felt safer to tuck them away below the food mountains I ate, then to feel the pain.
It has taken decades of feasting and fasting and years of self-reflection and therapy to end my eating disorder. It’s been an arduous journey towards self-love and acceptance, but I have arrived. It’s wonderful to be able to genuinely appreciate food for what it is: a source of nourishment, joy, and connection.
And Then There Is More!
Just as I had returned to a more wholesome relationship with food, my family’s dietary needs suddenly became a little more… complex. After some random food poisoning (me) and a series of antibiotic treatments (our son), we suddenly were confronted with an unimaginable amount of, at times, severe food intolerances, which left me with no choice but to dive into the world of nutrition and cooking from scratch.
While this time was exhausting, dispiriting, unpleasant and impractical, it threw me onto the path I am walking today. It forced me to study nutrition to better understand how to heal my family and to become even more creative in the kitchen so that everyone could eat and enjoy the same meal. This was also the moment when I realized how broken the food industry really is – it’s not about our health, it’s about profit. And that if we blindly trust whatever the marketing gurus throw our way, we risk the only thing that matters: our health!
“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”
Ann Wigmore
How This Blog Came About
It took us seven years to get our family’s health back on track. Seven long years! Armed with so much success and insight, I felt I needed to share and apply my knowledge and passion. I wanted others to experience the amazing benefits of wholesome diet. When the manager role for my children’s school canteen became available, I jumped at it. We steeped our meals with whole foods, vegetables, and flavours that excite kids and can improve their learning and behaviour. The results? Parents started telling us that their kids were eating better, trying new foods, and even expanding their palates. Some of them even began altering their families’ diets due to learning more about artificial additives, ‘bad’ fats and pesticides.
After two years of impacting lives through operating a wholefoods-focused school canteen, it’s time for me to move on and reach a bigger audience. Foodamentally is about helping you make the best choices for your family’s health and long-term happiness. Here, you’ll find family-friendly recipes, nutritional tips, and insights into how food affects our mental health and well-being. It’s a space where food meets sustainability, where we intertwine who we are with what we eat, and where you can learn with me and from my mistakes. Plus, I throw in some serious German opinionatedness for you to have a laugh.
Because let’s be honest: healthy eating shouldn’t feel like a chore or punishment – it should feel like a celebration of who we are and the abundance we live in.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! Foodamentally is about real food, real flavours, and real connections. It is your go-to source for nutritious recipes, family meal ideas, and thoughtful musings on the relationship between food, mental health, and well-being. Let’s cook together some heartfelt food that nourishes our bodies, souls and the planet. Welcome to the family – I’m so glad you’re here!