Hi there, I’m Suzi, a health and wellness instructor for HealthBites Kitchen. I’m so glad you’re here.My goal is to help you cook healthy and delicious meals at home, inspire you to create simple habits to live well naturally, and support you on your wellness journey. We’re all on a different path, but HealthBites Kitchen can give you the steps you’re looking for. More health. Greater energy. A happier lifestyle. We can do it together!

 

What you will find here

Healthy Recipes. I believe food should be easy to make. My recipes are simple to follow and designed to help you enjoy cooking with delicious plant foods. We’ll be using many fresh ingredients from the garden or in-season produce you can find in most grocery stores. Each recipe is packed with what you need to thrive in your health walk. At the end of each recipe, you’ll also find a HealthBite, showing how the plant foods in each recipe can bring you better health, one bite at a time.

Wellness Articles. Wellness is a journey that is filled with more strength, vitality, and peace of mind. Each of us starts at a different place, but with simple steps, it’s possible to get there.

Wellness is a way of life that touches every part of you and me. Our articles will help to nourish your mind and body, so you can establish new goals for less stress, have more movement in your day, along with better sleep, and a lower risk for heart disease and other conditions sapping our health. These are some of the topics we talk about in our online cooking club.

What is whole-food plant-based cooking all about?

Good question. It means cooking with a wide variety of plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, along with some nuts and seeds. It means avoiding animal foods like dairy and meat (including fish), since these foods are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, elements that increase our risk for heart disease, diabetes, and many cancers. It also means choosing whole ingredients, using foods as grown as much as possible versus refined foods that are heavily processed (i.e. white bread, snack foods, even refined oils). And best of all, it is a way of cooking that will help you grow in health.

Why did I start the HealthBites Kitchen?

When you find something that makes an incredible difference in your life, you want to tell someone, right? When you buy a new car, meet the guy of your dreams, or find the peace you’ve always craved, you want to pass it on. That’s how it was with me. A healthy lifestyle turned my life around and I wanted everyone to reap the same benefits.

For years, I struggled with a weak immune system, allergies, weight gain, and winter blues (doctors call it seasonal affective disorder). One year, those blues got so bad, I spiraled into clinical depression. My body and brain became so tired, it was hard to walk across a single room in my house! I couldn’t sleep and I had little energy.

Then one fateful day…

My husband came across a local seminar on how to reverse depression. That’s where I met Dr. Neil Nedley and his holistic program, Depression Recovery Seminars. His program helped you identify the triggers that can push you into depression.  Then by using simple principles, I found healing and got my life back. In fact, it’s a much healthier life than I ever had before.

My life turned around

I used to pick up every bug or virus that came along. And once they grabbed hold of me, they didn’t seem to let go. Others might have a cold for 1 or 2 days, but not me! I would often be sick for 2-3 weeks at a time. But when I discovered a whole plant food diet, my life made a radical turnaround. My immune system grew stronger, joint pains went away, and even my eyesight improved (my doctor was speechless when he had to reduce my prescription two or three times)! Before going plant-based, it was easy for me to put on the weight, and it was a real struggle to lose even a pound! I also became pre-diabetic! But without dieting and by eating well on a whole plant-food diet, those pounds have melted away and my blood sugars have returned to normal.

So, I can’t keep this wonderful lifestyle a secret.  I want to pass on what I’ve been learning with you. I hope you’ll join me on my health adventures and find what a wonderful difference it can make in your life. Let’s grow together, discover new flavors and recipes, and become healthier, one step at a time.

Connect with me

Want to find out more? Connect with me on Facebook. You’ll find me at HealthBites Kitchen. Find recipes, articles, cooking hacks, and much more. Happy Cooking!