As I grew up, so did my obsession. I attended an all-girls school where calorie counting and fat-free food was practically a requirement. I tried every diet under the sun and read every book I could.
HI, I’M ELISE!
What Happened When I Discovered My Food Story
You might be surprised to hear that I struggled with food for years, just like you. I’m thankful to have made peace with what’s on my plate (and in the mirror), but getting here has been a journey full of obstacles, detours, and in some cases, heartbreak. That’s my Food Story.
Once upon a time…
…when I was just a little ponytailed girl running through the heat and sunshine of southern California, I had an easy, breezy relationship with food. If I munched on a handful of bright jellybeans, my only thought was “Wow! Those were good jellybeans.” I ate when I was hungry, stopped when I was full, and felt zero guilt about food.
And then everything changed.
At 9 years old, I went on my first diet. I ate less, exercised more, and weighed myself to the point of silent exhaustion. And my reward for losing 5 pounds? A trip to get my ears pierced.
Around that same time my father began padlocking the fridge in the evenings, to curb his late-night snacking. While this was meant to keep him out of the fridge – not my sister, brother or me – we became very crafty at wedging open the doors and getting our little hands inside.
That’s how my obsession with food began.
I found myself more confused than ever.
Each dietary philosophy contradicted the other. One would say to kick carbs to the curb, while another insisted whole grains were the only way to go. One said to avoid all meats all the time, another said to eat all the meat you can.
Nothing made sense. And nothing worked.
I was drowning in information. Even though I was eating the cleanest diet on the planet, I was also chronically stressed. I panicked that I was screwing up with every bite.
I didn’t love my body. I didn’t even like myself.
Ultimately, I realized I’d lost touch with my ability to nourish myself – or even trust myself.
I had a choice: I could either keep a tight grip on the rules I’d learned over the years, or I could learn to listen to my own body – not the latest celebrity expert.
So, I began to dig up the reasons why I made eating and self-love so complicated. I explored the root of my negative attitude around food.
As I turned to actual institutions of knowledge and earned certificates in holistic health and eating psychology, I realized that my problems with food and my body were so much more than just what’s on my plate.
When I began to share my journey, I realized that I was telling my Food Story. And every time I did, other women shared theirs with me, too.
By understanding my Food Story, I created lasting change not just on my plate—but in my life. And now I help others like you do the same.
Every single woman who rewrites her Food Story transforms.
Because the problem isn’t just what’s on our plate, it’s what is in our minds. A New Food Story is the difference between knowing what you should be doing…and actually doing it. When you heal your relationship with food, you’ll heal your relationship with yourself.
I’ve been exactly where you are. But I’ve released the shame and guilt of my old Food Story. And I know I can help you do it, too.
What you’ll find on the other side is a whole joyful new way to eat, think, and live!
You deserve to be happy.
You deserve to feel good.
You deserve a new Food Story.
When I’m not helping women rewrite their Food Stories, I’m changing how we look at what’s on our plates…
I took what I discovered on my own food journey and developed a program and secured a grant (4 years in a row!) to teach my signature workshop, Cook INN Together, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
My first book, Whole Food Energy, helped people release the “I don’t have time to make my own food” excuse, showing them how to eat (and cook!) healthy, easy recipes in the midst of their active, busy lives.
The collection of 200+ simple dishes put clean eating in reach for thousands of readers, who learned to enjoy delicious meals and snacks that were fast enough to keep up with their hectic lifestyles.
My advice and recipes have appeared on wellness sites across the Internet, and have been featured in major publications, including The New York Times’ best-selling book Gutbliss, The Microbiome Solution, The Naughty Diet, The Reducetarian Solution, The Courage to Rise, and Real Fit Kitchen. My advice has been featured on Women’s Health, mindbodygreen, The Chalkboard, Washington Well + Being, Elite Daily, Fox5 and other top lifestyle and nutrition blogs.
I’m a proud and active member of the Environmental Working Group Board of Directors, the nation’s leading organization for making safer choices and creating positive momentum for American health and wellness initiatives. As the chair of the Development Committee, I connect with some of the industry’s most influential thought leaders.
When I do get a moment of down time, you can find me in nature with my two adorable golden retrievers, turning upside down on my yoga mat, or whipping up colorful meals for my hungry family of all guys!
