Hi, I’m Christin McKamey
wellness blogger & recipe creator
Hi! I’m Christin McKamey, and I’m passionate about a whole foods plant-based lifestyle. I truly LOVE helping others learn healthy habits and I want to help YOU discover delicious plant-based recipes, unique ways of cooking, and give you the tips and tools to feel better from the inside out!
Throughout my life, I’ve transitioned from fast food/meat-eater to part-time vegetarian to dedicated vegan to…well, who I am now. I’ve had an unhealthy relationship with food for a good majority of my life- from being completely careless to utterly obsessed, But finally, I’ve settled on a good balance in-between: an intentional focus on health, but still a realistic one where I’m not feeling guilty every time I have dessert.
My primary focus is on whole food, plant-based nutrition as much as possible, doing exercises I truly enjoy, and taking care of my body so I have the energy to do the things I love the most. I hope to inspire and help you to do the same.
I have a Plant-Based Nutrition certification from e-Cornell, and a certification from the Forks Over Knives Rouxbe Cooking School. I have also participated in Vegan Fusion cooking courses. I LOVE learning and I’m constantly updating and perfecting my skills in the kitchen. =)
My Kitchen Philosophy
I believe in balanced eating, and a strong focus on healthy, plant-based and whole foods.
My Top Tips to Better Health
-Cook with fresh ingredients as much as possible. Grow your own, or buy from trusted supermarkets or farmer’s markets. Start with food in its simplest, most natural form. Avoid pesticides, preservatives, and ingredients with names you can’t pronounce.
-Cook at home as much as possible. Knowing exactly what’s going into your food is key. The more I cook at home, the more I can effectively manage my weight and overall health. I always cook double the recipe so I have enough for a healthy lunch the next day. And I get it- most of us don’t get in the kitchen enough to prepare food from scratch. But the more you do it, the better you’ll get. It might even be faster than the time it takes to call in an order and drive to get takeout. =)
-Don’t feel guilty for indulging once in awhile. If you restrict yourself from a piece of cheesecake, odds are you will eventually cave and eat the whole thing. Moderation is key. And over time, your body will tell you what it wants and doesn’t want and you’ll train your body to want to eat healthier. Believe it or not, your taste buds will change over time, and you’ll actually start to crave salads and other healthy foods.
–Get moving! Food is a big part of being healthy, but it’s not everything. Exercise can be one of the best ways to feel good about yourself, get more energy and boost your mood. I could write an entire book about the benefits of exercise. Aim to do some type of exercise (even if it’s just walking) every day.
-Drink a lot of water! Say farewell to pop (or soda) and other sugary drinks. People tend to think that drinks don’t count when it comes to sugar and calories, but they do! And they can be detrimental to your long term health. If you have a choice, choose water or tea.
-Sneak vegetables in whenever you can. I won’t make anything for dinner without trying to add in some sort of veggie. Add asparagus in your quinoa, cauliflower in your mashed potatoes, zucchini on your pizza, etc.
-Focus on making small choices throughout the day. Order a tall Starbucks latte instead of a venti. Order that sandwich without the mayo. Drink a water instead of a soda. Split a meal at a restaurant with your spouse. The bottom line- be intentional about your health. It’s all about changing your mindset so you are always focusing on health, one small step at a time.
Diet & Body Image
I don’t believe in dieting. In order to stay your desired body weight and feel healthy, there needs to be a mental shift and an overall lifestyle change.
Sometimes I may mention a “whole foods, plant based diet“, since this is a common way to describe this type of eating. So I may say the word diet, but what I really mean is lifestyle. Diets commonly fail because they are short-term focused. A lifestyle shift and change of attitude creates healthy lifelong habits.
I’ve spent a lot of my life feeling guilty about every “bad” thing I ate, as if I was losing control of my life, one bite at a time. The more I focused on maintaining a ‘perfect diet’, the more I let myself down, and over and over again, I would feel guilty or bad about myself. It took me many years (decades really), and a lot of research and life experience to finally get to a good place.
I believe that everyone is on a different journey to health and that’s ok. And sometimes as you learn more, that may change and that’s ok too.
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” -Maya Angelou
My focus is on learning as much as I can, and doing my best and helping others to do their best. So I hope you’ll look around, find healthy recipes and overall, get inspired to take action with a whole foods, plant-based lifestyle!
Sign up to receive my Plant Based Quick Start Guide, which includes a list of my staple ingredients found in my kitchen, as well as other helpful tips for a healthy, plant based diet.
