Introduction

Over a decade ago I enrolled in nutrition school to learn more about something that lit a fire in me, something that I’d been self-educating myself on for many years by attending weekend courses, reading countless books and pouring over every page of my favourite wellness magazine—that something was holistic nutrition and natural health. It was both a relief and completely terrifying to leave my career in corporate marketing with a consumer packaged food brand. Talk about a dramatic change! But somehow, I put my fear aside because I knew in my gut I was destined for this and my life would be forever changed studying what I was truly passionate about. To pay the bills, I was personal training early in the morning and into the evening, while attending school during the day. There were times that my day started at 5:15 a.m. on a freezing cold February morning jogging with a client and ended at midnight finishing my homework or cramming for a test the next day. You know what? I wouldn’t change a thing!

While in school I started my blog, Joyous Health, excited to share everything I was learning, cooking and eating. I had healed from my own health issues (hormonal imbalance, anxiety, and digestive problems) using natural health, so I knew there must be more people out there that I could help and my blog was my communication tool. My first blog post was about a liver detox I was doing and the importance of detoxification—it was a topic that fascinated me even back then and later became my second cookbook Joyous Detox! The first few months I assumed no one was reading my posts. But, I continued blogging and started getting feedback from readers and it kept me going. I remember the first time a reader emailed me to tell me how much she enjoyed my blog and she was from Germany. I was floored that someone that far away found my blog and was inspired to make my chia pudding. The early days of growing my business were certainly stressful and sometimes isolating but I just keep plugging away at it because I was so grateful I was now doing what I was born to do—coach people one-on-one, teach workshops, share articles and recipes on my blog.

Fast forward to today. Life can be stressful and hectic at times, especially now that my husband, Walker, and I are parents with a very active toddler named Vienna. But we love the challenges, the highs, the lows and the in-between times of being entrepreneurs and growing our Joyous Health business together.

One thing is for sure: if I hadn’t made my health a priority while in school, or the first year being a new parent, I wouldn’t have had the energy to be a good mom, wife, friend or entrepreneur. Sure, there were many days I lived off smoothies and Oat, Spice and Everything Nice Balls (page 86), but something that keeps me and Walker both grounded is spending time together to share a meal at the kitchen table with Vienna. It’s a priority to sit down and connect for at least one meal each day. During the week that’s usually dinner, and on the weekend it’s usually brunch and dinner.

Life gets hectic at times and we are all busy, which is why the few precious opportunities we have to slow down and connect with each other have become even more important. Mealtime is as much about nourishing our relationships as it is about nourishing our bodies.

Some of my most memorable times have been spent with family and friends over a meal. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over my forty short years living on this planet—from my own experiences in my small but joyous kitchen, from Ma McCarthy and from such food icons as Jamie Oliver, Anthony Bourdain and Nigella Lawson—it’s that food is meant to be celebrated and meals are a joyous opportunity for togetherness. I grew up in a family that valued having dinner together, and I will always make this a priority for my own family. I believe eating at least one main meal a day together is essential for a happy, nourished life. I truly hope that my recipes bring your family and friends together to share a meal.

And in my family, those meals have evolved over the years. Now more than ever in my home, food has to be as delicious as it is nutritious. A super-healthy yet bad-tasting green smoothie is just not acceptable in our home anymore. I would happily choke those back before Vienna was born, but now the three of us always share our smoothies, and there’s no way a toddler is going to eat a green smoothie—or anything, for that matter—unless it tastes really good.

The recipes in this cookbook best represent what we typically eat as a family, which means they’re both grown-up and kid-friendly. In other words, dishes for real living. There are plenty of gluten-free recipes and lots of dairy-free, grain-free and nut-free options. We eat things like sheep’s milk yogurt and feta, so I’ve included these ingredients in various recipes with options if you don’t eat dairy.

Even though I’ve designated recipes as vegan, vegetarian and so on, I don’t personally subscribe to the notion that we should label ourselves based on our dietary preferences. However, if you do have dietary restrictions or allergies, you’ll find it easy to identify the best recipes for you. If you feel like eating all plant-based vegan for a day or a month, then do it. If you feel like having some animal protein like salmon or chicken one day, then do it. The most important thing is that you eat foods that nourish you and help you feel your best! There’s no judgment over here.

I’m so proud of this cookbook Walker and I have created for you. It was truly a joyous experience! Walker photographed (and ate) all of the recipes and continues to eat everything I make. As for Vienna, she’s definitely passionate about eating too, and she’s very honest. Kids either love or hate food. One thing is for sure: she loves fish, chicken fingers, pasta and pizza—all of which you’ll find in this cookbook.

Happy cooking and baking, friends!

Joy
xo