What is Real Food

For many years, I wished for better eating patterns. I would try, fall back into old habits, then try again—never experiencing lasting change. As a visual learner, I finally decided to attend one of Annie’s workshops with the Honest Kitchen Project. I was blown away by the number of creative ideas she shared, all taught with such clarity and simplicity that I left thinking, I can do this. Yes—even I can do this! I felt equipped and genuinely excited to begin experimenting at home. I experienced small successes right away and have steadily continued incorporating more of Annie’s ideas. Eating more nutritiously has never felt easier, and I truly couldn’t be happier about it!

Annie has a magical way of making you fall in love with food. She makes it feel exciting and limitless while also somehow simultaneously making it feel accessible and easy, like you don’t have to follow a recipe to achieve absolute perfection. It was life-changing spending just one hour with her and has changed the way I do and think about food. I think about it every day in the kitchen. As for Annie the person, she is as authentic and whole as her food is. She is so warm and easy to be around and makes you feel at home in her presence. She is impossible not to instantly love.

My favorite thing about learning to cook "honestly" is setting out all the vegetables I'm going to use to create with on the counter and celebrating all the nutrition that's going to be in my little people's bodies. I feel like an artist, getting ready to create a masterpiece. The energy of creation is a most unexpected side effect of my healing relationship with my kitchen. I'm a tad embarrassed to admit that vegetables used to be an afterthought. To go alongside my kids' favorite (spaghetti). I would attempt to pair a boring salad with it or just steam up some broccoli. But now the goodness is in the main part of the meal, not a desperate add-on.

I have always tried to eat well. Unfortunately, I could not compete with the pre-packaged, preservative-filled, artificially flavored food that my family wanted. Being the only one in my family to eat what I made most of the time was not sustainable or good for my family or me. I met Annie Miller in 2019. She became my food mentor, and my relationship with food changed! Even after one 2-hour class, I was able to make significant changes that my family could appreciate. As I continued to learn from her, I made drastic changes, and I was able to set a standard for my kitchen! I was able to commit to NOURISH my family without compromising FLAVOR! Over time I was able to CREATE in my kitchen. This has reduced waste and eliminated trips to the grocery store right before dinner for one to two items missing from a recipe. I am so much more confident to try new things, and I no longer grapple with the "Ugh, don't have enough time, should I just order pizza" problem! Today, not only do I feed my husband and kids, but their friends also enjoy my cooking! My kids have started to feed themselves with real food. I am so happy that I can be HONEST with the people I feed about what is truly good for them!

I am a mother of six and a grandmother to two little ones. I have always been one who wants to give my best to my loved ones and all those around me. I have known for years this desire will be reached quicker and more effectively if I take good care of my health. This has opened my eyes to not only the necessity of it but that it's doable