What I Gather's interview

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Interview by Gitanjali

We interviewed What I Gather!

Hello What I Gather, so tell us...

What inspired you to start your blog, and what is the philosophy behind it?

I started this blog about six months after my husband and I transitioned to a Paleo diet. Once we discovered Paleo I felt like I HAD to share it with the world! I felt better than I ever had and the food I was cooking was simple and delicious. I think it can be intimidating to try a new way of eating and I wanted to show people it didn't have to be difficult or time consuming to cook healthy meals.

Are you involved in the blogging community - how do you attract new readers?

I try to stay involved on social media, mostly Instagram, but I am also active on Facebook and Twitter. I love sharing pictures of the meals I put together because that is the same thing I like seeing from others. I also post lots of pictures of the food I feed my eggplant.

Has having a child changed your Paleo diet? How so?

Being pregnant and having a child didn't change my diet much, but it did change my mindset about why I eat this way. I want to eat nutritious foods to stay healthy and strong for my baby, support my milk supply while I'm nursing and to set a good example for my son's own developing eating habits.

What advice would you give to pregnant women/new mothers?

I've just finished my first book, The Everything Paleo Pregnancy Book (out in January 2015), and the most important message I want to share is that women can eat this way and it is possible to get all of the nutrients they need to support a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. Eating a healthy diet both before and during pregnancy can also help alleviate many common pregnancy ailments and complications like fatigue and gestational diabetes.

Can you talk about your effort to feed families 'real' food?

Locally, I lead workshops aimed at teaching busy families how to incorporate more real food into their diets. I think a lot of families want to feed their children more healthy, whole foods, but don't know where to start or how to get their family on board. I try to break it down and teach them how to shop for and cook real food, along with timesaving and moneysaving tips. I also write for a local publication, Southern Indiana Fitness Source, and various online publications sharing much of the same information.

Do you have a secret ingredient, a product you use a lot that is unexpected or that helps you save time?

I use my slow cooker all the time! I love to make a large pork roast or a big batch of soup or chili because it lasts for days. I love being able to cook once and take the next day or two off to spend a little extra time with my family.

Is there any dish, ingredient or type of food you refuse to cook? Or anything that you refuse to eat?

I definitely enjoy little treats now and then, but I've pretty much written off fast food since going Paleo. I can say with almost 100% certainty that I'll not be hitting the McDonald's drive-thru ever again!

What are your goals for your blog? Where would you like to see it in the next year? Five years?

I'll be finishing up my masters degree in Health and Nutrition Education in the next few months and I want to share what I've learned about how interconnected diet and health really are, along with the recipes and pregnancy/parenting information I already share.

My worst food flop was...

Pretty much anytime I've tried to make fritters has been a major fail! They either stick to the pan or turn into a mushy mess. I've pretty much accepted that it's just not going to happen for me.

Thank you What I Gather for answering our questions and see you soon!
Published by Gitanjali - 09/02/2014

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