Ann M. Smith's interview
Interview by LydiaWe interviewed Ann M. Smith!
Visit the blog: Nutrition In A Pinch.
"I want people to get on my blog and get the answers they are searching for. I want them to feel comfortable asking me questions and trusting me that I have their best interest at heart."
Hello Ann M. Smith, so tell us...
When did you begin your blog, and what inspired you to start it?
My sister was a blogger way before me. I started blogging last year when I went back to school to receive my BS in Health Science, emphasis in Health Wellness/ Nutrition. I wanted to share my store of losing 100 pounds, working at it, keeping it off and that any one can do it! It doesn't take anyone special, a special pill, drink of surgery, just shear determination and will power! I am living a healthy and happy life that I want to share it with everyone I meet! Even if I drive them crazy!
Are you involved in the blogging community - how do you attract new readers?
I do belong to a couple of blogging groups. I try to post to those every time I make an entry. I also do giveaways and post on my facebook page.
Who are your culinary influences?
I love Alton Brown! I love the chemistry behind food. Why does this happen when you add this ingredient. What happens if you add too much of this. If I want to be vegan, what can I use to cause the same effect as an egg, milk, butter, etc. I love how he breaks things down for people, like me, to understand and have that ah moment! and get it and then feel brave enough to try it myself!
If you could be a contestant or guest on any cooking show what show would you choose?
I would love to be on Chopped!!!!!! The whole time I watch that show I think of what I would do with the ingredients! I would be too scared to be critiqued at the end:)
What is your earliest food memory?
I remember my grandmother making homemade noodles when I was a little girl and stealing them before they were cooked. I was always amazed on my one grandma's cookbooks and recipe cards! She had so many and knew exactly where they were in her jumbled mess of a kitchen. She was not a clean cook. I am not a clean cook, and I like it that way! A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen!
You went on a 30-day clean eating challenge in July. What exactly does that entail? Did the experience influence your cooking?
When I decided to clean eat I got rid of all refined food; sugar, flour, oils. Everything I ate had to be as close to it's natural state as possible. Processed food was out! Chemicals, no more! I thought I had been "eating healthy" for so long, but then when I started reading labels to see if it had an additives, preservatives, hidden sugars, etc. I realized how bad I had been eating. Health food is not always health food. I went to a whole new level of learning about food, and how it effects your body.
The first four or five days were horrible. I ended up sick and dizzy in a CrossFit class. My body was going thru a purge of all the garbage that was built up in it. After that, it was easy sailing!
It was hard at times to fix my husband and son a greasy pizza from a local pizza pick up place, and then I made my own crust with whole wheat flour and veggies for a topping. It does take a little bit more time to cook, to plan things out and to prepare. Now I am a constant label reader and I make sure there are only at max 6 ingredients listed, or it does not go in my cart. I am slowly getting my husband and son to convert. Now I am almost completely plant based eating. I feel so much better, physically and mentally.
Your blogs contain recipes, fitness, nutrition, with a little bit of crafts and family time mixed in. What is your favorite topic to blog about?
Right now it is all about the nutrition. I can not wait to get my degree and certification in nutrition to start helping people achieve their goals in their healthy lifestyle! There is so much information out there to learn and then pass on! I am so excited and I want people to be excited too!
When you have a last minute get together, what are your go to dishes?
I am a go to food in season type of gal! So depending on the time of the year, I would come up with what is fresh and ready to eat!
You can never go wrong with homemade garlic hummus and organic tortilla chips!
Eggplant parmesan is one of my favorite meals and really easy to whip up! I love to use my crockpot, and this time of year you can add all kinds of beans and vegetables and have a great soup simmering for the party! You can never go wrong with black bean brownies, they really are good!
What are your goals for your blog? Where would you like to see it in the next year? Five years?
I want people to get on my blog and get the answers they are searching for. I want them to feel comfortable asking me questions and trusting me that I have their best interest at heart. I am here to serve and to help! We have a horrible epidemic in America. It is not only people being overweight, but in general, people being unhealthy!
In a year I would like to be able to have some paid sponsors so I could spend more time researching and helping people instead of working full time. From there, I would like to start a business in my town for health and wellness, but have people access my blog to receive help too. In five years, my sister and I will have a cook book published and be on our way to having one of the best blogs out there, helping people live their healthy happy life!
Anything else you would like to share?
Check out my 30 clean eating challenge at www.ladylovescoffee.com
Thank you Ann M. Smith for answering our questions and see you soon!
Published by Lydia - 10/11/2013
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