Hi there! Welcome to Legally Healthy Blonde.
My name is Emily. I'm a classically trained chef who specializes in health-supportive food that tastes and feels good. I attended the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC and graduated at the top of my class in 2022.
I love to cook and I am passionate about teaching others. That being said, this isn't just a website full of random recipes with no context.
I am here to teach you how to cook food that makes you feel good.
What you'll find on Legally Healthy Blonde
Many of the recipes on this site will fit into a plant-based lifestyle. However, I like to make recipes that are representative of how I like to eat. This means you'll find a lot of recipes involving pasta, lots of Instant Pot recipes, and I love creating dishes out of Asian flavors and Italian influences!
Though you won't find any meat-based recipes, there may be an occasional use of dairy or seafood.
The recipes contain detailed step by instructions, along with step-by-step photos to ensure you have success in your own kitchen. My goal is to enable you to recreate all the recipes on this site, as well as learn a bit more about different cuisines and fun new plant-based ideas.
Tip: If you're looking for one of the easiest and most flavorful recipes on my site, start with my Creamy Green Avocado Gazpacho!
My biggest goal here is for you to be able to find easy, approachable, and absolutely delicious plant-forward recipes! I am here to show you that healthier eating is not boring, bland, or difficult!
My Background with Food
My journey with food has grown so rapidly in the past few years. I grew up as a very picky eater. My favorite meals were ramen noodles (yes, the cheap kind), mac and cheese (always from the box), and buttered pasta (which, truly, is still great).
When I got to Clemson at age 18, I didn't live in a dorm, so I never had a dining hall meal plan or anything. Quite frankly, I was afraid that if I kept up my junk food habits paired with a dramatic decrease in physical activity due to no longer being a competitive cheerleader would ultimately lead to unhealthy weight gain.
I started to try some healthy recipes and I immediately fell in love with all things food, restaurants, and cooking. I watched the Food Network obsessively, picked up on the techniques used by the chefs, and learned about how to properly compose dishes.
As I got a bit older, I began to not only place such high value on taste and quality of food but also on how certain foods made me feel. After reading How Not To Die by Dr. Michael Greger, I learned about the insane benefits of a plant-based diet. I discovered that I could take nearly any beloved dish and, with a few substitutions, make it a healthy AND delicious plant-based option.
Fun Facts about Emily
- I started this blog (officially) in August 2020, knowing nothing about blogging. I just knew this is what I want to do. In August 2021 I took the leap to make this my full-time job!
- I have a 3-year old golden retriever named Frank, and very large cat named Gnocchi, and I live with my boyfriend who has another golden retriever named Howie. See them all down below 🙂
- I love all food so much, and I don't limit myself to anything! Some of my favorite cuisine in the world is authentic French and Italian food. However, I am dying to travel to southeast Asia and learn all about their cultures and cuisines.
- In 2022, I graduated (at the top of my class!) at The Institute of Culinary Education in New York City through their Health-Supportive Culinary Arts program.
Getting Around
There is a Recipe Index where you can browse all sorts of recipes by category.
Keeping in Touch
*If you are interesting in working with me, please head to my Work with Me page to see the services I offer.*
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Or just shoot me an email at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you!