food + beverage: because it all begins + ends with how we nourish ourselves
Just writing this little blurb, I am overcome by the GIFT of food and the way it transforms our thoughts, our bods, and our energies from the inside out. From a cellular level allllll the way to our personality and mood, this earth provides us with e v e r y t h i n g that we need to fuel + thrive…HOW STINKIN’ COOL IS THAT?!
Functional nutrition is hands down the component of integrative health that first captivated me—I have known for quite some time that my food choices impacted my body, but it wasn’t until I truly cleaned up my diet that I felt the profound effect of clean, pure eating. My skin was brighter, my runs were faster, my sleep was deeper, my mood was lighter…all of this from just simple swaps in how I ate. For me, the transition was from obsessing over calories to investing in nutrients. Below are my absolute favorite items in the realm of food + beverage. Let’s nourish ourselves, shall we?!
my favorite cookbooks
because there is no better investment than the food you eat
My go-to cookbooks. As I type this I have 18 different cookbooks on my shelf, but if I TRULY had to pick my favorites, you’re lookin’ at ‘em. These 6 books have absolutely transformed how I view food and cooking. You can cook nourishing, delicious food without spending all day in the kitchen, spending your paycheck at the grocery store, or obsessing over measurements. Who knew?!
Now, I LOVE all 6 of these, but if I had to pick my top 3, I would pick:
Simply Real Health cookbook: Simple, nourishing magic. These recipes are SO SIMPLE and 100000% delicious. Not to mention, all the recipes are 5 ingredients or less. Yup. Like I said—MAGIC.
The Kitchen Shelf: The whooooole book is based around simple staple ingredients that probably already have in your cabinet right now. Adam and I both vote that this is our most-used, most-loved cookbook. This is perfect for the “omg we have nothing in the fridge” moments because there are SO many recipes you can make with the “boring” staples in your cabinets. If nothing else, GET THIS ONE. Pssssssst: my personal grocery shopping list freebie is designed to pair perfectly with this specific cookbook to allow you to cook every. single. recipe. This grocery list + this cookbook = 100s of recipes ready for ya!
The Forest Feast: Simple, (beautiful!) recipes that are all based around whole foods. This book is written for the vegetarian. I am not a vegetarian, but I find these recipes AMAZING for hosting, simple side dishes, and whole food inspo! This may be one of the prettiest cookbooks ever—sometimes I just flip through it for fun, ha!
The above books are all straightforward, simple, and rooted in nourishing ingredients. SIGN ME UP!
random food brands that i absolutely loooove
MY FAV PROTEIN POWDER: Holy moly, I’ll save ya a lot of time of ranting and just say that Nuzest is the protein powder you are waiting for. Allllll-natural, vegan, 19g of protein, and blends like a dang dream. I wasted soooo much money trying different powders that tasted artificial and chalky. I *finally* tried this brand after seeing it many times and I was hooked. This is my go-to for all my smoothies. (Annnnnnd I may just use the “just natural” flavor as a protein-packed “flour” for all my baked goods.) Nuzest was nice enough to give you 15% off with “THEFOUNDATIONBLOG” at checkout. :) Enjoy!
HOLISTIC MUSHROOM BEVERAGES: Okay, MAGIC. I feel like the term “superfood” gets wayyyy overused but mushrooms are worthy of the title. Whether you want to boost immune function, stay calm and limit anxiety, get focused and in the zone, or just want to help your overall wellness, I hiiiiighly recommend Four Sigmatic mushroom drinks. Delicious bevvies packed with mushrooms and adaptogens—organic, well-sourced, and effective. Not only do these things work (seriously, just one try and you’ll be hooked!), but they are so, so good for you. It’s amazing what your body can do when you nourish it appropriately. (Code “KE15” will save ya 15% on all Four Sigmatic purchases!)
GLUTEN-FREE SOURDOUGH: If you’re like me, you have alllllll the intentions to homemake bread…but realistically it only happens about every few months (….if that). The reality is, life is BUSY, and often I don’t have time to homemake bread…but that doesn’t mean I don’t want it! I loooooove carbs + breads + all the starchy things, but I also want to make sure it is quality and full of ingredients that are easy for me to digest and won’t add any unnecessary inflammation. BREAD SRSLY is gluten free, egg free, dairy free, vegan…basically every buzzword you could ever want. Try BREAD SRSLY here and save 10% with the code KATE10 >>>
for the busy woman—
my fav meal delivery kits + services
Okay—can I be honest for a second?
I used to kind of judge meal delivery services. I have no idea why—but I just didn’t necessarily understand the need for them. Thennnnnn…I started getting my doctorate while working full-time and running a part-time, side-hustle blog. There just didn’t seem to be enough hours in the day—and here was the straw that broke the camel’s back: no matter how hard I tried, I just could not find the time to pack myself a healthy lunch or eat breakfast. It felt sooooo silly to admit that I couldn’t find the 10 minutes to prep this food, but it was my reality. The truth was—I did have a lot on my plate, and eating healthy was being pushed to the back burner.
Fast forward to me having to *try* to find a healthy option in the work cafeteria (aka spending an obscene amount of money for a mediocre salad) orrrrrr grabbing a bag of chips from the vending machine. This was not what I considered to be nourishing or treating my body with respect. And I knew in my gut that I needed to call in back-up, and here’s what I use to this day:
FACTOR: SO. HELPFUL. You have heard me rant about these meal delivery kits for about a year now (they saved me during busy grad school times), but they have been just as clutch in postpartum. Basically, they are 100% pre-made, ready-to-go meals that are actually made of QUALITY ingredients— annnnd (the best part), they are fully ready to go when you arrive— all you have to do is heat it up :)
I LOVE knowing that no matter how crazy my day is, I have a healthy, nourishing, FILLING meal ready to go (these meals are not wimpy— I am definitely full and satisfied afterwards). Adam and I both have been having these a few times per week— (And, not to mention, they are bleeping delicious AND filling/hearty. Just heat ‘em up and you’re good to go! Not sponsored, but this refer-a-friend link will save ya $120!
DAILY HARVEST: Wow, I love this brand. For all my smoothie lovers, Daily Harvest is what you’ve been waiting for. In my personal opinion the smoothies taste better than Splendid Spoon smoothies. Sooooo, I typically get all my savory and lunch time meals from Splendid Spoon, and then use Daily Harvest for their smoothie kits. Okay, okay but also their healthy flatbreads. But also, their delicious energy bites. And their desserts…annnd…okay, they’re just amazing. Like every single thing I’ve tried. I personally use this the most for smoothie kits that I can keep in my freezer for the busiest of days when I may be lacking fresh produce in the fridge. These are the most amazing “back up plans” ever. Just get a box (this link saves you $25), keep it in your freezer, and on those days (you know what I’m talking about), you have an option for a breakfast, lunch, or dinner in 5 minutes or less.
NAKED WINE: Wine, wine, wine! Just a reminder that a healthy life does not mean you have to avoid alcohol like the plague. Wine is a naturally occurring alcohol—made from grapes, made by the earth. And not to mention the happiness and soul-filling qualities of a glass of wine with a friend. I source all of my wine from Naked Wines (think: Amazon Prime for wine. Amazing.). They work exclusively with small vineyards and bottles average only $8–$12…the quality is insane. I’ve gotten so many of my friends hooked! If you’re interested click here to get my voucher for $100. :)
CSA BOXES: Supporting area farmers. Local. Fresh. Environmentally friendly. My absolutely favorite! I am always an advocate for supporting local agriculture and it feels (and tastes) SOOOO good to have a connection to a local, fresh, nourishing food supply. We have absolutely loved our CSA farm food share for over 2 years, and are so thankful for it. If you are interested in finding a farm share near you: this website is awesome to identify local farms nationwide. TO ALL MY DULUTH, MINNESOTA PEEPS: I personally use Bayfield Farms CSA for veggies, fruit, meat, cheese, baked goods, locally produced goodies, annnnnnd even fresh flowers. :) This refer-a-friend link will save you $25 when you become a CSA member! ENJOY!
THRIVE MARKET: To all of you who have gotten your hands on my Personal (and Printable!) Grocery Shopping List freebie, you’ll know I am obsessed with stocking up on alllllll my go-to foods, teas, pantry items with Thrive Market. I love that I can find high-quality, all-natural foods sooooo much cheaper than the grocery store (and that it ships straight to my door). I use Thrive Market for the things I have to buy every so often (olive oils, vinegars, gluten-free flours, snack bars, baking ingredients, nuts, etc.) and I save SO much money compared to buying everything at a grocery shop. I don’t really know how to describe Thrive Market…but it’s kind of like if Whole Foods + Amazon Prime had a baby, ha! Healthy food that is 20-30% cheaper than grocery stores that ships straight to your door. High quality for a low price? Yes, please. On top of that— you can get an extra 25% off and free shipping with this link— just a classic refer-a-friend coupon! Enjoy!
kitchen appliances that i can’t live without:
small little odds + ends that just make life easier:
my can’t live without ‘em beverages
my fav mix-ins and powders
I am absolutely known as that one friend who always has about 8 beverages with her at all times: a thermos of coffee, a water bottle, a mug of tea, a green juice…safe to say, I am always sippin’ something! Not only does it keep me hydrated, but it gives me an effortless way to introduce different adaptogens, herbs, and spices into my diet that can help me live my healthiest life. The above are my go-to’s in the beverage world. A few notes:
The collagen and barista boost added to your morning coffee combine to form theeee most delicious morning cup of joe (filled with collagen, maca, l-theanine, cinnamon, raw cacao…)
Natural Calm: absolutely crucial in my bedtime routine. As women, most of us are deficient in magnesium. Taking this before bed helps me sleep like a baaaaby. I heat it up and drink it like a tea. So cozy, and truly game-changing for sleep!
Beef gelatin: TRUST ME on this. It is actually tasteless, fantastic for your gut, and creates the most delicious, frothy + creamy bev. This how i get “that froth” that you guys are always asking about in my insta stories haha. Can’t live without it—soooo good. And truly elevates every beverage—from a health and deliciousness standpoint.
Four Sigmatic: wait, didn’t I just talk about them? Yup. I just love them that much. All-natural, organic adaptogens to help you with whatever you need: relaxation, focus, wellness… save 15% on all their goodies here.
favorite teas + cozy sips:
storage for the kitchen
eco-friendly and nontoxic methods to save all your kitchen goodies!
take your bevs on the go
cleansing 101
need a little reset? here’s how to get the most out of a juice cleanse
I know, I know…someone is about to tell me that cleansing is a hoax and blah blah blah. Here’s the thing with anything: if it works for you, DO IT. I personally love doing a juice cleanse every few months for a lil bod reset. It helps me ground myself in my food choices and gives my gut a rest from constantly digesting solid foods. That said, if you are doing a cleanse please, please, please ensure you do one that is 100% real, whole food: no icky powders or shake mixes full of fake chemmies and nasties. That is not a cleanse—that’s adding to your toxic load. The one I use is one hunnid percent real, whole foods, and the reason I love it so much is because it is half veggie-based drinks and half nut-based drinks. The nut-based shakes add a beautiful dose of protein that keeps me feeling fueled and satisfied—not deprived. I’ve used this exact cleanse over ten times now and I am obsessed. The rest of the items are simple lil supplements I use to make sure I get the most out of my cleanse—tools to help you detox (and a broth whenever you get that “I need salt now” feeling!). Again, cleansing isn’t for everyone, but I couldn’t love it more! As always, listen to YOUR body and your unique needs. (Reminder: you know yourself better than anyone else on earth.)