About Me
I’m here to help you figure out how to eat better in less time and reduce your stress.
Hi! I’m Jody and I welcome you to Savvy Kitchen Solutions.
As someone who could be a mother to most of you reading this and a grandmother to some, I’ve struggled with crazy days filled with meetings, sick kids, baseball practice and dance rehearsals colliding, etc., and fed my kids way too many “happy meals.”
It can be so challenging to find the time to put together a healthy meal for your family. At the end of the day, cooking dinner is the last thing you probably feel like doing. I feel your pain.
To make matters worse, there is so much information out there! But don’t worry, I’ll digest it for you and put it in a form you can use to make your kitchen the happy center of your home, whether you’re feeding a family, a partner or just yourself.
It’s all about time, money and energy to get the biggest boost to your health that you can. Stay with me and Save time. Eat better. Stress less. You’ll probably save money, too, by throwing out less food!
I know it can be intimidating to make a lifestyle change.
But know this, what you’re doing for your family by giving your children healthy eating habits is a gift that will last a lifetime! Did you know that there are over 500 genes that are turned on by your fork- both good and bad? There is power in food for health, enjoyment, and happiness. With our culture of instant everything, good nutrition can be a challenge.
Food is way too accessible, especially food that is less than healthy, and some of it is, well, I’m not sure toxic would be too strong a word. At the same time, we’re bombarded with information on nutrition that is sometimes confusing, and even seems contradictory. One thing is certain, science is always changing, which means there is more information to deal with.
That is exactly why I started my business, Savvy Kitchen Solutions. I want to use my years of experience as a health educator to help you save time and eat healthier. I’ve lived in the North and the South, the East, and the West, have children and grandchildren. I’ve lost hundreds of pounds (not at once, thankfully), been certified to teach the vegan lifestyle and am now a flexitarian; I’m a clean eater who avoids processed food and I’ve learned to live without gluten. I never thought I could give that up, but it’s saved me a lot of calories at restaurants, for sure, and helped my brain fog.
Here are a few of my experiences that have shaped my passion about the power of food:
- Health and Nutrition Program Developer
- Health Instructor
- Attended the launch of Dr. Mark Hyman’s Blood Sugar Solution at Donna Karan’s apartment, NYC
- Organized and run a Farmer’s Market
- Attended numerous nutrition conferences like Food as Medicine
- Certification as a CHIP (Complete Health Improvement Program) Instructor
Dr. Mark Hyman is a well-known speaker and the author of fourteen books, including What the Heck Should I Eat?, What the Heck Should I Cook? and the Pegan Diet. He is also a staff member of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine I come from a long line of Southern cooks who could make anything taste good with bacon grease and onions. For them, a day without fried food was like a day without sunshine! I admit, I do love that food.
However, my experience working with well-trained dieticians and my conversations with people like Dr. Hyman about the power of food has made me look at food very differently. While I still love that Southern comfort food, my nutrition IQ has risen to the point that it is now a treat, not a way of life. When I started thinking of food as “fuel” for my body and not just taste and entertainment, my world changed. My diet is not perfect and yours won’t be either. The world we live in prohibits that for most of us, especially if we don’t live alone!
I’ve always love being in the kitchen, but when COVID struck in 2020, I figured out that I needed to really concentrate on what I was buying from the grocery store and why I was buying it. Now, I’ve streamlined my grocery shopping, limited trips to the store and worked hard NOT to throw anything out! I can’t wait to share all that I’ve learned with you. My Feed Your Family Fast Starter Guide will give you all you need to start getting healthier and happier in the kitchen.
Haley R., mom
While Savvy Kitchen Solutions is not a recipe blog, per se, what it will give you will help you save time and eat better. Of course, this all adds up to less stress, which we surely can all use, especially with COVID fatigue.
When I had a wellness company that contracted with a local school district for nutrition and wellness classes for their employees, I worked closely with dieticians to develop and deliver classes that were informative, engaging, entertaining-and tasty! My partner in crime and favorite dietitian and nutritionist, Dianne Cogburn, RD, MPH, was the former Director of Duke’s Diet and Fitness Center. I’m so fortunate to have her as a fantastic resource and a great friend. When you read any health or nutrition related information in my blog, you can be sure that I’ve run it by Dianne.
I’ve scoured the Internet and collected information for years in hopes that someday I can help moms feed their families better, be less stressed, and be happier in the kitchen. One of my driving passions is to help families see that food really is medicine and that it’s one of the big keys to stopping the epidemic of obesity and chronic disease in our country (and around the world, as we export junk food to Third World countries, sadly).
Here’s what you’ll get with my blog and emails:
This all leads to a life in the kitchen that is less stressful and happier!
I hope you’ll check out my most recent blogs and let me know what you think: I look forward to helping you save time, eat better, and stress less. Instead of “happy meals”, you can have a happy place in the kitchen!