First off my name is Maria. Ria has always been a moniker. I earned the Chef title after I completed culinary school. Oddly enough before the program completed, I knew I would never work as a traditional Chef. I would have to find something else to do with my new found title. Thus, this blog was born a few years later in 2011. Over the years as my interests have grown, this blog has evolved into what you see today.
I believe in eating whatever you want. What nourishes your taste buds as well as your soul. I however, believe more in being aware of whatyou are eating. No worries, I won’t be telling you what you should and should not eat. My job here is to educate, not to police. My personal philosophy is to eat more whole foods and less processed crap. But what is considered processed? The industrial food industry has done an amazing job at confusing something that should be natural to every human. Eating wholesome food and knowing what’s in it. I don’t follow any one diet plan and don’t subscribe to the idea that any one plan is perfect for all people. I mostly follow a plant based diet, but not always. My goal is to eat more foods in their natural state 80% of the time. Hold on though, lets be real. I have a busy life, just like you. Running a business, working a 9-5, managing a home, friends, family and fury ones under foot. Sometimes a quick drive thru run is required!
I have no miracle stories about how I changed my diet or fasted for 41 days and received healing from a deadly disease. What I do have is an insatiable curiosity of what I’m putting in my body and a lover of good food. I also, wanted to be able to provide accurate information to friends and family when they asked. We all have this one thing on common; we must take in nourishment to survive. Food fuels our bodies, the better the fuel the better we function. Follow me as I journey to eat more whole foods and less process crap.
-chef ria
What you will find here:
Recipes
Cooking Tips
Product Reviews
Restaurant Reviews
Book Reviews
My kitchen mishaps
My kitchen successes
Encouragement to get in the kitchen
FAQ’s
Are you a vegan or vegetarian? For the most part, yes. However, I’ve been known to eat hot wings in time of great distress. Yes, I know how that sounds, we all have our monsters to slay. Typically I do not define my eating habits as I will spend more time defending my choices rather than enjoying food. My goal is to eat a whole foods plant based diet, while eating less processed crap.
Do I need to be a vegetarian in order to be healthy? No, not at all. While I do believe meat and dairy intake should be minimal.
Organic products are so expensive, I notice a lot of organic products on your site. Do you only buy organic? I’m not 100% there, yet. I would say about 75% of my diet comes from organic non GMO sources. I usually frequent my local farmers market or local CSA for great deals. I think organic products are well worth the extra expense. However, if you cannot afford organic or non GMO, buy the best quality you can afford. Try using frozen as they are often cheaper than fresh and last longer.
What is your favorite food? French Fries and Chips and Salsa, in that order but not together.
Where did you receive your professional training? At a culinary school in Dallas, TX.
I want to lose weight, what would make the biggest impact? This used to be an easy answer for me, but over the years the food industry has gotten craftier. Now, I’ suggest home cooking more meals than you eat out. This will allow you to have better control over what goes in your body.
Do you ever miss eating ribs or ham, pork chops, etc? Next to where do I get my protein, this is the second most commonly asked question. No, I do not miss eating these foods, because:
1. I have found great replacements.
2. I remember how my health began to improve once I stopped eating meat and dairy.
3. Since I have not eaten these things in abundance for many years, I no longer crave them (see exception above).
So, where do you get your protein? Just to make it easy for everyone…from everything that is not meat or dairy :).
Last updated November 2018
