Before I write about the new direction for my blog, I want to start off with some exciting news. I am officially a published author of a really-for-real BOOK!

Okay, let me slow down… I’m a co-author but it is just as exciting! I wrote a few sections for 200 Surefire Ways to Eat Well and Feel Better – http://www.amazon.com/Surefire-Ways-Well-Feel-Better/dp/1592336531- I focused mostly on the heart-healthy diets. The other sections I wrote were about gluten sensitivity, since I wrote a continuing education course on that (https://www.pdresources.org/course/index/7/1148/Celiac-Disease-Basics-Beyond), and snacking, well, just because I am a big fan of the snack. The sections I wrote are:

• Snacks: Boosting your Nutrition
• The Raw Food Diet
• The Vegan Diet
• The DASH Diet
• Heart Disease
• Gluten Sensitivity

Now, in terms of the direction for my blog changing…

Since I became a dietitian (2012 for those of you playing along at home), I have had this need to be my own boss as well. This desire stemmed from my pre-heart-attack life during which I worked 40+ hours a week, sitting at a desk, under horrid fluorescent lights, bogged down in the minutiae of statutes, contracts, and budgets. While I did love my first career and it did serve me well, it also led to a heart attack since I consider stress to be one of the main risk factors that I had.

Post-heart-attack, I left that career, went back to school, and entirely changed my life’s focus in an effort, in part, to have a less stressful, more meaningful career… and try to keep myself honest about my health too! I got a little nagging bug in my head that kept telling me: do not work for “the man” again, do not work full-time again, you will have another heart attack if you go back to that type of life. And so, instead, I found myself working multiple part-time jobs and struggling to start a business in private practice and as a paid writer/speaker. I was working 60+ hours a week and not getting paid for most of that time! Talk about stress!

This would be an appropriate place to express my gratitude for my most-supportive and patient husband who agreed to allow me this time and space to “follow my dream” to my heart’s content. Thank you husband.

To that end, this Website was designed to be an advertisement-of-sorts for my Dietitian-Diva-Dream and I found myself limiting my content and weighing my words with a mind towards future business and professionalism.

Those days are now over!

I have taken on a for-reals full-time job which I love since it has me traveling some days and working from home on other days and is focused on coaching people on how to use food and nutrition to better their health. I am not working for “the man,” I am not under fluorescent lights, and my only stress is created by my own mind. Really, this company is amazing, this job is amazing, and I am working with an amazing group of coaches and health providers. I started at 20 hours a week, happily went up to 30 hours a week, and just got increased to 40 hours a week and I could not be happier!

I considered continuing to teach… I considered continuing to pursue my media spots and articles… I considered keeping private practice clients… and in the end, I decided to let all of that go and just work one job.

Just one job. What a concept!

While I intend to remain a professional, this blog will be taking on a more personal feel. And of course – still give you great recipes! I hope you stay with me and enjoy this change of direction.

Coming soon – BTSB Tomato Soup! YUM!

(BTSB = Better Than Store Bought!)