Ellie O'Brien - The Wellness Blog

IN THE KITCHEN WITH ELLIE O'BRIEN

Tell us about yourself:

Hi! My name is Ellie and I am the food blogger behind Hungry by Nature – a gluten free and paleo food blog dedicated to inspiring others to live a healthy and balanced life, starting in the kitchen!

How did you get involved in cooking?

I’ve always been in the kitchen, but it wasn’t until I was diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases that I decided to make dietary changes to improve my autoimmune symptoms and end my suffering.

In January 2017, I completed my first Whole30 and it transformed the way I look at food and fuel my body. Since then, I have adapted a Paleo diet – omitting gluten, grains, legumes, and dairy – and have truly experienced the healing power of food.

Describe your cooking style:

My approach to food is simple – eat healthy, whole, natural foods and always leave room for dessert.

How did you learn about grass-fed meats?

I first heard about grass-fed meats in my pursuit of healing my autoimmune symptoms through food. I did a lot of research and discovered that grass-fed and grass-finished meats were the only way I could ensure that the meat I was eating was not full of hormones, pesticides, and other junk.

What is your favorite recipe featuring grass-fed meat?

My favorite recipe featuring US Wellness Meats’ pastured chicken thighs is definitely my chicken shawarma salad!

You’re stranded on a desert island; luckily, you’re stranded with your top 5 ingredients and one must-have kitchen tool:

My top 5 ingredients are: olive oil, pink salt, eggs, sweet potato, and kale. I eat these five ingredients almost every single day.

My must have kitchen tool is my cast iron skillet! I use mine every single day and cook virtually everything on it.

Best cooking secret/tip/piece of advice you’ve learned:

Use a spoon to scrape off the skin of ginger! It is so much easier than using a knife and that way you aren’t losing any of the ginger.

What’s your favorite quote/song for culinary inspiration (if any)?

“You are what you eat. So don’t be fast, cheap, easy, or fake.”

“People who love to eat are always the best people.” – Julia Child

Anything else you want to share?

In addition to my blog, I launched a gluten and grain free granola line – also called Hungry by Nature! https://hungrybynature.com/shop-granola/

Filled with nuts and seeds, this naturally sweetened grain free granola is naturally gluten free and seriously addicting. Enjoy sprinkled over your morning smoothie or yogurt, straight from the bag as a quick protein-packed snack, or for dessert!

It has been my latest venture and I love being able to share healthy and delicious snacks with the world!