Food Rock Star Hallie Klecker

Hallie packs a lot of power in a little package.  She is vibrant and a passionate foodie who loves to share all the goodness about food with everyone.  I hope you will enjoy learning a little more about her.  Make sure you don’t miss her big announcement.

Name: Hallie Klecker

Business and or blog name: Daily Bites

URL: www.dailybitesblog.com

Location: Madison, Wisconsin

Favorite quote: Just like my favorite foods, my favorite quotes change all the time.

I read this one the other day and really love it: “Funny thing about joy, is that you only really find it when you are too busy having fun to go looking for it.” –Unknown

Focus of blog or business: Wholesome Food, Wholesome Living…One Bite at a Time. It’s my hope that readers of my blog go away feeling inspired to cook with fresh, colorful, whole foods that just so happen to be free of gluten, sugar, and dairy.

Social Media I play in: Facebook and Twitter (@hallieklecker)

I started my blog in the month and year: June 2009

Training/education I received: Certified Nutrition Educator and Personal Chef

My favorite healthy food: Fruits and veggies all the way!

My favorite snack food: Raw nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, pecans…you name ‘em, I love ‘em!)

My top 3 healthiest foods I love to eat or recommend: Raw almonds, sweet potatoes, and dark leafy greens.

Childhood ambition: To be a chef.

My favorite cookbook: How do I pick just one? This is by no means a complete list, but here are a few favorites:

Martha Stewart’s Dinner at Home, by Martha Stewart

Super Natural Everyday, by Heidi Swanson

Power Foods, by the editors of Whole Living Magazine

The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen, by Rebecca Katz

The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook, by Alisa Segersten and Tom Malterre

Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free, by Amy Green

Wildest dream: That all of my dreams will come true.

Favorite activity: Getting lost in the pages of a good book.

Favorite thing to cook: Well, you don’t really cook them, but I love making salads. Soups/stews are a close second, though.

Favorite kitchen tool: Just one favorite? You’re killing me, Diane! I have a three-way tie: my VitaMix, by food processor, and my Le Crueset Dutch Oven.

Favorite exercise: I feel best when I keep my exercise routine varied. Including a variety of exercises not only keeps things fresh and fun, but it also prevents injuries. I exercise 5-6 days a week, usually doing a blend of running, walking, yoga, strength training, and plyometrics.

What I you do to treat myself: Splurge on books.

What I do to feel at peace: Find a quiet space, grab a notebook and pen, and journal my heart out. Or, if that’s not an option, I pull down one of my favorite novels from the shelf and read it for the umpteenth time. Words—whether I’m reading them or writing them—have a powerful way of bringing me peace.

Favorite vacation spot: Living in Wisconsin is wonderful for about nine months of the year. But come January, February, and March, I’d give anything (anything except my VitaMix, that is!) to hightail it out of here to someplace warm and sandy.  Several years ago I had the privilege of spending three unforgettable weeks in Hawaii (Maui). That is my very favorite vacation spot to date.

Books I’ve written: I’m in the process of writing my first cookbook, which I actually just announced on my blog recently. All of the recipes in the book will be gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free, based on pure, natural foods.  I hope to release the book later this summer or early fall.

I started my blog to: Inspire other home cooks to get back in their kitchens and fall in love with delicious, nutritious food. My sister is the one who encouraged me to start blogging in the first place. I never in a million years thought that anyone but family members and a few close friends would read it!  It’s amazing to look back on where I came from and see where I am today.

What I hope the people that visit my blog find: Above all, I hope people find a source of inspiration to keep them motivated on their road toward optimal health, cooking at home, and savoring nutritious food. Whether or not they make my recipes (while I would love them to!) is secondary. The most important thing to me is that they leave feeling encouraged to eat well and respect their bodies with what they put into them.

What I love about what I do: Food is a universal symbol of love and connectedness.  Whether it’s a cinnamon roll from childhood or a basket of homegrown garden produce, certain foods hold a special place in the hearts of just about everyone. When people learn that they have to remove gluten, dairy, or another common allergen from their diet, those ties to favorite foods and warm memories are often severed. I love that through blogging about wholesome, gluten-free food and instructing people in the preparation of it through classes, I get to show them that despite a change in lifestyle and diet, joy can still be found in the kitchen.

My greatest success so far: Wholeheartedly believing that with hard work, dedication, and a whole lot of help from others, I really can succeed.

 

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