What is Access to healthy, delicious food?

Access can mean a lot of different things, ranging from dietary restrictions, proximity to groceries, budget, and even the tools you own. I’ll go through a few of them here.

Dietary Restrictions:

Plenty of people these days have dietary restrictions. They are usually medical, like allergies to specific foods, or medical conditions that require specific diets. A few of the most common food allergies and restrictions are: nuts, dairy, lactose, wheat, gluten (present in wheat, barley, rye, and malt), sodium, fat, and dyes. Many people also restrict carbs, sugar, fat, and sodium for health purposes.

Budget/Financial Constraints:

Unfortunately, healthy foods are becoming more and more expensive. Many of us have begun to rely on unhealthy, fast foods, because it’s what we can afford! I’m here to tell you that doesn’t always have to be the case! Learning to use more nutritious inexpensive foods in a tasty way can be an absolute game changer!

Another thing to consider is that not everyone can afford fancy tools that many chefs and home cooks use. A stand mixer can cost $200+! But you can get a hand mixer for about $10! Or theres a good old fashioned whisk and arm power! I am also not a fan of kitchen ‘gadgets’. If its not affordable and multipurpose, its not in my kitchen! One of my goals is to showcase recipes that can be made with only very basic tools. You may see me using some tools, such as an instant pot, here and there, but I’ll always include instructions for those who don’t have that specific tool.

Proximity:

Not only are there financial constraints, lots of people live in what are considered “food deserts.” This just means that people don’t live very close to, or are otherwise unable to get to, larger grocery stores. This means their ingredient list may be much more limited because they just can’t realistically get some ingredients without spending an arm and a leg on shipping! There are also situations where regional ingredients may be substituted for other ingredients because they just cost less! Let me tell you, I almost lost my mind at the price of olive oil when I moved out of New York!

Other:

Even though it’s usually not a medically necessary restriction, people often choose a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle for health or other reasons. I am personally an omnivore, but promise to do my best to offer vegan options when available. Hey, veggies are often way less expensive than meat anyway, right? And I do love my veggies!

Variations:

To me, a recipe is more of a guide than a rule. Why not have fun and substitute different ingredients and create a while new thing? My recipes will often include plenty of suggestions, so you can use what you have on hand and make something wonderful!