Hi there! I'm Sally. Welcome to A Foodcentric Life. I'm the professional chef, recipe developer and photographer behind this healthy cooking website. Yes, healthy! It's not a four-letter word. Good for you food should taste great.
Our lives are food-centric because we've got to eat! Food as fuel, food for comfort, food to celebrate, to nourish and heal. It’s in the kitchen that we come together and the best things in life happen.
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What You'll Find on A Foodcentric Life
This website is resource for you, with a focus on fresh whole foods, including lots of plants, nuts, seeds, healthy fats and quality proteins because healthy is a lifestyle that starts in the kitchen.
- Reliable recipes that are well tested and family friendly.
- Substitution and variation notes for different dietary lifestyles.
- FAQ section for commonly asked questions.
- Chef's tips and notes to give you the inside scoop.
My Recipes and Focus
When you're a trained chef, people always ask "what's your speciality?". I'd have to say it's special diets.
I've been gluten-free for more than a dozen years but develop recipes for everyone and all types of diets such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, low histamine, or by many other dietary preferences or necessity. I'm here to help, because I live with them too. I'm here to help you get delicious healthy food on the table.
My Experience
In my 16 years working as a personal chef, private chef, caterer, and recipe developer I've worked with and cooked for famous doctors and NYT best-selling authors, professional athletes, and busy executive families, even a few world leaders. I've taught thousands to eat healthier on stage, in classes, and in this space.
Not bad for a California girl who started flipping burgers at a Newport Beach burger joint before I could drive, and thanks to my mom who really got me started in the kitchen.
My Work
I'm a signature chef to the NY Times million copy bestseller “The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life” developing recipes for The Daniel Plan Cookbook, Five Essentials video series, and a Sony fitness video series. I am the chef behind the recipes for Dr. Mark Hyman’s NY Times bestselling book, Eat Fat Get Thin. I've published articles on healthy living and eating for Brio Magazine.
Professional Training
I'm a professionally trained chef and Certified Health Coach (CHC). I formally trained at the Arts Institute's International Culinary Program (now closed), and received my Certified Health Coaching certification from the International Institute of Nutrition (IIN) because nutrition is my thing too.
My Journey
Health challenges drove me to experiment and change my diet, but the years I cooked professionally many of my clients needed special diets too. That doesn't mean boring or tasteless food. It's the opposite! Food is the best medicine.
I lost weight, detoxed from heavy metals, Lyme and mold, learned to manage histamine intolerance (HIT) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), and recovered from gut dysbiosis. It's amazing what food can do!
I live in Orange County, California, with my husband, Kent. Along with my wonderful neighbors, he is a terrific taste tester!
Some Reader Favorite Recipes
Here are a few of my recipes that have been shared tens of thousands of times.
