Over the last 20 years, I have completely reinvented my relationship with food. I was in my teens and early 20s during the early 2000s toxic diet culture, not to mention a lifetime of our culture's problematic food beliefs before that.

As I've grown older, I've learned - both from experience and from good old fashioned research. As I moved into motherhood and began to overanalyze every label, I began to see it was just easier to make it all myself. That way, at least I know what's in it.

I'm not a food scientist but here are some principles I believe in that I'm not budging on. I'm sure they won't work for everyone, but they work for me.

These are the hills I will happily die on.

carbs are not the enemy

Your brain and muscles love carbs — they’re literally fuel for your day. Bread, pastries, cookies… they’re not something to fear. Enjoying them, especially when they’re made thoughtfully and from scratch, is part of living well and savoring life.

you are not “bad” for making or enjoying treats

Food isn’t a moral issue. One cookie, one slice of cake, one more slice of warm sourdough with butter doesn’t define you — it’s the joy you get from it that counts. Next time you catch yourself about to say "Let's be bad and get dessert", reframe it as something like "Let's get the flourless chocolate cake, it looks divine!"

ingredients matter more than health claims

Many labels are misleading by design — “low-fat,” “keto,” “high-protein” — but what’s actually inside matters more. Real butter, chocolate that smells like chocolate, flour you can actually recognize… choosing something from a small bakery like mine means you'll get actual ingredients instead of a chemistry experiment.

one meal won’t make or break your health

Life is built on patterns, not perfection. Enjoying a homemade treat doesn’t undo your healthy habits — it adds to your life, your energy, and your enjoyment. Slow living, soft mornings, cozy kitchens — that’s the bigger picture.

moderation beats restriction

Extreme rules almost always backfire. Balance, flexibility, and a little indulgence create habits that stick — and make the whole process of cooking, baking, and enjoying life more joyful.

your body deserves nourishment, not punishment

"Eat food, not too much, mostly plants." It's not dramatic to say this quote from food writer Michael Pollan changed my life. His books are worth a read if you want to forge a healthier relationship with food. There is room for treats, there is indulgence without guilt or shame, and you can nourish your body in whatever way makes you feel healthy and whole.

At the end of the day, these are my kitchen truths. They’re about honoring your body, celebrating real ingredients, and enjoying the little things that make a house feel like home. And if you ever want a treat that’s truly handmade — baked with care, attention, and ingredients you can trust — well, that’s my favorite kind of magic to share.