About me

Greetings! I'm Chris your personal plant-based food guru. I am passionate about sharing the amazing benefits of following a plant-based diet. "Plant based" can mean different things to different people. My plant-based journey began more than 10 years ago. Having honed my culinary skills at the Art Institute of Houston, I went on to chef at various fine dining restaurants throughout the city. It wasn't until I welcomed my first child that I began to really think about the nutritional value of the foods I put on my table at home. My personal interests began to shift from trendy, fine-dining to more nutritionally sound and whole foods. I went from creating foams, froths, and foie gras to making fresh nut milks, sprouting seeds, and fermenting vegetables. Health and nutrition have become a true passion and incorporating them into my practices as a chef has been an exciting and rewarding journey.

Within my own family, I first began by incorporating more vegetables into what we were already eating while also switching to exclusively organic, pastured animal proteins. I then began to cut our weekly animal protein consumption down little by little until we were left with only seafood, eggs and dairy. Continuing on that trend, I eventually found myself following a vegan diet. I have been fully vegan for over 3 years now and I couldn't feel better! I love the impact that it has had on my health, my energy, and the environment.

I'm not proposing that a vegan diet is the right option for everyone! However, I strongly believe that incorporating more fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes into any diet is a step in the right direction. Just take a look at these facts:

1 in 5 deaths in the U.S. are now being attributed to poor diet
More than 70% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese
63% of American's calories come from processed or refined foods
Only 12% of Americans' calories come from plant-based food; and half of that is from French fries alone!

Many people like the idea of eating a healthier, plant-based diet but have a hard time following through or even getting started. That's where I come in! Don't let the following excuses deter you from reaching your full nutrition potential:

"I don't have time to cook everyday"
"I don't have time to shop for fresh produce"
"Healthy food is boring and doesn't taste good"
"My family won't eat vegetables"
"Eating plant-based is too expensive"

If time is your issue, let Plants 2 Plates do the shopping, cooking, and cleaning. If money is the predominant factor, let me show you how you can actually SAVE money by basing your diet on vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. If picky family members are holding you back, let's devise a plan that will gradually incorporate a healthier way of eating into your family's daily routine.

Oh, and to finish off the "story of me".... After having 3 children in Houston and living the 'perfect' life in the 'perfect' house in the 'perfect' neighborhood, my husband and I decided to uproot and move our little family to the Pacific Northwest. Our love of the outdoors and our commitment to raising our children in it where the predominant motivations. We have spent the last 5 years on epic family adventures throughout the PNW. From bike tours to backcountry trekking and hundreds of adventures in between. We have had an amazing journey.... all fueled by the power of plants!

Having recently relocated from Seattle, I am excited to be offering my services to Bellinghamsters who are looking to increase their health, decrease their carbon footprint, or simply eat darn tasty meals in the comfort of their own homes.

My goal at Plants 2 Plates is to get you feeling healthier, happier, and more energetic one plant at a time.