Oh em gee. I’m uber excited right now to launch what has been a true labor of love over the last oh, I don’t know, 7 months or so. I’m also kind of nervous (but like the good nervous when you know something amazing is about to happen) because it’s always a little scary to redefine yourself and then share it with the world. Helloooooo, my friend, vulnerability.

To all my friends and fans of Peace, Love, and Food, thank you for being so loyal over the last 4.5 years, and I hope you’ll find the new design and format of the blog to be a welcome change. Although the look and feel of the site may be different, the values and mission behind this blog ain’t changing in the slightest.

You see, I started PLF because I wanted to “inspire a peace of mind around what people eat and a love for nutritious food.” Translation: I wanted readers to know that it’s okay to indulge in a slice of chocolate cake every now and again, guilt and stress-free. And through my fun recipes, nutrition education, and photography, cultivate a love for delicious and healthy food. Well guess what, The Foodie Dietitian is PLF 2.0 – through sharing simple & delicious recipes, beautiful photography, mindfulness musings, and culinary tips & tricks, I want to help people make the connection between healthy and delicious and help people learn to love food again.

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As a tried and true foodie, I have a deep adoration for the food I create and eat. I respect and take interest in where my food comes (and enjoy gabbing with the farmers at my farmer’s market). I take solace in spending time in my kitchen and find it to be even therapeutic at times. The passion for food I hold? I want the same for my readers and I hope to ignite that fire inside of you through my posts.

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Redefining yourself, while slightly terrifying, is also the most gratifying feeling in the world. After losing my job last year, I quickly realized that I very much defined myself by my work (yuck) and I lost myself for a while there, unsure of what new path was the right next step for me.

After months of job applications and interviews, and many, many twists and turns, I felt myself running in circles with no clear purpose. At that point, I escaped to Costa Rica for a yoga retreat with the hope of gaining some clarity and perspective. Amazingly, once I was isolated away from social media (and comparing myself to others) and away from others’ opinions, I was able to feel deep down in my heart that starting my own business and redefining my brand was the only thing that was truly going to excite and energize me. And the only way I was going to feel 100% Kara at the end of the day.

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Around this same time, a dear friend and coach of mine also said something to me one day that totally clicked and completely changed my perspective. She said instead of asking yourself what do you want to do, ask yourself who do you want to be?

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And then it became less about the job and the work and more about me as a person. Once I got clear on who I wanted to be, the decision became obvious. I got real with what I essentially knew all along (from truthfully before I was even laid off), and that was I wanted to start my own business. I was just too scared and had a million and one excuses not to that I wouldn’t admit it to myself.

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My business is two-fold: nutrition coaching and consulting – everything from nutrition communications and marketing to recipe development and food photography. Learn more about my coaching and consulting services here.

Inspired by the yoga retreat, I also signed up for yoga teacher training this summer at Back Bay Yoga Studio to get my yoga teaching certification. It’s been an amazing experience thus far and I can’t wait to share more about it with you in future posts.

Stay tuned for more from The Foodie Dietitian, and in the meantime, I’d love to hear from you! This blog will obviously continue to evolve over time so I want to hear from you on what topics you’d like covered, what recipe makeovers you’d like to see, and what inspiration you’re seeking.

BIG thank you and shout-out to all my family, friends, and colleagues who have supported me throughout this journey! Much love to you all.

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Bon appétit!

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57 Comments

  1. Norma

    I found you on LoseIt. Specifically Butternut Squash Kale Slow Cooker Lasagna. Can it be grain-free (eggplant??) I am not a good cook but need to eat GF Thank you!
    normafloyd@juno.com

  2. Congrats! Your blog is beautiful and you’re an inspiration yourself. I am a firm believer in following your dreams and being happy. I hope to get into a full time position I love doing someday. Can’t wait to follow along on your journey!

    • Wow. Thank you SO much, Alanna! You WILL do what you love full-time someday. As long as you have that fire within and you put it out into the universe, it will happen. Can’t wait to follow along YOUR journey. I’m sure it will be a fun ride 🙂

  3. Nina Crowley

    Hi Kara! Love your inspiring new blog post and great new site! Looks like you are following your passion- how amazing! Hope we cross paths again!

  4. Jackie Tramacera

    I am obsessed with this blog! It is gorgeous and YOU are gorgeous. Congrats on following your passion. So proud of you!!! xoxoxo

  5. Kristen @ Swanky Dietitian

    Love the new site, Kara!!! I know great things are ahead!

  6. This is my first time here, so I don’t know what your site was like before but it looks beautiful now! I can’t wait to follow you going forward I will be wishing all the best and cheering for you!

  7. I’m just discovering you and your website, Kara! Looking forward to following your newly-redesigned blog and getting great inspiration from fellow foodie dietitian!

  8. Congrats! :] Your site looks awesome!

  9. Sarah Gold

    Congrats, Kara! The site is beautiful! I look forward to lots of delicious recipes and more from you!

  10. Your site is soooo beautiful Kara! Best of luck and much success to you!

  11. Whoo hooo!!!! The site looks fantastic and I’m so so glad you poured your heart out in this post. I think it will be inspiring to oh so many of us RDs who have their own shingle out there – you’ll have lots to share with us at Blog Brulee 🙂 Thrilled for you!

  12. What a gorgeous site & congrats Kara! Embrace the vulnerability 🙂 So exciting that you’re doing training at BBY – I miss that place since I left Boston last year.

    • Thanks, Lauren! Yes, Brene Brown taught me a thing or two about embracing the vulnerability ;). BBY is wonderful – so grateful to be doing my training there. Wish we would have met while you were in Boston. Let me know if you’re ever back in town for a visit!

  13. Congrats Kara! The site is gorgeous and you are an inspiration. Looking forward to following your successes! xo Lauren

  14. OMG Kara! I am so so pumped for you and this venture. It’s really inspiring that you had the courage to redefine yourself and turn from the ickiness you felt in putting your worth in your career. I can so relate to that and I have to surrender that every. single. day (even though I don’t always do what’s best for me). Your site is gorgeous and those photos are precious!! Also– I’m super excited that you will be at Blog Brûlée!

    • Ah, Kristina!! You’re such a sweetheart. Thanks so so much! Listening to my intuition and knowing (and doing) what’s best for me is definitely still a WIP, but it makes the journey all the more fun and interesting along the way. Glad to hear that you can relate! I’m super psyched to catch up with you at Blog Brûlée too!

  15. Here’s to catching your dreams! Your site is beautiful! Go get ’email Kara!!

  16. The new site looks GREAT!!! Well done, and good on you for being brave enough to make the change and move on and over past the excuses to get this all happening! 🙂

  17. Beautiful site! Worth the wait. And your pics are adorable (YOU are adorable).

  18. Cindy Conway

    So excited for you, Kara! Best wishes to you in your new endeavors!
    Another thought for you…..a book?! I love reading your blogs! You are an awesome writer! Very thoughtful….I can feel your passion in every word:)

  19. Lauren

    Wonderful! A scary leap but I’m sure it will pay off. Beautiful pictures 🙂 Congrats!!

  20. Elizabeth Lydon

    Looks awesome.. So proud of you and your ambition and courage! Love you

  21. Min

    Congratulations, Kara! Love the new look! I can def tell you put your heart and soul into this. So excited for what’s to come ahead, and I look forward to following your journey. I thought about starting my own business, but the thought just terrifies me…I admire your courage!

    • Aw, thanks, MJ!!! That means so much to me to hear you say that. Appreciate the support & encouragement! And btw, you’d totally rock the business world if you wanted to. I can tell you already have that entrepreneurial spirit 😉

  22. Alissa Rumsey

    Congrats Kara, I am SO excited for you! The site looks amazing – love it!!

  23. Tracy Denny

    love the website! so proud of you

  24. Yvonne Morales

    Congratulations Kara! The website looks amazing!

  25. Josie.l.hoff@gmail.com

    Amazing…way to go for your dream!!

  26. Ellen Weber

    P.S. The website looks beautiful! Great photography!

  27. Ellen Weber

    Hurray, Kara!!!
    Good luck to you!!! Send you much love and wishing you great success!!!