1. Welcome to FHGC! Thank you for joining us. Tell me about yourself and what keeps you blooming in your purpose?
I’m Kait! I’m from the East Coast but currently living out West with my love, Jered, and our two pups, Evra and Winston. I have a B.S. in Health and Wellness and my graduate degree from the University of Virginia, where I focused in health behavior change and motivating people to lead a healthy life. I finished grad school with no clue as to what I wanted to do, but I did know I was passionate about healthy eating, traveling, and trying new restaurants. My husband, Jered encouraged me to start a website & business that encompasses all of those topics and here I am now! I recently just launched my new food & travel website that lists all the yummy, healthy, and indulgent restaurants across the US. I’m not just talking salads and wraps, I’m talking burgers, ice cream, and everything in-between. Life is about balance and enjoyment and it’s my passion & purpose to share all the real food eats with you!
2. What does wellness mean to you, in one word? How are you balancing wellness in your everyday life?
Wellness is YOU. That may sound silly, but it really is all about you and finding what works for your life. What makes you feel good, what makes you thrive, how you like to exercise, and what you like to eat. I have to take every health and wellness article or new trend I see on social media with a grain of salt, because recently I found myself the complete opposite of “balancing wellness”. I started trying all of these various diets to make me feel better and ultimately, they made me feel 10x worse. I began labeling foods as “good” or “bad”, as if they had a morale. Like, I didn’t even want to eat a piece of fruit for fear it would make me gain weight or make my stomach hurt. It was a dangerous place to be. I also forgot the basics and what used to make me feel healthy. For me, I try to balance wellness by staying active through activities I enjoy doing and by eating a diet full of fruits, veggies, healthy fats, and quality proteins. I treat myself to dessert every single night, even if it’s a peanut butter cup or yogurt mixed with peanut butter. It’s something I look forward to every single day. Health isn’t just about a healthy or “fit” body, it’s also about a healthy mind.
3. What’s an exciting accomplishment you have made so far on your wellness journey?
Something I’ve been working on this year is finding balance and not focusing on what every person in the wellness world is doing. I wouldn’t say I’ve accomplished this, because honestly, do we ever accomplish balance? But, I will say I’ve come a long way in my healthy lifestyle as far as exercise and nutrition go. I kind of touched a little on this in the previous question, but I had to examine my thought processes around food and work on establishing a positive relationship with food. My restrictions and the parameters I put on food (not because I had any food allergies) were affecting my mood, relationships, and social life. I decided to take a step back in order to realize what was most important in my health journey. I think letting go to an extent and not focusing so much on every ingredient that goes in my mouth has been a huge accomplishment for me. It’s also made me a lot happier and in a sense, more free. I’m not saying ingredients aren’t important, but micromanaging food can really take a toll on you, at least from my experience.
4. The FH lifestyle is about planting your health on higher ground. What is your biggest advice to someone who is on the path to flourishing heights?
Number one piece of advice: Find people that support you and care about your wellness journey. There’s so many supplements and health advice out there, which makes it important to do your own research and find someone knowledgeable to help you along the way. You won’t see change, results, or even feel better overnight. It’s a slow process and a challenge, but finding what works for you and discovering what makes you feel the best is such a rewarding experience. It’s also an opportunity to try new things, whether that be food or exercise, and stick to what you enjoy doing.