Friday Foodie – Alyssa of Everyday Maven

It's Friday! Besides being a really awesome day, it's also when we get to meet a new food blogger. Today we have Alyssa of Everyday Maven. She is one of the amazing, truly inspiring food bloggers who you can totally relate to. At least I do! I have put on a lot of weight recently and I could blame a lot of things, but ultimately it is me and my choices.

Alyssa has struggled with this and masters how to pick yourself up and make the necessary food choices that still taste great, but are better for me (and you), that and portion control! Her recipes and a few others are going to get me back under control!

Let's meet Alyssa!

[1] Have you always been a foodie, or is that something you grew into?

My mom is a classically trained French Chef so I grew up learning how to cook and to appreciate food. Playing with ingredients and recipes was just part of what we did!.

[2] How and why did you begin your blog?

I started Everyday Maven in 2011 after I had my first son. I had a ton of baby weight to lose and decided to go to Weight Watchers. The program made sense to me but the food that was encouraged did not (low fat, artificial ingredients, preservatives, etc.). So, I began creating my own whole food, Weight Watchers friendly recipe to share with other like-minded people.

As my personal eating has evolved, so has Everyday Maven. While the recipes I share still have the Weight Watchers Points Plus listed as a service to some of my readers, I no longer follow the program or subscribe to it. I have found that a real food diet, low in refined carbs and sugars is best for my body. Many of my recipes are naturally Paleo, Primal, Low Carb and Low Glycemic. They are mostly gluten free, grain free and dairy free.

[3] What’s your favorite thing to make/cook?

Soup! Some of my favorites are Chicken Sausage Soup with Vegetables (kind of like my kitchen sink soup), Punjabi Style Chicken Soup with Cabbage, Vegetarian Hot & Sour Soup, Creamy Parsnip Soup with Sausage and Greens and of course almost any kind of chili – right now it’s this Steak Chili.

[4] What is your favorite thing to eat?

Probably anything Asian.

[5] What is your comfort food?

Asian food, soup, baked potato skin, cheese, and something salty and crunchy.

[6] Describe your perfect food day?

Great question! I am sitting here a little over 5 months pregnant as I answer this so my current tastes are very clearly influencing this question.

A simple breakfast at home of scrambled eggs with truffle salt, fresh avocado and some type of vegetable paired with a mug of hot tea.

Lunch would have to be a Chinese feast. There is a healthy Chinese restaurant in Philadelphia, PA (my hometown) that I am thinking of. Hot and Sour Soup, Chicken Soong (chopped chicken and vegetables you wrap in crisp lettuce leaves), Steamed Chicken Wonton’s, Spicy Beef and Broccoli and some type of interesting Shrimp dish. Served with some steamed white rice and hot chili oil.

Dinner would have to be Indian, Thai or Mexican. Something hot and spicy with layers and layers of flavor.

I am not a huge dessert person but love a little something sweet like Salted Dark Chocolate Caramels from Fran’s Chocolates after a good meal. My other favorite snack is organic popcorn popped in butter or olive oil with more melted butter on it and nutritional yeast.

[7] What are three other blogs that inspire you?

Gourmande in The Kitchen

Chew Town

Food To Glow

[8] Do you have advice for bloggers just starting out?

Don’t try to master everything at once. Get your own domain. Make sure you have a queue of finished posts not only posted (4 to 5 posted) but ready to be published so you can begin posting on a somewhat dependable schedule.

Trust yourself and don’t try to be like everyone else. Your voice and style are what will make you stand out!

Thanks Alyssa!

Keep up with Alyssa’s tasty tidbits on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest and of course by visiting Everyday Maven.

How about you? What would you like to ask Alyssa?

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