Hi, I'm Alissa.

I created Nourishing Meals® to help people turn their unique dietary needs into nourishing, everyday meals. What began with a love of cooking grew into decades of studying nutrition, writing cookbooks, and helping families discover that eating for their health can be both practical and enjoyable.

I've been cooking and creating recipes since I was ten years old. That early love of food grew into a lifelong passion for nutrition as my own experiences deepened my understanding of how food supports our health.

In college in the late 1990s, I struggled with severe digestive issues and IBS. Searching for answers drew me into nutrition and gut health, beginning a path that would shape both my education and my life's work.

“I know how draining symptoms can become, and how much it matters to have support as you figure out what works for your body.”

After earning my Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University in 2003, I began working as a personal chef in Seattle, Washington, in 2004. Preparing nourishing meals for others helped me bring nutrition into everyday practice. The following year, I began writing The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook, bringing together my love of whole foods cooking and the practical knowledge I wanted to share.

When my second daughter, Grace, reacted to gluten as a young toddler, it deepened my inspiration to develop gluten-free recipes and my understanding of what it takes to create a gluten-free household. I wanted meals made with whole food ingredients and satisfying flavors that everyone at the table could enjoy. Cooking for my own family taught me how much the small, practical details matter when making dietary changes part of everyday life.

“Developing recipes has always been about helping people enjoy the foods and traditions they love while honoring their dietary needs.”

My writing eventually expanded to include Nourishing Meals and, as co-author, The Elimination Diet. Together with The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook, these books brought nutrition education into the daily practice of preparing food. Building on my bachelor's degree in nutrition, I later earned a master's in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, deepening the science behind the recipes and education I share.

From recipes to everyday support

Alongside the books, an online community was taking shape. In 2008, I began sharing recipes and nutrition education through Nourishing Meals®. As the community grew, readers began asking a question that recipes alone left open. How could they find meals that worked for all their dietary needs at once?

Someone might need meals without gluten, eggs, almonds, or tomatoes while also considering a partner's preferences or a child's food sensitivities. I understood how much time could go into finding a recipe before the cooking even began.

Those conversations inspired us to begin developing the membership platform in 2018. We brought our recipes together with detailed dietary filters so you could find meals that fit your needs, then organize them into meal plans with automatic grocery lists. The goal was to make the space between knowing what to eat and getting dinner on the table easier to navigate.

We designed that flexibility to support you as your needs change, too. During elimination diet reintroductions, for example, you can search for recipes that include the food you're adding back while continuing to exclude the foods you're avoiding.

Making room for real life

Cooking with whole foods often begins before it's time to make dinner. Beans may need soaking, broth needs time to simmer, and preparing a few staples can make the rest of the week easier. Meal prep reminders grew from those everyday needs, helping you remember the steps that make a planned meal possible.

We also wanted meal planning to reflect how people actually cook. Some weeks, you want to choose every recipe yourself. Other weeks, you need help putting a plan together or finding a meal that uses what's already in your refrigerator. Bringing your own family recipes together with ours, saving plans you want to use again, and organizing ingredients into a shopping list all help you build a routine that works for your life.

Understanding your food is part of that confidence. Our ingredient library connects nutrition education with practical guidance on choosing, storing, and cooking whole foods. Our nutrient library explores how nutrients work in your body, while detailed recipe nutrition information helps you see what your meals provide. Together, these resources help you make informed choices about the foods you prepare.

Having people to learn alongside matters, too. Our community forum offers a place to ask questions, share what you're cooking, and celebrate the changes taking shape in your kitchen and your life.

A shared purpose

The family kitchen that inspired so much of this work also helped shape my daughters' love of food. Today, Grace and Lily bring their own creativity, experiences, and perspectives to Nourishing Meals®, continuing the work that began around our family table.

Together, we share a belief that nourishing food should be accessible, enjoyable, and adaptable to the needs of each person and family.

Our hope is that you find more than recipes here. We want you to feel supported as you learn what works for your body, build confidence in your kitchen, and make nourishing meals a lasting part of your life.