Hi! I’m Monica – recipe developer, matcha addict and lover of all things delicious, green and any & all puns. I am also the blogger, real food cook, & bonafide hustler behind the blog ‘The Movement Menu.’ I’m so excited to welcome you to my happy space, where my appreciation of creative recipes and healthy & mindful eats come together to inspire you to live a healthy, balanced life.
Aside from spending a lot of time in the kitchen, I enjoy traveling, spending time with my husband Tim, daughter Sophie, friends and being outdoors. My primary goal has always been to inspire others, leading them on a path to changing their lifestyle and improving their day-by-day quality of life.
I write this blog from the outskirts of San Diego, California. I live in a town called Temecula, which is usually referred to as Southern California’s wine country. I love to work, period. I love working on this blog, and I absolutely love working it out in the kitchen, as well *hence the title of my blog!*
Excited to have you here with me,
-Monica
THE BLOG
The Movement Menu prides itself on creating delicious, healthy and inspired recipes that are easy to make and even easier to eat. The Movement Menu readers have chosen to live healthy and mindful lifestyles. They’re on the search for nutrient dense, gluten free, paleo & Whole30 recipes and meal plans.
They are a part of a community of like-minded people who keep them feeling vibrant and uplifted every day.
Monica started this blog on a whim, but it has turned into her greatest purpose.
She feels like it has become her duty to come up with new and creative ways to eat mindfully, by coming up with incredible recipe ideas that are both nutritionally valuable and taste delicious!
My recipes have been featured on a variety of websites included The Huffington Post, MSN, Shape Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Whole30, Self Magazine, Buzzfeed Food, and Woman’s Day.
MY STORY
Essentially, I started eating Paleo on a bit of a whim. I was feeling rather sluggish after following a vegetarian diet for a little while, and one of my big role models at the time, had just started eating this way. I was only 21, and to tell you the truth, I wanted to be *just* like her.
I started making a few paleo desserts, and that’s what really got me hooked. My thoughts to be summed up were basically: “I can eat chocolate chip cookies that taste better than the real thing, and they are healthier for me? What is this life?!”
After just a few short months of eating strictly paleo, I realized I wanted to stick with it but start using it as a template instead of being far too rigid about it.
I knew that I wanted to have fun with food and by incorporating different types of food (here and there) that weren’t 100% paleo, wouldn’t hurt me.
Contrary to popular belief, I believe you should be able to eat whatever you want. That being said, I also believe that if your body is disagreeing with the food you are putting into it, you should not be putting it there.
I really have loved the Paleo lifestyle, and I believe it has done wonders for my health, inside and out. We all have different dietary needs and our bodies respond accordingly.
What I *do* encourage you to do:
*EAT MINDFULLY*
By starting with a Whole30 and slowly incorporating different food groups into your diet, one by one, you will really tune into which foods leave your body (and mind) feeling the most nourished 😉
I've worked with some really incredible brands and clients over the years.
To find out more about the type of work I do, visit my Work with Me page!
