About Stephanie and Taste of Good
Hey there, I’m Stephanie; a certified life, health + wellness coach; turned sustainable-living blogger and healthy recipe creator.
I’m passionate, smart, goofy, bubbly, caring, and hard-working. I am a genuine, loving, loyal, a dedicated friend and trustworthy confidant to my family and friends. I’m relentlessly curious and yearn to understand each new topic as fully as I possibly can. I am also way too critical of myself and catch myself wanting to do everything perfectly. So yes, I’m a recovering perfectionist who still has a lot of work to do.
My life’s journey has taken me across oceans, borders, language barriers, and through a lot of twists and turns. Today, I live in Boulder, Colorado (moved here in 2019), where I feel more at home than I have ever felt in my life. My husband Brad, our dog Lucy, and I are loving the mountain life. Hiking is my absolute favorite thing to do. I love being surrounded by nature, breathing in the fresh air, and filling my soul with Mother Earth’s exquisite beauty.
I also love to bring nature into our home, at the moment of this writing, I have about 50 house plants (that’s reasonable…right?). If you’re a friend of mine on social media you might have seen evidence of this, please support my love (read: addiction) with encouragement and feedback. We plant people must stick together.
Passion for a Taste of Good
I’m most passionate about creating recipes that inspire others to eat healthfully AND enjoy every bite. I know that eating delicious food that is also healthy is not only possible – it’s magic! Creating Vegetarian or Vegan recipes that inspire others to eat less meat or find a way to adopt a healthier lifestyle through love and encouragement (not shame and bullying) is so enriching and exciting. I also thrive on helping and educating my peeps on sustainable living choices and changes that they can make in their lives. As our planet continues to struggle, it’s so important for each of us to recognize the power we have. We have power through our choices, and to embrace sustainable lifestyle as much as we can. Fun fact that most of these changes are also sweet money savers.
So now that you know the Stephanie of today. Let’s take a little walk down memory lane to see what brought me to this point and to creating TasteofGood.com
The Early Days – Switzerland
I was born in the United States, but I spent my younger childhood years in Switzerland. I have very fond memories of those early days. Even though I was very young, I savored precious moments with my family, like preparing and enjoying meals together. One of my favorite spots was the kitchen. I was always at my mother’s side, ready to “help” with the “super important” tasks. Switzerland is also where my love for nature and the mountains was born. My memories of hiking with my father always make me smile. It was wonderful growing up surrounded by the unspoiled nature of the Swiss mountains. Here’s little me in the kitchen with my big sister, at our small stove. Mom would give us cooked rice and butter so we could “make our rice” on our tiny burner and baby pot. Clearly, we were creating some groundbreaking recipes there!
On the Move – Bahamas
When I was 13 years old, my Mom, siblings, and I moved to the Bahamas. I spent the remaining years of my childhood and also finished high-school there. Moving from the punctual, snowy, old-world Switzerland to the slow, sunny beach-life of the Bahamas was quite an adjustment. My siblings and I found ourselves at home there remarkably fast. We learned to adapt to the new language (English and Bahamian ‘Island-English’) and, of course, also ‘Island Time (a.k.a. nothing is ever on time). We grew to love the ocean and our new way of life. Here I am with my little brother soaking up the sun, and it’s clear he much better at it than I am.
Growing up in different countries awarded me many wonderful opportunities. I soaked up the different cultures, languages, and of course, the culinary offerings. It also taught me to be adaptable, resilient, and self-sufficient. These discovered strengths are what sustained me and brought me to you today.
Education + Experience
Going off to college brought me back to America; I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and was able to get a taste of the South. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology. After undergrad, I was eager to move on to grad school for Clinical Psychology. Shortly after I began my studies in a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program, I experienced intense health problems. My symptoms were so severe that it forced me to put my education on hold. I’ve always had a ‘sensitive stomach,’ but I was experiencing debilitating digestive issues. I was also suffering from excruciating migraines. This affected my daily life so severely that I developed intense anxiety and was basically house-bound.
I knew in my heart that I had to make some serious changes in my life! So I went on a soul-searching and body-healing journey. I took an honest look at myself and my life and finally asked myself what I really desired for my future. This led me to dig into health and nutrition studies to empower myself. I wanted to find the balance my body needed through my nutrition and lifestyle choices. With time and patience, I found my way to that place; through lots of books, research, and support. Now I am in a much better place with my health and my goals. My journey has inspired me to work hard to help others find the answers they’re seeking in their lives.
Becoming a Health Coach
My search for learning and understanding led me through several study programs to gain as much knowledge as I could. In the first online study program I earned my Certificate as a Nutritional Consultant. It sparked my curiosity and interest in this world of self-empowerment and self-healing. Then I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and gained my Health Coach Certification. During my time with IIN, I got a taste for coaching and I instantly knew that I wanted to learn more about it. I really craved to expand my knowledge in life coaching so I could assist my clients in more than just their health and wellness. I wanted to be able to support them in their soul-searching times and even their day to day struggles.
Becoming a Life Coach
I further developed my coaching skills with the International Coach Academy (ICA). This is where the coaching bug really bit me, and I just knew that this was my sweet spot. I loved connecting with clients and seeing their growth and celebrating their wins with them. The ICA’s Certified Coach Training Program is an in-depth and well-rounded course. It spans over a year-and-half and is approved by the International Coach Federation (ICF). The ICF is the world leader and main certifying body in the world of coaching. I am certified through the ICF as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC). Want to know more? I’ve got more info on coaching and my coaching style. You can also read my Client Testimonials, where some of my former coaching clients have shared their experiences of our time together.
Creating Taste of Good
As I was building my coaching business and working with clients, I kept yearning for a place where my knowledge and helpful lifestyle shifts could reach more people. I also developed an ever-growing passion for sustainable-living and helping others find ways to be more earth-friendly in their choices. I saw how these changes brought such a deep sense of peace and joy to my client’s lives. So I started working on TasteofGood.com and found that the response to my work here, especially my recipes and sustainable-living insights was reaching further than I could have ever imagined. As my site’s reach grew, I discovered my love for this online community. I love working in partnerships with individuals and brands. I’m always looking for new ways to grow and empower our collective community. If you have any input on how we can work together for this shared goal of improving health and happiness, please be sure to connect with me.
What About You?
Now that you know about me, why don’t you come and tell me about yourself?
- Let’s meet up in your inbox! Join my VIPs mailing list (Very Informed Peeps), so I can send you site updates, coupons, and VIP-only content.
- Interested in Working with Me? Connect with me, and let’s see if it’s a good fit.
- General thoughts and questions? Feel free to contact me and tell me what’s on your mind.
- Don’t forget to connect with me on my Social Media Platforms.