If you have questions about low carb diet and lifestyle then continue reading our interview with author Kyndra Holley.
1. You have a past in the restaurant and service industry. What were some of the things about that industry that would really make you shake your head?
I am always in awe of just how rude a hungry person can be. There is definitely a reason that the word “hangry” came to be. I have to admit, all my years in the restaurant industry left me questioning my faith in humanity. People seem to lose their social graces when they dine out. Never trust anyone that is mean to their server. Or a poor tipper.
2. People mostly equate health with weight. Why is that a dangerous mindset to have?
This is such a tricky one. I think that to some degree, society and mass media have groomed us to believe this. Some of the sickest people I know are in a completely healthy weight range. On the other side of that, some of the heaviest people I know are some of the fittest. It is possible to be fit and overweight. It is also possible to be what I like to call “Skinny fat”. Overall health and vitality is so much more than a number on a scale. I think we have lost sight of total wellness in exchange for the pursuit of a lower number on the scale.
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3. You are a very active person: doing weights, yoga, playing with your pups. Why is maintaining a healthy lifestyle not just about eating healthy but also being active and moving around?
I like to think of eating well and moving your body as a 401k for your health later in life. You wouldn’t drive a car for years and year without ever getting an oil change, doing routine maintenance or putting gas in the tanks. Why then would you let your body fall into a state of disrepair. I move my body because I honor and respect it. I want to be an active person well into my golden years and keeping active now is laying the groundwork for that.
4. Do you constantly educate your children on your lifestyle and on why it is important for them to understand the consequences of what food can do to their body?
We have been pretty fortunate with their eating habits. They are not picky at all. We introduced them to a wide variety of foods at a very young age. There are very few foods that they don’t like. The love being my recipe testers and giving me their feedback. Now that they are in their teenage years, they are eating a lot more.
5. What are some of the takeaways you had after quitting the restaurant industry and which you brought with you to Peace, Love and Low Carb?
I brought with me a deep love of real food and the magic that happens when you transform every day ingredients into something mouth-watering. I was also able to leave with a strong work ethic and the comfort of knowing that I will always land on my feet any time I take a big leap of faith. I have no doubt that all my years in the restaurant industry have played a huge part in the success of my blog and my cookbooks.
6. You use fresh ingredients in your recipe. For someone who doesn’t understand why you use them instead of whatever you can find in a grocery, can you explain the importance of using fresh and whole foods in your recipes?
I believe in a whole, real food approach to health and wellness. Packaged convenience foods are full of chemicals and nasty additives. Our modern food is so polluted. Those convenience foods come at a cost. And that cost is usually at the expense of your health. That being said, I am a firm believer in doing the best you can, with what you have.
I worked really hard to be able to get only locally sourced, grass-fed meats, organic vegetables, pastured eggs etc. While it can be more expensive, I choose to vote with my dollars. You can always find room in your budget if it is important enough to you. Trust me, this is coming from a girl that used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, with an extra-large mocha in her hand. That girl would have told you that real food was too expensive. But not this girl. It’s about priorities.
7. In your opinion, what is it about Peace, Love and Low Carb that keeps your visitors coming back for more?
I think it is that my recipes are accessible and approachable for all skill levels. There are no hard to find, funky ingredients. Only foods that you could find in any grocery store. I also believe that because I have shared so much of myself through the blog and social media, people feel like they know me, instead of just feeling like I am a nameless recipe machine behind a computer.
8. You have so many recipes and you love coming up with new ones. Do you ever make the same recipe again? And what is your inspiration behind coming up with new recipes?
Between writing recipes for the blog and my cookbooks, there aren’t a lot of repeats. I am usually on to the next thing. However, we do have a few favorites that always stay in rotation. I find inspiration everywhere. I literally have notebooks full or recipe ideas. Even if I never had another recipe idea, I would still have enough stockpiled to write several more full-length cookbooks.
9. People usually confuse healthy food with tasteless food. How are your recipes different in terms of ensuring that both quality and health factor into them?
That is one of the most beautiful things about a low carb template. We get to eat things like butter, bacon, avocado and cheese. Most of my favorite foods are naturally low carb. There is no shortage of flavor on a low carb lifestyle.
10. What is it about food and creating new recipes that gives you peace and love?
I feel a sense of joy wash over me the second I step into the kitchen. It’s as if I am standing in front of a blank canvas with the opportunity to paint a masterpiece. I am so in my element that it’s like nothing can touch me. The kitchen truly is my happy place. It could only be better if that kitchen was in Maui, my other happy place.
11. You have millions of visitors on your blog. Do you ever feel pressured to make sure people are following the path of healthy lifestyle and that watching you inspires them to do?
I don’t feel pressured to make sure they are living their lives in any certain way. I learned a long time ago that you can’t want things for people more than they want them for themselves. Instead, I just hope that the tools, resources, and recipes on my site make it easier for those actively trying to make lasting change to their health and wellness. Or you know, those just looking for delicious low carb recipes.
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12. We all have cravings. What is your one secret craving that you must always have?
I would say that is probably sushi. I could eat sushi for every meal and never get tired of it. If you were to ask what my guilty pleasures are, then I would tell you that there are two foods I cannot have in my house at all – doritos and peanut M&Ms. You could literally put a giant cake in the center of my kitchen counter and I could resist it without issue. You put 1 single dorito in my pantry and it will call to me. In terms of healthy cravings and things that I do actually eat regulary, I would say anything dill pickle flavored. I am obsessed with dill pickles.
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