Hey there! I am so thrilled to be taking over In it 4 the Long Run today! I’m part of Georgie and Christina’s kick-butt Bloggers Gonna Blog group, and interacting with everyone in the group is always a highlight of my day. Both Georgie and Christina do so much to support the blogging community; I’m completely humbled to be a part of it!

I run Fooduzzi.com, a food blog that focuses on classic recipes made plant-based, gluten free, and healthy. Starting Fooduzzi, a place where I can write, share healthy recipes, and connect with readers like you has be the single best thing I have ever done. Food blogging is my passion, and I’m so honored to be able to share a little bit of it with you today!

What’s your story, morning glory?

I started my blog, Fooduzzi.com, in December 2014. At the time, I was a junior in college with no clue what I wanted to do with my life. But I ended up majoring in Information Systems Management and worked on Fooduzzi when I could. Little did I know, Fooduzzi would become such an incredible creative outlet for me – I’m so thankful for my little corner of the internet every single day!

After I graduated in May 2015, I moved in with my boyfriend, Mark, and I started work at an accounting firm. Mark & I bought a kitten, Maya, a couple of months ago. After I graduated, I started to take a more business-focused view with my blog, and I’ve started working with brands like Bob’s Red Mill, DeLallo Foods, and Costco. I recently got a job with Jessica from How Sweet It Is, so I’ve been learning a ton about the blogging “industry” from her.  I’ve realized that blogging is really what I’m called to do, so I’m trying to put as much time and energy into making it work!

Why did you start your blog?

I started Fooduzzi for a couple of reasons actually! For one, the “Freshman 15” was a very very real thing for me. In the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college, I got back on track and totally fell in love with learning about health and cooking. I found some healthy-eating/healthy-lifestyle blogs, namely Oh She Glows and Chocolate-Covered Katie, and I was pretty much in awe of the fact that these awesome ladies created a career out of their love of food and writing.

Another reason: Mark was the one that actually helped me set it up and helped me come up with a name. He has always believed in me and my blog, and he has encouraged me countless times just to start. He’s an entrepreneur too, so he understands that starting is half the battle!

What’s your favorite recipe you’ve shared on the blog?

SO tough! I think recently it would be a tie between my Roasted Broccoli & Quinoa Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing, Thai Burrito Bowls, and Super Rich and Fudgy Gluten Free Brownies! But I have some oldies, like my Pesto Hummus, that I’m still in love with.

Do you have a favorite part of the blogging process?

Even as a kid, I loved to write, so the writing part is my absolute favorite. I don’t have much of a chance to be as crazy and colorful as I am on the blog at my 9-5, so I really value my posts as a creative outlet. I also recently upgraded my camera and have started to learn the finer points of food photography, so I’ve started to fall in love with photography!

So I know your favorite food is peanut butter (aka why I know we’d get along) what’s your favorite peanut butter flavor combo?

If I’m being completely honest with you, my favorite way to enjoy peanut butter is via spoon. I lovelovelove the rich indulgence that is dipping a spoon into a giant jar of peanut butter at the end of a long day. As for a food combo though, we have Thai Peanut Sauce every single week: Sriracha, garlic, ginger, honey, and peanut butter. So incredibly satisfying. OOH! And peanut butter + honey on toast is THE best.

If you were given a 1-way plane ticket and had to live in a different country for 3 months, where would you go? Why?

Rome, Italy. I actually lived there for three months in college as a part of a study abroad program, but I definitely wasn’t in the right mindset to really, truly enjoy it. Without going into too much detail, I was struggling with some disordered eating habits while I was there (I know, in the greatest food capital of the world), so I’d really like the chance to go there again and do it right.

When you’re at a restaurant what’s one food or ingredient that always gets you to consider ordering that meal?

Peanut butter! Haha. Also roasted veggies. I always say it on my blog, but I think there is no better way to treat a veggie than to roast it.

What’s your go-to drink at a coffee shop?

I’m a tea-freak! Normally I’ll go with a green tea, but there’s this coffee shop right down the street from our apartment that sells THE best Hot Turmeric Tonic tea eeeever. It’s spicy, gingery, and totally, ridiculously addicting.

If you sit down for coffee with anyone in the world, who would it be?

Angela from Oh She Glows. I’ve had the chance to have drinks with some incredible bloggers before, but I haven’t met Angela (yet!). She has no idea, but she has helped me so much by how open she is about her struggles on her blog. And the fact that she’s doing exactly what I want to do…I could definitely fill an afternoon with questions for her!

What was the last book/movie/podcast you read/watched/listened to that you couldn’t get out of your head?

I think any interview with Sally from Sally’s Baking Addiction is beyond fascinating, so I really loved her Chopped Podcast interview and her Food Blogger Pro Podcast interview. She has accomplished so much in such a short amount of time; she’s one of those inspiring stories about how a ton of hard work and dedication can get you to where you want to be. Honestly, even non-food bloggers should listen to her. She’s one incredible lady!

What’s your favorite daily routine?

I love these questions ☺ I’m going to do a weekend, because I don’t do much outside of my 9-5 on weekdays!

7:30ish: Get up, check email, check Facebook, check Instagram, check Bloglovin’.

8:30ish: Finally roll out of bed and feed our ravenous kitten, Maya. Start commenting on others’ blogs, writing upcoming posts, editing photos, etc.

10:30ish: Make breakfast for Mark and me. Mark usually has eggs and hashbrowns. I’m an oatmeal girl – my go-to is with cocoa powder, cinnamon, peanut butter and vanilla! I’ll also pair that with a Fuji apple – my fav!

11-6: Work on the blog. Seriously, my blog is my life on the weekends, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ll cook, shoot some recipes, edit photos, write, and connect with other bloggers. I’m also always Snapchatting (is that the right verb?) on the weekends to show my readers some “behind-the-scenes” footage 😉 I’ll snack throughout the day – I’m definitely not a “3 meals a day” kind of girl – on popcorn, nuts, fruit, veggies, hummus, and whatever I’m cooking for the blog.

6ish: Cook dinner for Mark and me. Usually something Mexican haha. Lately, our go-to has been something that I’ll (hopefully) be posting on the blog real soon! It’s our favorite 20-minute meal!

7ish: Grab some wine and either work on the blog some more or hang out with Mark. We’re super excited for the Game of Thrones premier in a few weeks, so we’re trying to re-watch all of the past seasons before it starts! I’ll usually snack on some peanut butter-stuffed dates (my all-time favorite dessert) or popcorn at night!

This or that:

West Coast or East Coast?

Tough! But I’m an east coast girl through and through. I’ve lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania most of my life, and it’s still my favorite city ever. That being said, I love San Francisco, so I would definitely be happy as a west coast-er, too ☺

Dogs or Cats?

Love them both, but I’m a cat person. I love how unforgivingly sassy they can be. Our little Maya is the queen of sass, and I LOVE it.

Beach or Pool?

Pool! I hate the sand, and sharks freak me out 😉

Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s?

TJ’s #forthewin! My week feels incomplete without a run to my favorite grocery store. I’m obsessed with their spices and vanilla almond milk!

Sweet or Savory?

Sweet, but not too sweet! I like a nice bittersweet brownie, rather than a giant chocolaty sugar-bomb.

Pancakes or Waffles?

Waffles. Those crispy edges… *heart-eyed emoji*

Tell us a fun fact we probably don’t know about you?

Ha! I always use “I have a food blog” for this question. But…I love databases and writing SQL. Total nerd alert  😉

Lemon Blueberry Smoothie Bowl

Your Turn:

• What’s a fun fact about you?
• Pancakes or waffles?