Welcome to Wholesomelicious!
I am so glad you are here. I am Amy Rains– Nutritionist, foodie, youth baseball coach, nutrition college professor, and busy mom of two. I spend my days in the kitchen, usually in yoga pants and a baseball cap, creating wholesome and delicious (“Wholesomelicious!”) recipes for my family to enjoy. When not in the kitchen, I am typically teaching my favorite subject to college students: Nutrition! My favorite time of day is at the dining room table with my husband and kids. This is my happy place.
As a nutritionist, I am passionate about promoting a healthy lifestyle, and helping others learn that food can be both nutrient dense and delicious! I’d love to introduce you and your family to new foods, and to share nutrition tips along the way, so that you can live a healthier and more balanced life.
How did you become a nutritionist?
I have always had a passion for food. Eating it, loving it, and studying the science behind it. After having my second child, I went back to school and earned a Masters of Science in Human Nutrition (MS) from the University of Bridgeport.
For over 5 years now, I have worked privately with clients of all ages with an array of nutritional needs and requirements. I have also led many seminars and coached groups of individuals to help live a healthier life. Now I work full time as a lecturer of nutrition at the College of William & Mary, and when I need a break from nutrition research, I love using my creative brain to develop yummy and healthy recipes.
I use some of these tools and tidbits of knowledge to develop nutritious meals for all of you!
Where to start:
My recipes are meant to inspire you to eat more whole foods, and to enjoy some healthier treats. I carefully consider ingredients for flavor and nutritional value to give you a nice balance.
Here are a few reader and family favorites:
- Creamy Carrot and Ginger Soup
- Easy House Salad
- Beef and Veggie Taco Skillet
- Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili
- Hormone Balancing Smoothies
Family Dinner Time:
If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I want you to eat nutritious foods. But what I really want, is for you to eat simple dinners, together with your family, as many nights per week as you can possibly manage.
Can we all please take the time to enjoy our food more?!?! Eat slowly; savor every bite. And, of course, you can feed your soul by connecting routinely and more deeply with your family. We make this a priority in our home. I promise you, this is my absolute favorite time of day!
My Cookbooks:
I am the author of 2 cookbooks that embody my food philosophy: easy, wholesome, and delicious!
One Pot Gluten-Free Cooking has 75+ recipes that can be made in less than 30 minutes!
The Big Book of Instant Pot Recipes contains over 240 recipes all made in the Instant Pot!
Hi Amy ,
My name is Anuj Agarwal. I’m Founder of Feedspot.
I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Wholesomelicious has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 50 Whole Foods Blogs on the web.
http://blog.feedspot.com/whole_foods_blogs/
I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 50 Whole Foods Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!
Also, you have the honor of displaying the badge on your blog.
best,
Anuj
Fellow Montanan….
Hi Daniella!! Love that you noticed my hat 🙂 I am actually not from Montana, but it’s my favorite place to visit in the US!!! I wear my hat as a reminder to work hard and one day afford for us to have a winter mountain home. Thanks for stopping by!
I just happened upon your site and I’m thrilled to have found you! My husband and I are about to start our second Whole30. We really enjoyed it the first time and were able to keep up a Paleo (mostly) diet through the summer, but then school started (we are both teachers) and we totally fell off the bandwagon. All this to say, we really want to remain dedicated this time, but I find many Whole30 recipes to be, well…boring. Yours seem to be filled with flavor and I’m so excited to try just about all of your recipes! I haven’t seen one yet that doesn’t look great and I’ve been browsing your site for two days now! I even think my two kids would enjoy many of these recipes. Thank you so much for taking the time to come up with delicious healthy meals so that the rest of us (non-cooks) can just copy you! Have a blessed New Year! 🙂
That’s so great to hear, Alisa!! Hope you enjoy the recipes, and let me know if you have any questions!
Hi Amy 🙂 I love your blog. Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes. I am curious as to which Instant Pot you have? I am in the market for one and you have lots of instant pot recipes! I appreciate your input 🙂
Thanks,
Wendy
Hi Wendy! Thanks for stopping by! I have this Instant Pot: http://amzn.to/2D50X3m It’s a 6qt, I know their is a newer version that is $20 more, but I love mine. Hope that helps!
I love your blog, I just discovered it and I’m looking forward to follow and try your recipes
So glad to have you here, Maria!
Hi Amy- Your blog is my go-to for Whole 30 recipes…. everything I’ve made has been delicious! Thanks-Heidi
Thank you, Heidi! I love to hear that ????
I love your recipes and use them daily! We enjoy clean eating and your recipes make it easy for us.
Thanks so much, Deb! So glad you enjoy the recipes 🙂
Thank you for the slow cooker recipe Chicken Cacciatore, I am going to try this for Sunday dinner with multiple families that are gluten free, and dairy free, I have recently been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and am trying to start with dairy free eating. I really miss butter in cooking and am now trying to stop using flour. Thank you, so glad we share the same name.
Where do I find ur smoothie recipes??
Hi Dot, type in smoothie under the search icon, or search under breakfast recipes in the menu bar.
I am so happy I found your website! I’m a new mama to a 7 month old while working full time and being in grad school. I just got an instant pot for mother’s day (thank you hubby) because we are on the go so much. I have browsed all the recipes and so far they are the simplest ones I can find for someone who has a busy life. I am excited to try them and I can’t wait for you to post more!!
Oh I love that! Thank you so much for leaving me a note, and happy cooking!
Hi Amy, just found you looking for Indian Cooking recipes. I got my Instant Pot today! Im a teacher and want to make healthier food this year. Your recipes look great can’t wait to try them. Thank you for your posts, looking forward to more. 🙂
Great, Linda! So glad you are here, enjoy!
I love your recipes. I was looking for a mango-basil smoothie recipe. That’s how I stumbled upon you. BUT, I spent some time looking at other recipes and will definitely be trying some. I already know they’re yummy looking at the ingredients, seeing your photos and having tested some as well. Thank you for making it so easy to find great, easy, quick, healthy recipes!
I was very glad to find and follow you on pinetrist. Your recipes are helpful as they are gf, Paleo, and clean all things my health require.
I am celiac with additional food intolerances from decades of being misdiagnosed so your whole 30 paleo recips help keep my immune system in balance and happy. It has certainly helped my family too as we transitioned to a gf household.
Thank you ????
Thanks for being you!!!
Love to follow and use your recipes.
Hello Amy. First, you have a beautiful family! I’m so glad I came across your website! I’m trying the Whole 30 plan for the first time and I had NO IDEA what or how to prepare my meals. Thank you for putting in so much time and effort to help us newbies on this journey to becoming healthier! You–Are–Appreciated! God Bless!
Excited to try your recipes!
Hi Amy!
I just came across your site last night and am trying out 2 recipes today – Instant Pot Broccoli Potato Soup, and IP Spaghetti Sauce. I am a busy professional who likes to eat clean but am not a foodie or very efficient in the kitchen. I want to cook meals that my husband and kids will love, but have been needing some guidance – my dear husband has been doing most of the dinner cooking for the past several years. 🙂 I love that you have a weekly meal plan and I’m going to try it out!
Thanks for helping others.
Love hearing that!! Thank you for your support 🙂
Your site is awesome-Im wondering why you don’t have a cookbook on the shelves! I am curious about what state you live in. I recognize the brick fence of the governor’s mansion in Williamsburg! I am in Manassas Va.! You are now in my favorites! When I get off my whole 30 (or mostly 30) I plan to makethe gingerbread latte and the Carrot cake bread and the Apple and Walnut coffee cake. I found you looking for paleo coffee cake!
Thanks for being inspiring! wow I can’t wait to dive into some of these recipes. I recently finished the whole30 for the second time and have been looking for the right “next step” after the transition phases…justfound my inspiration on your site! I can’t thank you enough!
Thank you so much!!
I love your blog! keep up the great work, Amy! I’m not entirely gluten free but plan on buying your cookbook. Rock on!
Beautiful family. So glad I found your website. Keep doing what you’re doing! I love the healthy “real food” recipes. God Bless
My family and I are absolutely loving your Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup! Thank you for making your recipe available! I look forward to trying some of your other recipes!
How many calories are in your strawberry banana pancake recipe?
Tasty bone btoth
hi Amy i’m really inspired by your cuisine and the recipes that you share with all of us ..they ‘re highly nutritious and palatable… Thanks for your
hi Amy i’m really inspired by your cuisine and the recipes that you share with all of us ..they ‘re highly nutritious and palatable… Thanks for your approach
I would like to have your recipes on email. I can save them.
What is An instant Pot. Is it a special pot?
Hello Amy,
I’ve made your salsa recipe twice and love it! When you sauté the tomatoes and peppers do you use oil or put them in a dry hot skillet?
Amy,
I do not have an instant but some else close. Please think of how we can use something similar with direction from your terrific recipes
Hi Amy! I’m interested in trying your low-carb chicken and dumplings. I can’t see where you’ve listed to portion size to get the nutritional information. Could you tell me about how much, if prepared exactly as the recipe is written, would 1 portion be? How much to serve to equate to 527 cal, for example.
Thank you!
Jeri
Calories are always an estimate and never an exact science! In this recipe, a serving size is estimated at 1.5 cups.