After 20 years as a freelance journalist/marketing consultant, I decided to study naturopathy and gained a diploma in Natural Health Education from the AMCC. I have since become an enthusiastic advocate of ‘real’, nutritious and tasty food. The food I usually prepare is probably best described as a healthy, spiced-up take on traditional French fare. As I seem to spend much of my time either making it, eating it or clearing it up, I thought that I might as well blog about it as well.
Although I try to cook using wholesome, healthy ingredients most of the time, I strongly believe that these criteria shouldn’t ever detract from the enjoyment of food. So don’t be surprised if, from time-to-time you see the odd recipe that isn’t strictly 100% healthy. In my opinion, like chicken soup, occasional decadence is good for the soul. 😉
Having lived in the UK, USA and now France for the past 30 years, I have eclectic culinary tastes. I live in the ‘Landes’ area of Gascony, south-western France. My main, extremely discerning ‘guinea pigs’ are my French husband and teenage son. The dogs (both neurotic) and chickens (much chased, ergo also neurotic) are secondary ‘guinea pigs’ (how weird does that sound?) I’m proud to say that I invariably meet with their approval. Our horses, however, remain dedicated vegans, which doesn’t make them too saintly to escape from their field on a weekly basis.
I love to ride, hike, ski, cook, take photos, write and talk. I do yoga every day and am trying to love it; for the moment my bad back is very keen and I’m sure at some point my mind will follow. 😉 I am also prone to sporadic ranting (maybe the yoga will sort this out?) My taste for travel has diminished since moving to paradise.
Please feel free to contact me : thehealthyepicurean@orange.fr
What a wonderful intro! Very excited to follow your journey here! 🙂
Thank you Miss Marzipan 🙂 I hope you continue to enjoy it…
Hi, I love your blog and have nominated you for the Liebster Award!
http://liveblissful.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/new-awards/comment-page-1/#comment-531
Thank you very much liveblissful 🙂
Hi Sweetie,
I nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger Award!
http://eatbreatheyogini.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/awards-awards-awards/
Keep up the good work!
– Jenn
eatbreatheyogini.wordpress.com
Thank you so much Jenn 🙂
You’re welcome. You deserve it honey!
Hi, I have nominated you for the Shine On Award and Blog of the Year 2012 Award!
http://liveblissful.wordpress.com/2012/12/24/awards-and-many-more-thanks/comment-page-1/#comment-1052
Hi! Just stopping by to say I really enjoyed following you in 2012 and have nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award. If you’re interested in accepting, pop by http://missmarzipan.com/2012/12/31/100th-post-today-with-belated-yet-grateful-responses-to-18-award-nominations/ for more details. If not, no worries :)- I gave you a nice shout-out in any case… and I wish you a very happy 2013!
Thank you so much for nominating me 🙂 Have a very happy 2013!
Great “about” page. Your blog is very inspiring and the recipes are delicious! I like how you have a nice variety of recipes to appeal to many taste buds. Keeping foods whole and real is what good eating is all about. We are trying to go to France in March for a mini-vacation, to just drive around the country for a couple of weeks and enjoy.
Thank you so much Sarah. And have wonderful vacation in France – let me know if you need any tips! 😎
I absolutely love your blog and how well-researched your posts are (plus the photos are beautiful), so I nominated you for a Liebster Award: http://danaartinyan.com/2013/01/18/liebster-award-and-recognition/.
Thank you so much for nominating me 🙂
great blog, great recipes ang great photograph !
Thank you Dedy 🙂
Hi, I have nominated you for the Super Sweet Blogging Award!
http://liveblissful.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/belated-thanks/
Thank you so much! 🙂
I’ve just nominated you for the Versatile Blogger and Sunshine Award! Here’s the link to the post 🙂 http://lifeislikeadumpling.wordpress.com/2013/06/02/versatile-blogger-and-sunshine-award-raw-vegan-ice-cream-bars/
Oh thank you so much – I’m flattered 🙂 I will get to it just as soon as I have a moment.
I like the new profile pictures!
Thank you 🙂
ciao! luvFAB blog.
thebestdressup
Thank you thebestdressup 🙂
Thank you for stopping by my blog. I enjoyed reading about you and your family. We live in the city, but also have chickens. They are a lot of fun. I am sorry you have a bad back. I hope Yoga is helping. I look forward to reading your future posts and learning a little bit about life in France.
Thank you! And you have a great blog. Chickens are really surprising. I just found one of ours in the kitchen. My back is greatly helped by yoga – I’ve only been doing it for about six months but it’s really so beneficial…
Lovely little visit here today. You have a wonderful blog. 🙂
Thank you for visiting 🙂
Great site you have got!! I truly enjoyed going through your blog.
I have a chronic knee and back pain that started 5 years ago (when I was 27). Yoga is the only thing that gives me relief despite having two surgeries. I am sure you will start enjoying it in no time.
Thanks T and T! I am actually enjoying it more and more and I’m also finding it quite addictive. Also, I do notice that my back hurts on days that I don’t have time to do it.
Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving the lovely comment! So nice to hear 🙂 And I am so happy that this way I got to discover yours as well! Love it! And seems we have a similar way of looking at food! 😉 Also really interesting to hear about your development – really cool! Thanks again, Sylvia
Thank you Sylvia! I think we do have similar ideas about food 🙂
Very glad you found me so I could find you!
😀
Stumbled upon your blog and am loving it! 🙂
xx
B
Thank you so much! I hope you continue to love it and thank you for visiting. 🙂
I find your blog very refreshing and I would like to nominate you for The Liebster Award. Please check my blog at urbanfoodlover.wordpress.com for the details. I hope you’ll accept. Good job!
Hi my dear, I wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the WordPress Family Award, because I consider you as part of my WordPress family. Participation is voluntary of course 😉 Thanks & hugs, Sylvia
What a lovely site. Look forward to your posts.
Thank you so much Thai Village 🙂
I LOVE your site! I’m so very glad I found you! Thank you for all your posts!!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you find me too. 🙂
I’m so glad to have found your blog –
it’s a great example of what I love about good blogs:
interesting, inspiring and informative.
Looking forward to following you!
Emma x.
Thank you so much. I’m looking forward to reading more of your blog too. 🙂
What a wonderful blog, I’m so glad I came across it! 🙂
Thank you very much – I’m glad too! : -)
I live in Luxembourg and my boyfriend and I go to Lyon regularly since his parents live there 🙂 I also enjoy exploring French cuisine and the culture:) the amount of butter, meat and pastry scared me at the beginning but I got used to it now and appreciate the traditional way of eating and drinking 😉 I’m sure you have your favourite cave or place where you buy cheese or bread, like we do. Lovely blog 🙂
Thank you so much. We buy our cheese from an excellent market stall and usually my husband makes our bread. Lyon has a wonderful culinary culture – I bet you enjoy visiting!
Hi! I nominated you for a Liebster Award because I love your blog! You can find the details here for participating: https://spiceoflifeblogdotcom.wordpress.com/2015/05/13/liebster-award/. Best Regards, Kristen
Thank you so much – I’m flattered! 🙂
Lovely blog, can’t wait to read more 🙂
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂