Here are some of my most frequently asked questions over the years!
What is your food philosophy?
I thrive on a diet made up of whole, plant-based foods that are minimally processed and organically grown whenever possible. I make room for dessert, believing a balanced diet can still include indulgences like chocolate or sweet treats (in moderation—usually!). For many years I have identified with the vegan label; however, I eventually found that the external pressure to be perfect was overwhelming. So, in March 2015, I decided to go label-free. But, although I no longer use a label to define my diet or lifestyle, I continue to enjoy eating a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, seeds, legumes, gluten-free whole grains, healthy fats, and unrefined sugars. I always encourage people to do what works best for them. Whether that means subscribing to a certain label or having no label at all, I support your choice.
What is the Oh She Glows mission?
My mission is to show you how to find your inner and outer glow through mouth-watering and crowd-pleasing plant-based recipes. Healthy eating shouldn’t be complicated or fussy, and I believe that we can create positive changes through sharing delicious recipes with loved ones. Recipes that anyone on any kind of diet can enjoy is my passion; readers from all over the world have told me that my recipes won over their “meat and potatoes” dad, picky kids, or other vegetable skeptics.
How do I start transitioning to a more plant-based diet?
It all starts with trying just one recipe! My advice is to try a new recipe every week or every few days, picking quick and easy ones to begin with so that you don’t feel overwhelmed, such as my Classic Green Monster Smoothie, 5-Minute Oatmeal Power Bowl, or 15-Minute Creamy Avocado Pasta. Focus on what you are adding to your diet, such as new foods, recipes, or cooking methods, rather than what you are taking away.
What foods should I stock my pantry with?
See my Pantry chapter in The Oh She Glows Cookbook and Oh She Glows Every Day for a detailed list of all of my most-used pantry staples.
Which unrefined sugars do you use in your recipes?
I primarily use pure maple syrup since it’s found abundantly in Canada. It also tastes amazing! I also use coconut sugar, blackstrap molasses, and Medjool dates. Once in a while, if I feel that a recipe needs traditional sugar (such as a cupcake recipe), I will use organic cane sugar or organic brown sugar. If a recipe needs a sticky liquid sweetener for binding purposes, I use brown rice syrup or raw coconut nectar syrup.
What type of oils do you cook with?
I typically use virgin coconut oil or cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil in my recipes. I’ll occasionally use grapeseed oil or refined coconut oil when I want a neutral flavour.
Where can I find your cookbooks? Do you have plans to write more cookbooks in the future?
The Oh She Glows Cookbook (2014) and Oh She Glows Every Day (2016) are sold by both bricks-and-mortar and online book retailers all over North America, and are increasingly available worldwide (and in translated editions, too!) Both The Oh She Glows Cookbook and Oh She Glows Every Day are New York Times Bestsellers. Chapters/Indigo selected The Oh She Glows Cookbook as their Book of the Year for 2014.
As for future cookbooks, it’s definitely a possibility! Should I write another in the future, I will let my readers know as soon as I can!
I don’t have a smartphone and can’t download your recipe app. Is there a way I can get the recipes you’re uploading to the app?
Great question! I’m still in the process of populating the app with all the classic OSG fan favourites, so many of the recipes I’m uploading right now are already up on the blog! I’m tweaking them a bit as I go, but don’t worry—the original blog posts will be updated with the refined versions of the recipes, too. While there will be app exclusives from time to time, many of the brand-new recipes that appear on the app will eventually be added to the blog as well. I hope this helps!
How can I rate one of your recipes? Why don’t some recipes have a rating system?
To rate a recipe, click on the post containing the recipe you want to rate. Scroll down to the comment section to the comment box. Leave your comment and rate the recipe out of 5 stars by clicking on the stars below the comment box. When you publish your comment your rating will appear, and it will also go into the database that calculates the average recipe score.
Some recipes don’t yet have a recipe rating system because we are currently implementing our new rating system on old recipes. All recipes should be updated with time.
What brand of blender/food processor/mixer/juicer do you have?
For all of my loved kitchen appliances, please see my Amazon store for the complete product listing.
When did you start Oh She Glows?
I started Oh She Glows on October 31, 2008. You can read my first post, Boo, if you’d like to see where it all began.
Why did you decide to write a blog?
I started the blog with the intention to talk about my journey with food, and my recovery from an eating disorder. Even though it felt scary to talk so openly, I reassured myself that no one was reading anyway. However, over the first few months, my readership grew rapidly. Before long, I had connected with other women and men from all over the world. It ended up being therapeutic and healing to talk about my 10-to-15-year battle with food and weight because, for the first time, I realized I wasn’t alone. I didn’t have to hide anymore.
In the beginning, the blog didn’t really have a focus; I wrote about anything and everything. As my relationship with food improved, I narrowed my focus on creating healthy, plant-based recipes. Oh She Glows is now a celebration of my renewed zest for life and the good food I enjoy along the way. Not coming from a food or photography background, I had to teach myself how to cook, style, and shoot my creations. It’s been an adventure to say the least, and I have learned so much!
Why did you call the blog Oh She Glows?
The name represents the happy glow that comes from the inside when you treat yourself well and lead a balanced lifestyle. When I was in recovery from an eating disorder, my friend Leah told me something I will never forget: “I can tell that you’re being good to yourself because you have a real glow now that you didn’t have before.” Her words always stuck with me and it became my goal to glow throughout recovery. When I was brainstorming blog names, I wanted something that was catchy and had the word “glow” in it. I first thought of ‘She Glows’, but I discovered that the domain was already taken, so I decided on ‘Oh She Glows’. I’m really glad that I didn’t go with ‘She Glows’ because I feel that Oh She Glows is a great fit. To this day, the name still has a lot of personal meaning in my life, and I’m sure it always will.
Can I use one of your recipes on my own blog?
If you have not changed the original recipe, I prefer that you simply link to the original rather than republishing it. If you have changed the recipe significantly, feel free to post your version with a link back to the original recipe.
Can I use your pictures or recipes on my blog?
Please do not use any of my photographs or content without permission.
Where can I learn more about the press/media Oh She Glows has had?
You can view my Press page here. Please note that it hasn’t been updated in a while (oops).
I’m seeing a pop-up notification in my Safari browser. How do I unsubscribe?
If you are seeing a pop-up notification for my new blog posts in your Safari browser, this means that someone in your family opted in to receive the updates. To opt out, simply go to “preferences” within your Safari browser, then click the “notifications” tab, and remove “Oh She Glows.”
What kind of camera equipment do you use?
I recently upgraded to the Canon 5D Mark III body, which I love. My most-used lens for food photography is the 100 mm 2.8.
All other camera equipment (such as tripods and gear heads) can be found in my Amazon photography store.
For my Disclaimer page, please see here. Also, check out my About page.
Thank you for reading!