Today we’d like to introduce you to Elaine Gordon.
Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
I run the website Eating by Elaine! What started as a way to share my cooking adventures has turned into a huge resource of totally plant-based recipes (no meat, eggs, or dairy!), refined sugar-free (I use natural sweeteners like maple), gluten-free, soy-free, corn-free, and peanut-free. I also try to offer nut-free options for the majority of my recipes! Creating dishes that everyone can enjoy is extremely rewarding to me. I grew up with a brother with a life-threatening food allergy, and more often than not, that just meant that he missed out on the treats his classmates were enjoying. My parents always did their best to have safe options for him, but in the late 80s/early 90s, they were dealing with much more limited options than we see in stores today. I’ve always leaned towards vegetarianism but learning more about the ethics of consuming animal products inspired me to make a conscious decision to remove all meat, eggs, and dairy from my diet.
After having children, I developed severe, chronic migraines. I quickly realized that certain foods were triggering migraines! Inflammatory ingredients like wheat and refined sugar make me sick, so I’ve dedicated a lot of time and energy to creating dishes that taste incredible without those ingredients. I also am allergic to peanuts, soy, and corn, so my recipes are free of those ingredients as well. I’ve built a wonderful online community as I’ve shared my adventures in plant-based cooking. Whether vegan for ethical reasons, cutting gluten and refined sugar to improve health or navigating food allergies, it’s fun to connect with new friends and swap our favorite recipes!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I probably have many of the same obstacles as working parents and self-employed business owners! There are never enough hours in the day, and working from home (especially during COVID) means that there’s always something or someone who needs my attention when I should be working. I’m lucky that my work results in food that my family enjoys! Our freezer is always full of recipes I’m developing or favorites I made to demonstrate a process for my Instagram audience.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I received an MPH (Master of Public Health) degree in college and became a Master of Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. My education taught me to think critically about how food impacts my overall health and use reputable, evidence-based sources to inform my decisions about what I eat. I worked in corporate wellness for over 10 years after graduating college. I created nutritious recipes and articles for The Washington Post and started posting on EatingbyElaine.com on the side as a creative outlet to share the vegan, gluten-free, allergy-friendly, naturally sweetened recipes I was always creating at home. Running this website has stretched me creatively, and I can honestly say I am always learning something new. From website management, cookbook creation/publication, marketing, food photography, videography, and writing to SEO and Instagram/TikTok algorithms, there’s always room for growth, which is both exciting and intimidating.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The main thing COVID has taught me is to slow down. We all learned quickly that the things that previously seemed so urgent–the meetings, extracurriculars, appointments, errands–could all be put on hold to stay home and protect ourselves and our communities. As overwhelming as it was to become a homeschooling parent overnight, I can honestly say I have cherished the opportunity to see firsthand everything my kids are doing at school. I’ve always enjoyed having them in the kitchen with me, but they’re now a permanent fixture at my side, whether I’m testing recipes, writing blog posts, or managing my social media! It’s a lot more chaotic, but it’s always more fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eatingbyelaine.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatingbyelaine/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EatingByElaine
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/EatingbyElaine
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/elainegordon13
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatingbyelaine
Image Credits
Erin Swann https://www.erinswannphotography.com/
