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When Foodie Dreams Become Reality  Creating your career out of a lifestyle that you love is the ultimate dream and Dietitian April Murray is the perfect example. April grew up in Orange County, California residing in sunny Newport Beach, where she spends her time blogging about great food and lending a helping hand to those who need nutrition coaching. Ever wonder what newbie mistakes you’re making in the kitchen? Or maybe you've been dying to try quick and healthy recipes for the busy person. All of her recipes are easy to follow, targeting at-home-chefs like you and I. Below, April shares what she enjoys most from her career and how to create a guest post on her blog. Slayed: What is your favorite part of your job? April: I have a lot of favorites, but ultimately I love watching my clients succeed! It is rewarding to know that I helped them reach their goals by providing one-on-one guidance and support. Slayed: How do you balance your career with your blog and personal chef services? April: I consider my food blog to be an essential part of my career. Food blogging keeps me up-to-date with the latest nutrition trends, healthy ingredients and cooking techniques. This allows me to provide more innovative nutrition programs and personal chef services to my clients. Just the other day I came across yam noodles that only contain 5 calories per serving! My clients are loving the low-calorie pasta recipes which are helping them lose weight! As far as balance goes, I am still trying to figure that part out! But as much as I can, I invite friends and family over to hang out with me when I cook and taste my recipes, which they love! Slayed: With spring approaching everyone wants to look good, but finding out where to start can be difficult. What are your tips for beginning a healthy lifestyle? April: I can't stress enough how important it is to set realistic goals! For instance, when starting a weight loss program, a reasonable goal would be to lose 2 pounds a week. As this is an attainable goal, most people will reach it and continue on with the program! On the other hand, expecting to lose 10 pounds in the first week will cause most people feel disappointed and fail. "Start slow, go easy on yourself, and understand that it takes time to develop new habits."  Image Courtesy Of April Murray Slayed: What advice do you have for people who struggle to maintain that lifestyle or goals? April: My biggest advice for clients is to wholeheartedly make your health a priority. Make time to grocery shop, food prep and exercise. Plan ahead if you are going on a trip by packing healthy snacks. If you need more support, seek help from a registered dietitian who will keep you accountable and address your challenges. Slayed: Of course healthy eating can be fun too! What is your favorite sweet treat? April: I have been loving chia seed pudding! It is made with chia seeds, maple syrup, milk (typically almond, coconut or rice) and topped with coconut flakes, nuts, fresh fruit, etc. I enjoy creating new chia seed pudding recipes by topping it with different ingredients like passion fruit, or using chocolate almond milk for a richer taste. Slayed: For the busy bees what is a great weeknight meal to cook up in less than 30 min? April: My go-to meal is shrimp tacos! I cook this very often as it tastes delicious and is low in calories. I season the shrimp with chili, garlic and onion powders and saute in olive oil. Meanwhile I whip up fresh guacamole and pico de gallo and serve in warm corn tortillas. I love topping the tacos with fresh cilantro and lime juice for a more vibrant flavor. Slayed: What is a common mistake for first time cooks to make in the kitchen? April: First time cooks often forget to read the cooking instructions and later find out they don't have the required cooking tools! I always recommend reading through the entire recipe and making sure you are good-to-go before starting the cooking process.  Slayed: How do you balance your career with your blog and personal chef services? April: I consider my food blog to be an essential part of my career. Food blogging keeps me up-to-date with the latest nutrition trends, healthy ingredients and cooking techniques. This allows me to provide more innovative nutrition programs and personal chef services to my clients. Just the other day I came across yam noodles that only contain 5 calories per serving! My clients are loving the low-calorie pasta recipes which are helping them lose weight! As far as balance goes, I am still trying to figure that part out! But as much as I can, I invite friends and family over to hang out with me when I cook and taste my recipes, which they love! Slayed: With spring approaching everyone wants to look good, but finding out where to start can be difficult. What are your tips for beginning a healthy lifestyle? April: I can't stress enough how important it is to set realistic goals! For instance, when starting a weight loss program, a reasonable goal would be to lose 2 pounds a week. As this is an attainable goal, most people will reach it and continue on with the program! On the other hand, expecting to lose 10 pounds in the first week will cause most people feel disappointed and fail.  Slayed: In your blog you post a ton of tips and tricks on healthy lifestyle and offer guest posts as well. What are those requirements for writing a guest blog post?
April: Guest bloggers should be able to shoot professional looking photos, use healthy ingredients and provide recipes that are user-friendly. I wouldn't post a recipe that requires extremely difficult cooking techniques or knife skills as most of my followers are home cooks. To make an appointment or read more yummy & healthy recipes by April, check out her website and blog. Website: www.ocnutritioncoaching.com Blog: www.thethinkitchen.com By: Sasha Azoqa
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