Q&A With Erin Morrissey
I'm trying to keep up with my goal of doing one guest blog post per month, and this month I am so excited to introduce you to my friend Erin, from @ErinLivesWhole! I have followed Erin since the beginning of my blogging days, and she has always been a huge inspiration to me within the food blogging space. Her food photography, and down right freaking delicious recipes are both drool worthy. She has a heart of gold, an inspiring story, and the most down to earth personality. I am so thankful she took the time to do this for me, so go give her a follow when you're done reading! And try her chocolate granola ASAP.
Tell us a little bit about @ErinLivesWhole!
Hii! I'm Erin :) I run the blog Erin Lives Whole, a health-food focused recipe website and Instagram account, where I focus on sharing healthier recipes and allergy friendly alternatives to use in baking and cooking. I also share little bits and pieces of my life in Philadelphia!
Erin Lives Whole started as a passion project and outlet where I got to share some healthy recipes that I was whipping up in my kitchen. It started in an effort for me to eat healthier but also as a place to share whatever I was creating with anyone who was willing to listen! In May of 2018, I was able to leave my full time job to take ELW full time and it has been a blessing ever since!
How did it start / what inspired you to start?
I went through a time in college where I was WAY too obsessed with food, how I looked, and not fueling my body properly. I took it so far that actually had to go to a treatment facility to get some intense professional help (if you want to read more on this topic, here is a blog post I wrote all about it). At first I thought I would never be able to have a healthy relationship with food again, until I started using it as my therapy. The kitchen became my happy place and I set a hard and fast rule that I would never put anything on my blog unless I ate it myself, so sharing these recipes also really helped me mentally and physically as well. It kind just took off from there!
What is your favorite part about being a food blogger?
Seeing people make my recipes!!! It is so rewarding when people make your recipes and tell you stories about how they haven't been able to eat such delicious desserts for so long due to an allergy or something else, and now they can! Also, just seeing people make an effort to eat healthier really inspires me.
Least favorite part?
The amount of money I spend on food. It's utterly ridiculous, haha.
What your three favorite ELW recipes?
Chickpea brownies (they have 1/4 of a million shares! eek!), easy paleo brownies, and peanut butter bars
What is Tom's favorite ELW recipe?
peanut butter pie (he ate the whole thing in two days, wish I was kidding), Thai turkey meatballs, and this new buffalo chicken casserole I'm working on ;)
Tell us three things that might surprise us about you!
1). I love cooking but HATE doing dishes. Like would pay someone to do them for me. 2) I'm the only redhead in my entire family. 3). I could eat the same meal for weeks straight and never get sick of it. I don't get sick of foods.
What's your last meal on Earth?
My mom's chicken piccata, pasta, wine, and lots + lots of chocolate desserts. Preferably a combo of chocolate peanut butter cake, cookies, and ice cream.
Where do you get recipe inspiration?
Seasons! I try to cook very seasonally and am inspired by the flavors of the time and I also spend a lot of time browsing Pinterest for inspiration! I also try to think of certain dishes and desserts my mom made as I was growing up, and I try to put a healthier spin on them.
What is your favorite workout right now?
Ohhh, this is hard, but I'm currently loving CorePower Yoga Sculpt. I'm really trying to add a mixture of cardio, weights, and sculpting and I love the way this class makes me feel!
What are you passions outside of ELW?
Trying new restaurants!! Tom and I are both huge foodies...we always try the newest restaurants in Philly (which is quickly becoming a foodie scene!) but we always make sure we are right on it. It's so fun! I also love traveling and we do it as often as we can! We're supposed to be headed in Italy in the fall and I can't wait!
What's your number one piece of advice to someone trying to live a healthier lifestyle?
Take it one step at a time. I think we can get overwhelmed by all of the mixed messages out there, but find one thing about living healthier that you really love, whether thats eating better foods, working out, getting outside...and then take it from there! No need to push it all too fast. Find what you love or enjoy and capitalize on that!
3 of your least favorite foods!
OLIVES. YUCK. Blue Cheese. Smoked Salmon.
