About Me
I’m Michelle Dudash, writer of this blog, a classically trained chef and registered dietitian obsessed with food. How do these backgrounds happily co-exist, you ask? (Click here for my full-on, fancy schmancy bio.)
I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin where food played a big role in my little life. With a Lebanese great-grandmother stuffing grape leaves, another grandmother tending to a huge backyard garden, and my mom frying up homemade eggrolls, I learned a thing or two about cooking. I went to the University of Wisconsin in Madison, originally majoring in actuarial science (I still don’t know what that means), but also took a basic nutrition class. A few weeks later I changed my major to dietetics and the rest is history.
Fast forward a few years and my passion for late-night cookbook reading finally prompted me to enroll in culinary school at the Scottsdale Culinary Institute. Since completing that program, I have cooked professionally in a five star restaurant and as a private chef, and opened a consulting firm. I have appeared in nearly 200 TV segments, mostly in Phoenix, and have written for many publications, including Whole Living, Better Homes and Gardens, and Betty Crocker. I am working on my first cookbook, Clean Eating for Busy Families (December, 2012).
Through these media, I’ve been able to share my knowledge, though I have felt that they were not suitable places for sharing my more personal thoughts about food with the world. In 2011 when I actually began dreaming about what to write in my blog, I knew the time had come.
Mostly I will be sharing stories about inspiring dishes I make or encounter during my travels. Usually the food I choose is natural and good for you. Though I travel frequently, I live in the Phoenix area, so many of my discoveries occur here.
Also, since I’m now a mom and wife, my recipes tend to be streamlined and simple.
Thanks for joining me.
Let’s eat!
Get in touch
I’d love to hear from you. If you have a comment about a post, please leave your note there. If it’s about anything else, click this link to send me an email. I also love it when people leave comments on my Facebook page.
You may also like:
I'm a chef nutritionist, not the food police. I eat cookies but make sure to eat my broccoli too.
Hi Michelle! I am so happy that I stumbled upon your blog!!! I am currently a student with a major in dietetics! My current school only offers a Registered Diet Technician program, which I am almost done with. But after that I would love to go somewhere else so I can become a registered dietitian!! My ultimate goal is to operate a business that offers healthy cooking classes, have a consulting business, and a blog! I love cooking, and finding new ways to recreate recipes to a healthier version. I look forward to following your blog now 🙂
Hi Brittany,
So nice to hear from you and I’m glad you found my blog! Sounds like you are on the right track to success. Be sure to join the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics DPGs Nutrition Entrepreneurs and Food and Culinary Professionals.
Keep in touch.
Michelle
Hi Michelle – I came across your name on the National Rosacea Society website. I was recently diagnosed with Rosecea (my main symptoms being pimples in specific areas). To be brutally honest I am very upset. I pride myself of clean living and healthy eating. I have started the process of trying to figure out what my triggers are – so far i think it may either be stress or something I am eating. The problem is from all of the research Ive done – most of the listed trigger food list contradict each other and I LOVE veggies so its hard to eliminate a lot. I do not eat dairy nor do i drink alcohol – so I don’t think that is the case. Can you suggest a better way to go about this? Maybe some surefire anti-trigger recipes to see if that makes a difference. OR can you identify a food that is most common a trigger?? I’ve essentially studies the NRS website, and I am still feeling lost.
PLEASE HELP! Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
Thank you for sharing, and I am so sorry you are having to endure rosacea and pimples. Not fun at all. Stress can definitely play a role with flare ups, as well as not getting enough sleep, so try to reduce your stress and get more sleep. I know, easier said than done, but with practice, you can do it:) Fortunately, I don’t have any problems with veggies. Did you familiarize yourself with environmental triggers? What are you putting ON your skin? What types of moisturizer, sunscreen, face wash, topicals? And if you use a Clarisonic or other vigorous type of scrubbing (even a washcloth), you might consider discontinuing that, as doing so made a big difference with my skin. Hopefully that helps somewhat. Also, be sure to keep a food journal for a few months of everything you eat and drink, and if you are exposed to extreme heat, wind, etc. I bet you will see a trend with triggers.
Also, be sure to read my post here on the topic.
Good luck and keep in touch.
Michelle