We’re catching up with Recipe Creator and Blogger Extraordinaire Bailey Ryan of Whole Kitchen Sink. Read more about her health philosophy, cooking style, and personal thoughts below!

What is your health philosophy?

My health philosophy is that there is no destination when it comes to health or wellness. I’ve learned that what works for me right now, might not work for me in a year, or might not be the same thing that worked the best for my body 6 months ago. It used to be a struggle for me to never feel like I’ve “arrived” at the “perfect” diet because my needs and goals were always changing, and with that, I had to keep making changes with my dietary lifestyle. Which felt defeating when I was searching for that unrealistic perfection.

I’ve learned that if I look at it instead from the perspective of continually evolving and never getting to a destination, I can be excited about the opportunity to keep learning and understanding health in new and different ways.

What inspires your cooking?

When I first started cooking for myself, I had no idea what I was doing and I was very short on time to do it. Because of that, my cooking needed to be easy, and not take up more time than I had to give it. Those two things are what inspires my cooking and recipes now. Because I know what it’s like to be overwhelmed with cooking and have a busy schedule, I want to make sure my recipes are always attainable, approachable AND taste good so that I can help the average person see that they’re capable of making healthy changes.

If you could go back in time 10 years, what piece of advice would you tell yourself? 

I’d tell myself that it’s okay to feel pain and not try to numb it. I spent a lot of years using unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with life and the way I felt - from compulsive and binge eating, toxic relationships, risky behaviors, picking up smoking and other risky coping behaviors. They all were a way to escape pain and discomfort but would ultimately lead me to feeling even more when I eventually had to face it. That being said, it’s all brought me to the place I am now, so I’m not so sure I’d change it :).

What is a regular struggle you face, and how do you overcome it?

A regular struggle I have is one that I think a lot of us have is getting to the gym or working out consistently. Developing a habitual routine around exercise has always been something that I’m not great at. Something that helps me overcome that and become more consistent is by committing myself to some sort of event or agreement. I’ll sign up for runs a few months away that I’ll have to train for, pay for workout classes up front or sign up for ones that charge a fee if you cancel last minute and make plans with friends that include being active. These things help set me up for being successful because it provides an external motivation for the times where it’s hard for me to do it just because I should.

Who are your role models, and what do you admire about them?

One of my role models is my Uncle Mike. I’ve always looked up to him, and grew up watching him raise his family while hustling and growing the business he started into an extremely successful one. I’ve watched the sacrifices he’s made, and now that I have my own business, he’s been one of the few people in my life that understand the choices I’m making. He gives me the best business advice, life advice and gets the behind the scenes stuff that few others do. What I admire most about him is that he shows through example that being a good person first and foremost, and a champion of other’s success, are two principles both business and life should be built on.

What's your favorite flavor of Naked Bacon and favorite way to eat it?

I love the Jalapeño Naked Bacon in a Whole30 breakfast skillet. I’m not a huge fan of spicy food, but this bacon adds the perfect amount of flavor throughout the whole skillet recipe and it means I don’t have to add any additional spices! Plus it goes awesome with potatoes and other veggies in the breakfast skillet!

Here are some of Bailey’s Bacon-licious creations - You can find the recipes to these and more on her blog!