Today, I’m celebrating my 3rd Blog Anniversary! Believe it or not, I started my blog three years ago on the 4th of July. By chance, our family sat next to a friend who encouraged me to start blogging the minute I got home from the fireworks display that night. I remember sitting at my computer at 11PM, weaving my way around the Blogger platform, choosing a template, and writing my first post. I was up until 2AM, and I was hooked.
Many of you who are fairly new followers of mine might not know that the reason I started Jeanette’s Healthy Living was to create a space that I could record foods that I was cooking for people in my community who were undergoing cancer treatment.
Over time, my blog evolved to reflect life’s happenings…pursuing my passion cooking for people with cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment,
Anticancer Fireworks Salsa
learning how to cook a soft food diet for my father-in-law that he could eat safely (he had Parkinson’s disease and lived with our family for 8 years),
Blueberry Sorbet, one of my father-in-law’s favorites
and coming up with allergy-friendly recipes that my youngest son who developed food allergies and intolerances could eat and enjoy.
Gluten-Free Quinoa Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
Today, the content on Jeanette’s Healthy Living encompasses not just these special foods that I’ve been cooking for family and friends with special dietary requirements, but lots of lighter, healthier recipes, with the hope of inspiring you, my readers, to take care of yourself through the food you feed yourself and your family. My boys have even created some kid cooking videos to help inspire you and your kids to get in the kitchen. If they can do it, you can too. I’ve also taken a crack at some cooking videos and continue to work on improving them.
I plan on continuing to pursue my passion serving others through my cooking, and growing my knowledge so that I can help more people. Don’t worry, I will still be posting recipes for the very foods that I make day to day for my family and friends. However, I plan on spending more time expanding my knowledge of how to use new and different ingredients and techniques that might further help improve my ability to prepare healthy food that’s packed with nutrients and flavor.
I had the unique opportunity to cook alongside some pretty amazing chefs last week at the Culinary Institute of America, who have been exceptionally generous sharing their knowledge. I hope to learn more from them in the coming year, and of course, by experimenting in my own kitchen on a day-to-day basis.
Chefs Alex Talbot, Christopher Plum, me, and William Briwa
Thank you, my devoted readers, my blogging buddies, my family, and my friends for your devoted support over the years, and most of all, my Lord for the gifts He has given me to help serve others. It’s been an incredible journey so far, and I can’t wait to see where this all leads me!
Happy 4th of July! I feel fortunate to live in a country where I am free to speak my mind and help others in a the way I know best…by cooking.
Happy 3rd birthday Jeanette! Your blog is always full of inspiring ideas.
I love to try your healthy recipes. Thanks for being a wonderful example of
how to find fulfillment and happiness by following your passion. All the best
to you and your healthy family!
Thanks so much Marianne – I value your friendship and your support. You are an inspiration to me!
Congratulations on three years of blogging! It’s not easy to maintain a blog, but you have done it, and you continue to educate all of us. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and your journey.
Thank you Lydia – you have set such a wonderful example having blogged 7 years! It’s not easy as you say, but I think if I follow my passion and stay true to my values and interests, it will keep me on track. Thanks for your inspiration!
Happy 4 years Jeanette and Happy July 4th to you and your family. I really enjoy your blog and recipes. Thank you.
Thanks Liz – I appreciate your support!
Congrats, Jeanette! So happy for you!! You have accomplished so much!!! To many more years of blogging! Happy 4th to you and your family! 🙂
Thanks so much Julie – so happy we’ve had the chance to meet in person – you are such an incredible person, and I hope to get to you know you better in the coming year!
Huge congrats to you on reaching such a milestone, Jeanette! I have loved following your beautiful blog and I look forward to seeing what the future holds. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday! xo
Thanks Faith for your inspiration and support this past year – I really appreciate it. Looking forward to seeing all that you create and hope to meet you in person one day soon!
I am so happy to have found you, Jeanette – you know with my cooking for my Dad as we battle his cancer, your recipes have been invaluable to me! happy three, and happy Fourth!
Kristina, my hope is that I can help others like you and your Dad. My prayers go out to you and your Dad – he is so fortunate to have such a loving daughter. Best wishes!
I just discovered your blog about a month ago and LOVE your recipes. They are the exact way that I like to cook. So far everything I’ve tried has been a hit with my husband. Thank you so much for such a wonderful resource! Happy 4th of July, and I look forward to reading your blog for your 4th year 🙂
Thanks so much Jeanie – I really appreciate your feedback. It really means a lot to me when I hear from readers that try my recipes and enjoy them. That is my hope – to help people cook healthy and delicious food!
wow congratulations,
I must have been following you from the beginning then. Your blog has always looks so professional I thought you had been blogging for years!
Thanks so much for your support – it’s been quite a journey and I’m looking forward this coming year – each year brings its challenges and fresh ideas!
Congratulations Jeanette!! I’m so happy that your friend encouraged you…. look what’s followed! From those of us who love your healthy eats, thank you!!
Kim – thanks so much for your support and friendship – looking forward to seeing what you’re doing this year and getting to know you better!
Whoo Hoo, congrats on your three year blog anniversary!
Thanks Diane! Can’t believe it’s been 3 years.
Congrats Jeanette. You have a wonderful blog full of inspiration and healthy recipes. I feel I’ve gotten to know you over these 3 years. I’m excited for this new phase in your life. I look forward to all that you share.
Thanks so much France – it’s been great getting to know you the past 3 years! Looking forward to experimenting more and expanding my knowledge base in the coming year, and sharing it with everyone.
Happy anniversary to you!
Thanks Katie – appreciate the well wishes!
Congrats to three years Jeanette! I really enjoy reading your blog because of your inspirational stories and healthy recipes. Thank you so much for sharing what you have learned through your journey and I look forward to reading your blog for years to come 🙂 Hope you had a great holiday and enjoy the weekend!
Thanks Kelly! It’s been a journey so far, and I’m looking forward to sharing all the new things I learn this coming year! Have a nice long weekend!
I loved learning why you started blogging…as a former oncology nurse, it warms my heart. Who knew that 3 years later, blogging would be such an integral part of our lives? Congratulations on your anniversary…and wishing you many more years of sharing your healthy and delicious recipes! xo
Congratulations on your 3 year blog anniversary, Jeanette! I’m relatively new to your blog (I often ask myself why I don’t find good blogs sooner), but happy that I found you! My father-in-law also has Parkinson’s disease and lives in Taiwan, but your recipe collections will be very helpful. Keep up great work!!
Thanks for your well wishes Nami – I’m so glad we “met” – I’ve been enjoying your recipes! Parkinson’s disease is tough – if you ever need any suggestions, let me know. We cooked for my father-in-law and had to figure out what worked when he had more trouble chewing and swallowing.
Happy belated blog birthday, Jeanette! You’ve done a fabulous job with your blog and I am interested to see how you continue to grow.
Thanks so much Carolyn – it’s been great getting to know you better over the past year, and I’m looking forward to expanding my horizons.
Congrats on three wonderful years and here’s to many more delicious and healthy years to come!
Thanks Sylvie – looking forward to sharing many more healthy and delicious recipes! Thanks for your friendship. I always enjoy seeing what you’re cooking up and your stunning photography.
Congratulations, Jeanette! I can’t believe it’s been three years. I remember us chatting on the phone talking about some of the early learnings of blogging. What a time-consuming but rewarding path it can be! Hugs to you and best wishes for continued success!