


Hi, I'm Carly Paige!
I’m a culinary nutrition expert and chef who turned my passion for holistic health and nutritious foods into a career that I absolutely love. I can’t believe that I get to wake up and help people experience health in a delicious way every day.
Welcome to My Virtual Kitchen
Welcome to my virtual kitchen where I share healthy and delicious recipes that are plant-powered, gluten-free and nourish the body from the inside out. The recipes and lifestyle tips I share around here are based on my Simply Swapped Method – a way to crowd out the less healthy for more nutritious alternatives through swaps made on and off your plate.
I believe that healthy doesn’t have to be hard, restrictive and boring. I hope that you feel inspired through good food and flavor, and the little nuggets of “swap wisdom” you’ll find around here.
WHETHER I’M WORKING WITH A CLIENT ONE-ON-ONE, TEACHING A GROUP THROUGH A WELLNESS WORKSHOP OR COOKING CLASS, OR CONNECTING WITH MY COMMUNITY ONLINE, I LOVE BEING A PART OF THAT “AHA MOMENT.”
My story
Believe me when I say I get it. I just didn’t know.
Let me explain.
I’ve always been interested in wellness, but my idea of what that meant then is different now. My story begins with years of covering up acne with layers of makeup and my hands strategically trying to cover my face hoping no one would notice it was that bad. I have been on every pill, tried every cream, and put myself through the torture of more chemical peels than I care to count. I’ve got a history of body confidence issues that would ebb and flow depending on how much I cared what other people thought, or how badly I wanted what others had that I didn’t (hello, womanly figure).
My first bout with anxiety hit like a semi-truck when I was in third grade. This continued through my college and early adult years, and is still something that I am consciously managing today. I have been so overtaken with the paralysis of anxiety at times that I’ve not been able to attend classes, opted out of fun adventures and felt the need to control my environment so that I could escape at any given moment.
Here’s the sad part. I thought these issues were normal and the band aid solution is how you take care of it – pills, creams and external treatment plans. I had no idea the power that food and mindfulness could change my life.
The breaking point. In my early 20s I found myself in a place where the band aid solutions no longer worked. My corporate job wasn’t fulfilling me, and I was in a toxic relationship that I let go on for way too long. I felt like I was just trying to keep my head above water. I spent my days fueled by coffee and nights barely keeping my eyes open past dinner time.
I knew I was created for more.
I started to take responsibility for my life in a different way this time. Through counseling, I learned the power of the breath, how physical sensations can lead to internal cues, and how to be more present with my thoughts, feelings and actions.
I left my corporate job and pursued a career in preventative wellness by enrolling in a health coaching program, working at a juice bar and fitness studio to make ends meet. Through these experiences, I began to shift from “American healthy” to a whole new world of looking at foods and flavors that would heal from the inside out. My skin started to glow, I felt less heavy and the mindfulness I was experiencing on my plate extended to other areas of my life.
I’m grateful for every chapter of my story because it helped shape where I am and who I’m becoming every day moving forward.
Because of what I’ve learned, I feel a responsibility to share with you, too. The recipes aren’t just healthy, they’re healing. The lifestyle tips aren’t just another superficial way to practice self-care. It’s a way to connect, heal and thrive as you strive to live your best (not perfect) life.
-Carly Paige
Culinary & Nutrition Education
Education
Institute for Integrative Nutrition | 2019
Gut Health Certification
Nutritious Life | 2017
Nutritious Life Certification | 2017
Plantlab LLC | 2017
Level 1: Fundamentals of Raw Cuisine & Plant-Based Cooking / Plant-Based Desserts
Plant-Based Culinary Technique
Institute for Integrative Nutrition | 2016
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach
Notable Accomplishments
- Hosted 100+ group cooking classes since 2016
- Presented at NASA Headquarters during their Health & Safety Week, March 2020
- Collaborated with Bloomingdales to curate a healthy bridal registry, March 2020
- Presented in partnership with Westin Hotels & Resorts to Key Leaders and Franchise Owners, July 2019
- Partnered with the Four Seasons Resort Orlando to execute a culinary demo for Global Wellness Day, June 2019
- Published best-selling cookbook, Simply Swapped Everyday, November 2018
- Presented at Southwest Airlines Headquarters, June 2018
- Co-hosted SOULMADE Wellness Fest, March 2018
- Co-hosted and catered the We+Be Wellness Retreat, September 2017
- Regular content contributor to MVP Sportsplex FRESH blog since 2016
Get Inspired
Find your love for cooking without spending hours in the kitchen. Latest recipes, simply swapped tips and how to guides can all be found here.
Menu planning done for you
Free weekly meal plans to make healthy eating a breeze. Each weekly plan includes meal prep tips and recipe notes.
Learn to Cook
Home cooked meals can be easy and should always be delicious. Boost your kitchen confidence with video tutorials and recipe how-tos.
Get the Cookbook
Simply Swapped Everyday is your guide to elevating the everyday through mindful methods, ingredient swaps and over 75 plant-powered recipes. Cooking healthy foods at home has never been easier or more delicious!