We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Clark and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
As a dietitian for almost 30 years, working in community and clinical settings, my greatest gift has always been teaching classes and motivating others that living a healthy lifestyle can be fun, creative, delicious and easy. During the lockdown, I started doing digital cooking classes and education through social media. I realized that I could reach more people via social media and change lives through “cooking at home”.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Happy Carrot Cooking was born when visiting Quebec City on my honeymoon. While there we visited an organic grocery store named “La Carotte Joyeuse” and the inspiration for a future business and its name was born. As a young dietitian, I always said if I ever had my own business, I would call it “Happy Carrot”. It’s very fitting as I feel like I bring “joy back to the kitchen”. For thirty years I have worked in health care settings, counseling patients that needed to “make dietary changes” due to health complications and this can be challenging to say the least! Making lasting change takes hard work, mindset shift, proper tools and education. Decades of experience (plus feeding and raising a family) have propelled me to develop achievable, nutrition-focused plans that empower my clients with the “why” and “hows” of eating in a more healthful way. Over the last few years, I have used a cooking system that makes meals simple by using the healthiest ingredients, clean non-toxic cookware and the best techniques to empower health. Now, I see changes in how people select, prepare and enjoy nutritious foods…not just for “30 Days,” but for a lifetime.

It might seem odd that a dietitian promotes high quality clean cookware – but think about it – would you trust a dental hygienist to clean your teeth with a rusty fork?? It might do “the job”, but the outcome will be substandard. The long term result is unhealthy teeth, gums and long term health issues. Clean and quality cookware has a huge impact on you and your family’s health. PFAS, PFOAs and heavy metals can leach into your food from many types of cookware. Accordingly what you prepare your meals on and with should be the MOST important appliance in your kitchen. A lovely, expensive refrigerator will do the same job as a cheap no brand. Cookware is not the same. Tools matter especially when you might be “eating your cookware”! These environmental toxins, such as the ones coming from your cookware, can wreak havoc on your health though hormone disruptions/imbalance, disease, inflammation, difficulty losing weight and even has been associated with neo-degenerative diseases and some cancers. Your cookware is the last thing that touches your food before you eat it. My motto is “Cook better, eat better, live better”. Change your cookware, change your life is a must for this dietitian. It has dramatically changed my own family’s health and how we cook and eat forever!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Activities: 1. I would take them to the beach in Carlsbad or Encinitas. As a north county resident, it’s close to my home in San Marcos and I love the vibe of those beach areas.
2. We would have to head to the Marine Corps base as it has been my life for 30 years and is our military is a major part of San Diego and the people.
3. Take a long coastal bike ride to San Clemente after visiting the base and park at Los Pulgas exit off the 5.
4. Take an awesome tour at Temecula Olive Oil Company or at least do some olive oil tastings (i love that stuff!!!).
5. Visit the mediation Garden in Encinitas (iwhere cactus and the beach meet and the views are stunning).
6. Play pickleball at one of the many courts (it’s not like it’s special to San Diego, but I will NEVER miss an opportunity to teach someone a fun game).
7. Hike Double Peak in San Marcos at dawn.
8. Farmer’s markets in Encinitas, LaJolla or basically anywhere. I love them all!

Places to eat, drink and be merry:
We don’t eat out a ton as I like my cooking at home best! Our dinners at home around the table last for hours. One activity I like to do with our guests after at the end of each day visiting, is to go around the dinner table and everyone has to say their highs and lows of the day, always ending on a high and you don’t have to have a low. t makes for great dinner conversation.

Eating out is a challenge as my daughter has Celiac disease so we are limited to where we go. One place we hit for sure is Nectarine Grove in Encinitas. The cinnamon roll is amazing. Stone brewery in Escondido is a favorite for happy hour and the Gardens are lovely. Also, Draft Republic is fun to sit outside at their beer garden and reminds of our time living in Germany. And a Umami is a local sushi place that goes above and beyond for those who can’t eat gluten like my daughter.

People:
I love the people of North County. San Marcos has been our home for on and off 20 years between 5 moves. People here are down to earth, embrace and enjoy the outdoors, live “green” and healthy. They are my people!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband and my three grown children, Trevor 24, Noelle 21, Braden 19. As a spouse of a Marine Veteran, my career has always taken a back seat to his and that is okay! Family comes first, especially when he was deployed more that he was home! Now that he retired from the Marine Corps, he wants me to pursue my own “career’ dreams. He sees how much I enjoy educating others. and knows it’s not a job, but a passion. My kids support and share my love of nutrition and are my greatest accomplishment as three nutrition-conscious, high-achieving athletes who are sincere in the belief that “what you eat, will affect how you perform.”

Website: https://www.happycarrotcooking.com/home

Instagram: @happycarrotcooking

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/happycarrotcooking

Facebook: @happycarrotcooking

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC46ck7z6R5AYVVd6_1pCuhA

Other: https://linktr.ee/happycarrotcooking

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