Hi there!
Hi, I'm Alyssa. I'm a certified holistic nutritionist, recipe developer, and the creator behind Simply Quinoa — a space dedicated to making delicious, flexible recipes work for real life and real families.
- Expertise: I started Simply Quinoa in 2012, so I’ve been developing plant-forward, flexitarian recipes for over 14 years.
- Education: I received my B.S. in Business Administration, then worked in marketing for 5 years while simultaneously starting Simply Quinoa. I also received my Holistic Nutritionist certification from AFPA. Most of my culinary skills I either learned from my mom or through my own experimenting.
- Location: I grew up in a small town in Vermont, then moved to New York City for ten years with my now husband. We relocated to Maine when we wanted to start a family and now live in Portland.
Why I Started Simply Quinoa
The year after I graduated college, I went gluten- and dairy-free, and it completely changed the way I cooked. Everything I knew about food felt different, and I found myself experimenting in the kitchen out of necessity, discovering ingredients I'd never even heard of before.
Quinoa was one of them, and I quickly became obsessed. I loved how versatile, satisfying, and endlessly adaptable it was, so I decided to share what I was making in hopes of helping other people who were just like me (newly gluten- and dairy-free) create easy, delicious meals.
At the time, I was working in marketing, but I kept coming back to the kitchen. Simply Quinoa launched as a place for people who wanted recipes that were not just gluten-free, but that actually felt exciting and tasted good. That was over 14 years ago, and while so much has evolved since then, that same spirit of creating food that works for YOU has stayed at the center of everything I do here.
My Food Philosophy
My own relationship with food has shifted over the years. Since starting Simply Quinoa, I’ve been able to reintroduce gluten and dairy, and today I eat in a way that simply feels good for my body. Sometimes that's mostly plants, sometimes it includes meat, and often it's somewhere in between. That flexibility isn't a compromise for me. It's the whole point.
My approach now is rooted in flexitarian cooking: building recipes that are easy, flavorful, and adaptable so that everyone can enjoy the same meal, just the way they want it. Swap the protein, adjust the toppings, leave something out — the recipes still work.
At the core, I believe in:
- Cooking from scratch whenever possible, without overcomplicating it.
- Using whole, unprocessed ingredients as the foundation of every meal.
- Balancing simplicity and creativity in the kitchen.
- Making food that feels good to make, comes together easily, and tastes amazing.
I earned my certification as a Holistic Nutritionist as a way to deepen my understanding of how food impacts the body. That training reinforced what I'd already been experiencing firsthand: that a plant-forward diet, even a flexible one, can have a meaningful impact on how you feel. It shapes how I think about ingredients, how I build recipes, and how I talk about food here on the blog.
My life in Maine
When I'm not in the kitchen, you'll find me chasing around my two little kids, walking my dog, and spending as much time at the beach as I can. Living close to the ocean brings me so much joy, and we try to take full advantage of everything this place has to offer.
In addition to gorgeous scenery and a great community, Portland is also home to an amazing food scene. I love to explore the many cuisines we have here – yes, we have more than just lobster! — and I appreciate how central eating and sourcing locally is to many of the food establishments in this city.
From our vibrant farmers’ markets, fresh seafood, and so much more, this amazing state influences much of how I feed my family and the recipes I share with you. And now that I’m cooking for two little kids (one of whom is a very opinionated toddler), dinner needs to come together fast without skimping on nutritious ingredients. So every recipe I develop has to earn its place: quick, satisfying, and genuinely delicious.
Connect with me
I love connecting with my readers, so whether you've tried a recipe, have a question, or just want to say hi, you can find me on social, drop a comment on any post, or even reach out directly via email.
With over 1.5 million followers across platforms and more than 1,000 recipes on the site, there's always something new to explore.