Hello! I'm Abbey, and this is my food blog, The Butter Half, where I share deliciously easy and healthy recipes, herbal remedies, and wellness tips for the family. I am a mother, wife, recipe developer, food stylist, and photographer. I am also a cookbook co-author of Root & Nourish: An Herbal Cookbook for Women's Wellness.
It's my goal to bring you better content, education, and knowledge so you can serve your family and community with holistic living practices.
My journey to gluten-free living and wellness
In March 2018, I was diagnosed with celiac disease and a hypothyroidism autoimmune disease. It was devastating, but incredibly freeing to finally have an answer to my unexplained gut health and mental health issues throughout my life.
Shifting my entire diet was difficult at first, but two months into the change, I realized how simple it can be, with one major mental shift: gratitude. Instead of looking at what I "couldn't" have in terms of food and lifestyle, I decided to get excited about the amazing foods I can have and choose gratitude for the abundance in my life.
My recipes are now entirely gluten-free friendly, and mostly plant-based, with a focus on healing the body, mind, and gut. (Like this Mood-Boosting Green Smoothie or these Easy Banana Overnight Oats). I believe food is medicine, and that what we eat determines our overall wellness. It's my mission to create indulgent and mouth-watering recipes for the family that are actually good for you, making your body and mind happy. (With the occasional treat! Because what is life without treats?!)
(See what I mean about nutritious food still being deliciously decadent?!)
I believe our creator gave us plants and herbal remedies on this earth to nourish and heal our bodies. I speak from experience, as I was able to effectively wean off my hypothyroidism medication and heal my damaged intestinal lining through healthy, gut-friendly food and herbal medicine making of my own. I've also dealt with anxiety and depression throughout my life, and happy to report that those issues are almost nonexistent, too! (But, life happens and I still have my low points, because sometimes being human is freaking hard.) Combining holistic, nutritious foods with the power of herbs can and will improve your wellness and overall life, and I am here to share how!
I know you can find your way to healing and wellness. You're fighting for it, and I believe in you.
Dedicated to holistic nutrition and herbal wellness education
Eating for total wellness and using herbal medicine to supplement is something about which I am deeply passionate, and my studies are dedicated to holistic nutrition and herbal medicine. I’ve been developing healthy recipes for families on The Butter Half for over four years. I continue to develop healing gluten free recipes, in an effort educate women and how to best nourish themselves and their families.
My herbalism training began in 2018 with Teresa Boardwine of Green Comfort School of Herbal Medicine, a well-established registered herbalist who has been practicing and teaching clinical herbalism for 25 years. I completed her 10-month Foundation of Medical Herbalism certification class at her school in Virginia. Teresa offers herbal students a comprehensive Clinical Herbalist training program that prepares them for work in the community clinic and with their own clients, which I am working toward completing to become a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild (AHG).
I am also a Certified Holistic Nutritionist through AFPA, an accredited curriculum which fully meets the American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board (ANMAB) accreditation board educational requirements and approved by the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. I continue professional development through conferences, advanced education seminars, on-going research and professional networking.
How I started food blogging
With over a decade of experience in the food industry, I've always had a passion for all things culinary. (Especially the eating part.)
The Butter Half began as a way to keep myself accountable in the kitchen, learning to cook delicious and approachable recipes for my family—I've coined my cooking style "where gourmet meets everyday." Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Keeping up a blog has definitely enhanced my cooking skills (or lack thereof when the time comes for making reductions). Turns out I've mastered some great techniques and love being in the kitchen. There is no greater feeling than sitting down at the table with family—my butter half—and indulging in a wholesome, comforting meal that both adults and children enjoy.
Also, I've been able to turn this hobby blog into a full-time career. In fact, I love the business side of blogging so much, that I founded the best food blogger conference out there, Tastemaker Conference. If you want to learn how to run a successful blog as a career, come join our amazing Tastemaker community! But really, I hit my first six figures in revenue this year... ALL BECAUSE OF THIS LITTLE SPACE RIGHT HERE ON THE INTERNET. This is the way of the future, and if you have a voice and a story to share that will help people, you are on your way to success!
The Butter Half in the press
The Butter Half has been featured on The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, POPSUGAR, Shape, and many other industry publications. I am also a featured recipe contributor for eHow, thefeedfeed, and various food websites.
I am by no means what you would call a "chef" but you could call me a "gourmand" should you feel the urge. You know what they say . . . a glutton by any other name would look as . . . er, wait a minute. No, that's not what they say. At all. I'm getting carried away here. (I blame it on all the butter.)
Join me on my gluten-free and wellness adventure. It's a guarantee you will find beautiful and attainable family recipes, that usually take 30 minutes and under to make, along with tips and tutorials for wellness and herbal medicine. Accompanied by fantastically terrible food jokes and puns, of course. And can I be honest with you for a second? I am still not exactly sure how to pronounce créme fraîche, but we're all in this together.
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Want to work with me?
I am available for brand partnerships in the form sponsored blog and social media posts, brand ambassadorships, and freelance recipe development and food photography. I have worked with countless brands to create stellar content that receives real engagement. You can email me below, or at abbey@thebutterhalf.com. Feel free to reach out on Instagram or Facebook, too!
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