Hey there! I’m Belinda, the creator of Beachside Kitchen. My mission is to share attainable ways people can feel healthier, happier, stronger, and more fulfilled in their daily lives.
I’m 27 and live in a little beach town called Cardiff-by-the-Sea in San Diego, with my wonderful boyfriend Evan (affectionately nicknamed Honey Buns). You can find me most often whipping up some new creation in our beach shack that may or may not be falling down, but we love it anyways. I love to spend my free time staying active (yoga, hiking, pilates, cross-training), out in the water on my standup paddleboard, volunteering with local nonprofits, and finding any excuse to pet people’s dogs.
My 9-5 job is a medley of industries and companies. I work in a boutique financial services firm that specializes in succession and exit planning and life insurance advisory for entrepreneurial family groups. I also serve on the board of a family real estate investment company, and assist a specialty real estate brokerage. On top of that, I volunteer on the advisory committee of The Ecology Center in Encinitas, and recently joined the Planned Giving Committee at KPBS, San Diego’s public radio and television station. So I guess you could say I like to stay busy.
I first fell in love with cooking in college. I was struggling to manage my autoimmune disease, a full course load, a social life, and way too much stress, and found solace in my kitchen. I learned to make nourishing food on a serious budget, and discovered that my diet really made a positive impact on my chronic pain, headaches, digestive issues, and fatigue. Cooking also become a sort of meditation where I could focus all my energy and thoughts into one thing.
Fast forward a few years, and I decided to start sharing some of the recipes that have helped heal my gut and nourish my body. When I first wanted to eat healthier and decrease inflammation, I felt completely overwhelmed, worried that it was going to be insanely time consuming, expensive, and complicated. That’s why I work so hard to make Beachside Kitchen a place that makes health attainable and affordable, and a hell of a lot of fun.
The best part of it all: you don’t have to give up the foods you love. Brownies, cookies, pizza, pasta, they all can have a place in your kitchen. My recipes include everything from epic breakfast bowls and rainbow salads, to drool-worthy desserts. It’s equal parts decadent and nourishing, because I believe you can have your cake and eat it too.
It’s about giving your body the decadent treats you love, made with ingredients that actually fuels you to be your strongest, healthiest, most badass self. I’m here to remind you that food should be FUN, not a source of stress or guilt. So start with listening to your body, what it craves and how it feels after a meal, and go from there. In the meantime, I’ll be sharing recipe inspiration, tips of what has worked for me, and cheering you on along the way.
I’m so glad you stopped by Beachside Kitchen, and I’m honored to have you as a part of this rad community.