When I launched My Body, My Kitchen (MBMK) on January 19, 2015, I had no idea what to expect. I remember being nervous and second-guessing myself even after clicking that ‘Launch Website’ button. “What if people are disappointed by the website?”, “Do I even know enough about food and health?”, “Will readers actually like my recipes?” Now, as we celebrate our one year anniversary, I still have no idea what to expect but I know that there is a supportive community of readers that finds great value in the content of MBMK.
Okra Dirty Rice
OUR COMMUNITY
I see everything that I post not only as a reflection of myself, but also as a reflection of our growing MBMK community. We all share a commitment to improving our fitness; we believe that we can take control of our health by taking control of what we eat. We are all at different stages of our fitness journeys, but we are empowering ourselves with the tools and knowledge to ensure that we are successful. We are MBMK! And we love our Dirty Rice and Turkey Meatloaf!
LESSONS OF 2015
For MBMK, 2015 was a year of learning and discovery. One of my biggest lessons was learning about you–the readers. I’ve learned that you are more than happy to bring me (and my recipes) into your homes and to give me a glimpse into what you expect from MBMK. You acknowledge that MBMK is still very young in the fitness and food space and you are willing to provide feedback whenever possible. It was also exciting for me to learn that for many of you, your families and friends, 2015 was filled with fitness and cooking success stories that were influenced by MBMK. Our second year together will be filled with even more successes.
FEATURES & COLLABORATIONS
Two of the most exciting MBMK projects last year were the completion of the first e-cookbook, Peckings: A Taste of the Caribbean and the collaboration with MyBestBox in designing the MyBestKitchen and MyBestOils boxes. Another highlight was the feature in Shape that shared meal planning advice and a few recipes. MBMK was also featured in Soul Society’s Chef Profile Series and I was honored to represent our community as a contributor for BlackFitnessToday; my first piece was Brown Rice: Make It Dirty that included a new spin on our turkey dirty rice recipe and four hacks for incorporating brown rice into your diet.
THANK YOU!
Right now, MBMK has one employee–me. And I am so happy to serve you and provide yummy, health-conscious recipes that use everyday ingredients. There were moments in the last year when managing my job, doctoral research and MBMK became a bit overwhelming, however, your words of encouragement motivated me and reminded me of why I started MBMK. I am forever grateful for all the support I have received throughout this experience. Thank you!
As I look forward and prepare for 2016, I am excited to see what you and I can accomplish on your fitness journeys.
Happy 1-year anniversary, MBMK! Now, let’s get back to cooking.
