Welcome, I’m Sara!
Creator behind Nutrient Matters and author of my very own cookbook. Most days you can find me in the kitchen creating new recipes or at the grocery store looking for fun ingredients to use in my recipes. My love for cooking began when I was in high school. The first thing I ever made was butter chicken- let’s just say it was good but definitely wouldn’t call it a butter chicken. My top 5 favourite meals in life in no particular order are chicken katsu curry, mlookhiyeh, and a steak dinner. I’m keeping the remaining 2 spots open just in case I discover something new.
My goal is for everyone who tries my recipes to feel just as excited about preparing them as they are about enjoying the final dish.
How It All Started
I studied social psychology during my undergrad and wanted to become a social worker for a couple years. Once I graduated, I got a full time job working with newcomer students. Around this time, my love for cooking grew even more and turned into a fascination with how food nourishes and fuels the body- this is when I decided that I was going back to school for nutrition.
While exploring different nutrition programs, I was unexpectedly laid off from my full-time job. As someone who thrives on being busy and working toward a passionate goal, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to start an Instagram page where I could share my recipes- and the rest is history.
Why ‘Nutrient Matters’?
When I was in university, I struggled to figure out what and how I should be eating. I tried a bunch of restrictive diets that told me to eliminate entire food groups, and I fell into the trap of categorizing food as “good” or “bad,” & obsessing over calories. It left me mentally drained, so I decided to change my approach. I shifted my focus from eating for physical appearance to celebrating food for its ability to nourish and fuel my body.
A key turning point for me was reading How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger (which I highly recommend). This book completely changed my perspective on food- it was no longer a matter of counting calories, carbs, or fat. For me, eating became less about taking certain foods out and more about adding certain foods with lots of nutrients in—hence the name Nutrient Matters. From that moment on, my goal has been to enjoy food mindfully while incorporating more nutrients into whatever I choose to eat.