Nourished Living: Wellness, Recipes, and Allergy-Friendly Inspiration with Less With Laur
Lauren Less is a Chicago based food blogger and recipe creator who is combining her passions for food and helping others. She shares her journey on creating a safe space for people searching for allergy-friendly recipes, chronic illness support, non-toxic lifestyle suggestions and health and wellness tips. Ready to get inspired?
What is your typical morning routine? What time do you usually wake up and how do you start your day?
As I have been focusing on my health and healing my body after being diagnosed with several chronic conditions, my mornings have become really sacred to me. I usually wake up around 7:30-8 am and start my day by either sitting outside or using my red light. I also like to journal, plan out my day, do EFT and spend time with my dog. I make myself a matcha and breakfast (usually a smoothie or chia pudding bowl). It is my favorite time of day!
Do you have any morning rituals or habits that you find particularly enjoyable or fulfilling? Are there any activities or practices that you find essential for setting a positive tone for your day?
Yes! I love sitting in front of my red light or outside with my matcha and my dog! I think it is essential for me to stay off social media for the first 30 minutes-1 hour in order to set the tone for a great day. I also like to take some time to relax, get into a good mindset for the day and make sure I am hydrating! I also have really been loving EFT lately. Eating a nourishing breakfast is also essential.
As a pilates goer, how do you practice pilates (at home vs in studio, mat vs reformers)? Also, what is your favorite aspect about pilates?
I usually practice pilates at Club Pilates on a reformer! I love that it is a low impact workout, makes my body feel amazing and I have never felt stronger.
Lauren’s Favorite PS Styles
Are there any specific nutritional choices you prioritize during breakfast to fuel your day?
I typically prioritize eating enough protein in the morning and eating my breakfast before consuming caffeine. I also love to add nutrient-dense foods to my breakfast. I eat blueberries pretty much daily!
After speaking with you and reading more about you, your journey to healthy living and cooking has been a very personal experience. For our readers, can you share what inspired you to focus on allergy-friendly cooking and how you started your platform?
I was diagnosed with multiple food allergies at age 25 (I’m 31 now) and had to drastically change my diet. I was very overwhelmed and not feeling well so I created another Instagram account to find and save inspiration. I ended up beginning to post my own recipes as I learned how to cook gluten-free and dairy-free (among other restrictions). Along the way. I was also diagnosed with other chronic illnesses and learned so much about taking care of my body and treating it well. I documented my journey and found so many people who resonated with my health tips and recipes! I am so thankful for the community I have built.
What is your thought process when creating recipes and how do you find inspiration?
When I first started creating recipes, I drew inspiration from old recipes I used to make that were full of gluten and dairy. I wanted to figure out a way to make them taste delicious AND be allergy-friendly so that people with food allergies could enjoy them. I find inspiration from restaurants and I love experimenting in the kitchen!
What strategies do you use to research and verify allergy-friendly ingredients and substitutions?
I always check labels and look at the brand’s websites if I am unsure. Everyone is different when it comes to severity of allergies, so I always recommend that each person make sure to do their due diligence and check labels on their own as well. What is safe for one person might not be safe for another.
Have you faced any challenges or obstacles when developing allergy-friendly recipes, and if so, how did you overcome them?
It can be super difficult to make dessert recipes when you can’t use gluten, dairy or eggs because a lot of times those ingredients are used as binders. I had to find other substitutes to use as binders in my recipes. It took a lot of experimenting in the kitchen!
Can you share any tips or advice for individuals with allergies who are exploring new recipes or dining options?
If you are new to allergy-friendly cooking, definitely check out my blog! I also recommend checking out some of my friend’s blogs below also:
Kayla Cappiello: Allergy Friendly Recipes
Simple Recipes, Always Dairy Free and Egg Free
If you are looking to dine out, I recommend checking out the Spokin app. You can see other people’s experiences and recommendations. It is so helpful!
What should we expect to see from you this year? Anything exciting in the works or any goals for 2024?
I have a lot of fun things in the works for 2024! I am looking forward to bringing my Chicago community together with some fun events! I am also working on an e-book that I think will be very helpful.
We are so excited to share with our readers “5 healthy recipes to fuel your day. "
Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Where can people find out more about you?
Website: Less With Laur
Instagram: @Lesswithlaur
TikTok: @Lesswithlaur
Substack: @Lesswithlaur
