hey there!
Hey, I'm sara!
Hello, and welcome to Clean Plate Mama! My name is Sara - recipe developer, food photographer, and lover of real food.
Clean Plate Mama was born out of my passion for health & wellness and making amazing foods from real food ingredients. I love taking every day recipes, childhood favorites, and any new ideas, and putting a clean food twist on them.
My goal is to share healthy recipes made from real foods that are easy to make. I also want to share my insights and knowledge on what it means to eat clean and how to navigate our overly-processed food world.
What You'll Find Here
First and foremost, you'll find clean eating recipes (this is a food blog 🙂). In addition, you'll find information on what to look for when it comes to buying foods in order to keep them clean; including how to read food labels (hint: they can be very misleading).
Check out my egg buying guide and how to choose the best olive oil to start. In addition, within each recipe post, I'll share clean food tips on the specific ingredients used in that recipe.
Why the Name Clean Plate Mama?
You've probably heard of the "clean plate club," right? You know- where you had to finish everything on your plate to be a part of this exclusive club.
Well, I wanted to give that phrase a little makeover.
Instead of focusing on how much you eat, Clean Plate Mama is all about what's on your plate. Is it made with real, nourishing ingredients? Free from overly-processed ingredients?
That's the kind of "clean plate" we focus on here -and that's the inspiration behind the name "Clean Plate Mama."💚
What Does it Mean to Eat Clean?
At the core, eating clean means eating whole/real foods that are not highly processed. Real foods are foods that are as close to nature as possible.
Eating a clean food diet means avoiding, or limiting, highly processed foods. My clean eating for beginners guide goes into this in greater detail. And if you'r looking for an easy, digestible list, check out my clean eating shopping list.
Throughout everything you'll find here, you'll see I use both the terms "clean food" and "real food" interchangeably. Know that they are pretty much the same thing.
Do I Follow a Certain Diet?
Other than I real-food diet, no. However, I am mostly gluten and dairy free. My recipes will reflect this, but there are ways to adjust most recipes even if you're not gluten or dairy free.
However, you will find some recipes that fit a "modern day diet," like Vegan and Paleo, but that is because I believe in a balanced diet (I love a meatless Monday and eating grain-free baked goods), but I want there to be something here for everyone. Regardless of your approach to food, I want you to feel welcome and find joy in eating clean.
And I strongly believe in balance! I love dessert and French fries as much as the next person. I take an 80/15/5 approach. What's this? It's 80% real whole foods, 15% better-for-you processed foods, and 5% "this tastes amazing/I don't care what it's made out of" kind of foods. I encourage you to do the same!
My Passion and Expertise
My real food journey began after my first daughter, Nora, was born. I started reading all about the (not so healthy) ingredients in our food and what they can do to our health. I was hooked - a spark was lit and a passion was born when I started researching all about our foods and the process they go through to get to our table. I was captivated and saddened by it all at the same time. I wanted to make sure I was feeding my family foods that actually nourish their bodies.
My passion led me to my own personal research, which I love! While I am not a trained nutritionist/dietician, I consider myself a "clean foodie" expert (as do my friends and family). From ingredients listed in our foods, to the ones we don't see listed (like herbicides and pesticides), I read/listen/watch anything I can on the topic. I truly love it.
I am an avid reader, and listener, of highly trusted individuals in the functional nutrition world. Dr. Mark Hyman is one of my go-to's. From his website, to his podcasts, he is a wealth of information! Max Lugavere is another favorite in the functional nutrition and lifestyle space.
Featured Articles
I've had my blog since 2017, but it wasn't until 2020 that I really started to focus on it more from a business lens. And in May of 2025, I resigned from my corporate job so I could pursue my true passion -- my blog!
All that to say, I'm thrilled that in this time my asparagus recipe was featured in Yahoo!'s Side Dishes for Salmon, my peach overnight oats is featured in BuzzFeed's 31 Low-Key Summer Recipes, Hurry the Food Up featured my mango spinach smooth in their best mango recipes, and air fryer turkey burgers are spotlighted in Kowalski's (local grocery chain) recipes.
more about me....
on a personal note
- I am married to my husband, and best friend, Sean. We have two girls, Nora and Hazel.
- I consider myself a social introvert. I have more introvert tendencies, but I love my people. I need a good balance of social time with my closest friends and time by myself.
- I grew up in Stillwater, MN, and am the youngest of 5 kids. When we are all together, there are 24 of us now! It's a ton of fun.
- I was a dancer growing up and dabbled in synchronized swimming. Physical activity is still a huge part of my life. I love a good strength-training workout, yoga, or even just a long stint on the elliptical binge watching the latest Netflix series.
- Mexican food is my favorite! Oh, and I won't turn down fresh margarita either (but it's got to be fresh and minimally sweetened). 1
my favorite recipes
If you're looking for a place to start, I recommend you try some of my favorite recipes. If I had to pick just four, these would be the ones! Enjoy!
I'm Glad You're Here
Whether you are just starting on your clean food journey, or this is already a big focus for you, I hope you find some new favorite recipes and stay awhile!
And let's be sure to connect! If you're not already, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Eat Clean.Be Healthy!
-Sara
Please note that I am not a trained dietitian or nutritionist. The views represented on this blog are my personal viewpoints and are based on my own research and personal experiences. Links to references are included where credit is due.
