When I was first exploring actual CrossFit and then later, Paleo eating, one of the first athletes I found blogging about it was Melicious from Clothes Make the Girl. I felt so special when she would respond to my comments I left on her blog and then later – when I got really into blogging – found out she read my blog — Rockstar!  She’s someone who changed her life years ago but is not such a vigilante that she can go on a trip and indulge. That’s what I look for in people to follow — they balance their lives with healthy living. Living is about trying that special dessert that your friend made, and having that Carvel ice cream cake on your birthday (oh, wait that;s me)– but overall you live healthy and get right back on the track the next hour or day. It’s a journey!

I seriously credit Mel with inspiring me throughout the years to continue with my own journey despite challenges and self-doubt. She is one of those souls that even though I have never met her in person, I know she’s as awesome as she comes across online. One day our paths will cross —

Melissa just wrote a book about healthy eating with recipes. I have gotten so many recipes from her blog over the years. Her sharing them in a book is awesome.

Also make sure to take note – when you find your passion for something, it leads you — I bet she didn’t know she was going to publish her recipes when she first headed down this healthy and fit path.

The collection of  recipes is called Well Fed and it’s a labor of love which you can instantly tell when you take a look at it.  For those that follow Melissa and Dallas Hartwig of Whole9, all of the recipes in Well Fed (except one dessert) are approved for Whole30 compliance – so that means they are good and healthy.

The book includes 115 recipes and you can get a sneak peek with the free 30-page PDF sampler. You will of course want to buy the book and it’s available in a printed, softcover version (175 pages) and an ebook (PDF) version.

I also love that she is giving back with this project. When people buy the printed book, they get a code to download the PDF version for just $1, which is being donated to Common Threads, a non-profit that teaches low-income kids how to cook in a free after-school program, and she is donating $1 from every PDF sale to Common Threads.

So, what are you waiting for — visit her Well Fed site, get info and then buy her book so you can start the new year off eating healthy but not deprived!