Smarty Mom: Emily Hopler

Happy Saturday, Smarties! Summer vacation is here, I am still trying to get my thoughts wrapped around where this school year went. One thing I won’t miss will be packing lunches and trying to make healthy and balanced choices each morning. Of course now, I am faced with policing the food pantry to make sure the kiddos don’t snack on junk and fillers all summer long! I am happy to introduce you to Emily Hopler, vegan prep chef and baker with Nourish.

Nourish is Charlotte’s only locally-sourced, organic, vegan/vegetarian, prepared healthy food delivery service. They make it simple and delicious. All you do is sign up on their mailing list to receive notification each Thursday that the menu has posted.

Click the menu link in your weekly email or visit the site and click on “This Week’s Menu”. Fill your basket with the items and quantities you’d like (keeping in mind the $60/order minimum and the weekly ordering deadline), and upon checkout, select your preferred delivery day for the following week.

Deliveries are on Tuesday or Friday afternoon of the next week. (Check out their delivery zones on their website to see if your zip code is listed. They deliver to just about all of the Charlotte and surrounding areas!)

Easy, delicious and good food for you and your family! Ready or not Smarties, summer is here. Let the fantastic team at Nourish help you feed your family happy and healthy!

Emily’s Smarty Mom Fast Facts:

Married to: Joel

Mom to: Ajax (3) and Daisy (2)

Occupation: Vegan prep chef/baker at Nourish

‘Hood: Sedgefield

Hometown: Boston, MA

A day in your life:

The kids wake us up at around 7, french press, breakfast as a family. Joel works from home. I run errands with the kids, sometimes have playdates with other moms, or make a recipe or two. Then lunchtime. Naptime. Dinnertime. After dinner we either take a family bike ride or the kids have some fun playtime with dad, then the kids go to bed close to 8. More often than we’d like to admit, our days end with Joel and I collapsed on the couch catching up on shows. 🙂

Favorite meal to cook for your family?

I like to make a bowl full of goodness: cook up some rice, roast a few sweet potatoes and cube them, warm up some sort of beans (usually black or red kidney), pile on fresh greens and veggies, and drizzle on some dressing. It is a versatile meal because you can change the veggies or dressing to create a particular flavor set.

My kids always do best with DIY meals because they have the responsibility of choosing where each item goes onto their plate and are more inclined to eat it.

When/Why did you decide to live the vegan lifestyle?

It has been a gradual transition for me since I have always had somewhat of an aversion to meat. During my second pregnancy, I was not able to digest meat well, so it wasn’t a big stretch for me to become vegetarian. Around the same time, I also began to have issues digesting dairy. It has been an interesting journey for my husband and I, learning to cut out dairy, but we both feel that having a diet that is plant based leads to our optimal health. We are also constantly impressed by how much more flavorful food can be when it is not simply comprised of cheese and bread (imagine that!).

What is something that most people don’t know about you?

I have been to Africa twice, and hope to return there someday. A piece of my heart remains over there with all of the lovely people that have been so affected by the HIV pandemic.

Behavioral trait you hope your children don’t inherit from you?

Laziness when it comes to physical exercise. I hope they have a love for getting outside and moving their bodies.

The phrase you’ve said to the kids more than any other at home is…

“two hands”. I am a big fan of teaching my kids to help around the house, so I am constantly reminding them to carry dishes or drink from a cup or put the cashew milk away using two hands.

Household appliance you couldn’t live without?

Does a computer or smartphone count? I am always looking up recipes and inspiration for new things to create in the kitchen. Second to that, I would say my blender. It is so nice to be able to whip up a batch of nut milk, salad dressing, smoothies, or sauces.

Funniest thing one of your kids have ever said to you?

“Mom, where’s your january(vagina)?”

Favorite place to go with the fam?

We love to explore new places, walk around in our backyard, ride the light rail, visit the 7th Street Market uptown, go on family bike rides, go out for sushi…we have a lot of favorites.

Favorite thing to do for you, with out kids?

It is a toss up between sleeping and showering. Heavenly…