I'm Dana, mom of two. I've lived in CT almost my entire life. I've always been health-conscious, but my commitment to health and wellness has grown stronger since becoming a mom. With young kids, you quickly realize that you're responsible for everything they consume!
Upon recognizing early on that I had one very selective eater, I set out to ensure that he wasn't consuming processed foods and sugary treats 24/7. I understand how hard it can be when there's a birthday party (or 3) every weekend and there's constantly a special occasion. To promote healthier eating habits, I like keeping nutritious baked goods available inside my home, so I don't feel guilty when we indulge outside of the home. Balance is key because life is hectic, and sometimes, we do what's most convenient. However, fostering a palate for healthy food is most effective at a young age and can help establish lifelong eating habits. But it's never too late to begin!
I am a self-taught healthy recipe developer who has been on this journey of healthy baking for over a decade through informal experimentation in my own kitchen. I have always loved to bake, but I could never knowingly put cups of refined sugar or sticks of butter into my recipes and then consume them all week (I'll opt for the occasional treat from a local bakery because again, balance). I began by simply reducing the amount of sugar and butter and swapping refined white flour for healthier options. I upped my game once my picky eater came along by incorporating fruits and veggies into my baked goods and anything nutritious I could sneak in while cutting out refined sugar. Since going vegan a few years ago, I've become even more innovative, adding unexpected ingredients to my baked goods. My approach is game-changing—just check out my tofu muffins!
My process has been purely experimental- I have never followed others' recipes or measured ingredients. I use whatever leftover ingredients I find in my fridge, treating it like my own version of Chopped. My goal is to make recipes as nutritious as possible without sacrificing taste. Of course, something loaded with butter and sugar will taste delicious, but vegan healthy baking is a different ball game. It's more challenging to acquire the desired taste and texture. It requires a ton of trial and error, experimentation, and plenty of failures. The flavors won't be identical, but it's about training our taste buds to appreciate this healthier approach while still being thoroughly satisfying.
When friends with picky eaters or family members seeking healthier options started asking me for recipes, I realized I couldn't pass them on since I'd never written any down! My spontaneous, measurement-free baking style made it hard to replicate anything. (I'm Italian; I just throw things in a bowl and hope for the best.) I am deeply passionate about health and wellness. My children and I have turned that passion into a business by baking my healthy recipes on camera together.
That's when The Healthy Baking Fam was born! My kids had already become my sous chefs and never wanted me to bake without them. Since we were already baking weekly, setting up a camera would help me keep track of my recipes. How hard could it be!?
Starting a YouTube Channel was a significant undertaking, far more time-consuming than I had anticipated. It's not just about developing, testing, and filming. It also involves extensive editing, posting, and social media marketing. After a year of the Channel and over 30 vegan recipes, we've learned a lot. I now test the recipes in advance, but you'll still see on-the-fly adjustments with my two chatty helpers. It's sometimes total chaos! But it's real life. Perfection isn't the goal; you'll see us in our PJs, nothing is scripted, and the kitchen gets messy. Baking is supposed to be a science and we don't always do it exactly right, but that's ok! When it comes to doing anything with young kids, we're all just out here doing our best.
I love giving back to the community by offering freebies at places like Candlewood Market or collaborating with some of my favorite healthy spots around town, such as Kitchen Melissa.
Subscribing to our Channel is completely free. We post episodes every other Thursday and shorts (bloopers) throughout the week. All of our recipes are posted in the YouTube descriptions. On Instagram, we offer a behind-the-scenes look at what we're developing, share healthy baking tips and ask for viewer input.
We bring something unique to the table by baking together as a family and encouraging others to involve their kids, too. It's not just about the healthy recipes- it's also about the joy, entertainment, and quality time we share together. We hope our journey inspires you to create similar moments in your kitchen. Whether you're here for the recipes, the entertainment, or a bit of both, we hope you'll join our community and subscribe to our YouTube channel. It's a fun way to learn about healthy baking and spend quality time with your family!
Find The Healthy Baking Fam on youtube.com and on Instagram @thehealtybakingfam
Check out Dana's easy pantry swaps to help jumpstart your way to healthier baking:
1. Use maple syrup instead of cane sugar (it has a lower glycemic index and contains more nutrients). We also love using dates or date sugar!
2. Try not to use solely white flour. I love mixing whole wheat, white whole wheat, spelt, oat, and blanched almond flour.
3. Use oil in place of butter when possible. I love coconut and olive. Pro tip: if you're using nut butter in your recipe, you can usually leave out the butter or oil altogether!
4. For all of my vegans out there- I just discovered the most incredible egg alternative but you'll have to subscribe to find out what it is!
My approach is game-changing—just check out my tofu muffins!
We hope our journey inspires you to create similar moments in your kitchen.