About

Welcome to Spilled Ingredients!  I’m Niki Ahrens.  I’m a grad student, teacher, lucky mom and former educational coordinator.  I’m into all things real food, travel, and my family.  I’m probably one of these too.  I’ve spent my adulthood recovering from a past life of processed meals, processed snacks, and fluoride supplements.  I love to learn and share ideas, and spill about try outs and toss outs here.  I’m a Seattle transplant from Minneapolis, changing food and household products as I knew them.  My spouse, daughter and I love to explore yonder, and have become seasoned movers with mobile kitchens lately.  A wheaten terror terrier who resides with us has become quite the jet setter.  With any spare money and time, I hope to add number 20 to my running list of countries visited, exceed it, and to eventually try great food in all of the fifty states in the U.S.  Some people spend money on toys and shoes, I buy tickets.

My kitchen, home and eating are ever-transforming.  I’m learning about the simple and easy things we can do with real food and why it’s so important.  I draw a lot of inspiration and ideas from natural minded cultures, stories, fellow parents and chefs.  Then I practice, fail, and practice some more.  It’s all fun and it’s nothing short of glorious when a self-taught like me gets something right.  I’m just enjoying the journey of transforming something more naturally.

I created this site for fellow busy folks with the constant decision making we do, with limited time to do it.  Here you’ll find favorite whole veggie or pesky (pescatarian) recipes, links to research and data, and alternatives that give us super powers instead of harm us.  Asking questions like 1) who profits from the decision I’m making? 2) how do I know who truly profits?  3) what is my child eating when away from home, perhaps at daycare or school? keeps our families healthier for life.  I’m striving for healthy simplicity.  Thanks for stopping by, I look forward to hearing from you.

Be well and groovy,
Niki