From calorie-counting culture to kitchen confidence, Jillian Hankins shares her journey toward joyful, nourishing meals made with real ingredients. We chat about embracing food freedom, raising kids who eat what’s served, and the rhythms that make homemade meals feel doable—even three times a day. With tips for balancing your plate, using seasonal produce, making simple sauces, and working with your natural energy, this conversation is full of encouragement for simplifying healthy eating and making it work for real family life.

In this episode, we cover:

Jillian’s journey from junk food to holistic nutrition

Growing up in diet culture and learning to enjoy food again

How real food helped her heal hormonally and digestively

Discovering the joy of cooking after growing up on boxed meals

Why calorie-counting and food guilt are giving way to freedom

Reframing dessert as a tool for joy—and for picky eaters

Teaching kids to eat what’s served with a two-bite rule and protein emphasis

Honoring where food comes from and why that shapes how we eat

Using seasonal produce and sales to guide budget-friendly meals

Building a simple balanced plate: protein, carb, produce, sauce

How sauces transform meals without adding complexity

Weekly rhythms that support homemade meals without burnout

Why Jillian always plans snacks and treats—not just dinners

Doubling dinner for easy lunches and prepping in pockets of time

Using rhythms that match your energy instead of fighting it

View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED

Check out Jillian’s monthly meal plans through her Simple Seasons subscription

Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube

Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course

Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series

Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy

Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook

CONNECT

Jillian Hankins of Jillian Margaret Wellness | Website | Instagram

Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest

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