We had the opportunity to connect with the super talented, hilarious, and refreshingly genuine Chrissa of Physical Kitchness, whose Whole30 Approved meal we’re offering in every city we serve. 

Shortly after having her first child, she started her blog with the intent to help busy moms like herself create a life of wellness for themselves and their families in a simplified, practical, and sustainable way. 

As a real food and fitness enthusiast, she believes deeply in the power of intentional eating + moving and the critical importance of ensuring they both show up – and show up consistently – once you have little humans to care for. Over the past few years, she’s cultivated a heck of a community through her simple, super delicious recipes, quick and accessible workout solutions, and general hilarity and authenticity she brings to motherhood. 

In the spirit of supporting small businesses, especially those that are committed to making this world a healthier one, it was a no-brainer to partner with Chrissa. We’re so thrilled to offer her Southwest Cod Cakes with Pico Slaw and Lime Aoili, and can’t wait for you to try it!

We chatted with the Physical Kitchness herself to learn more about building her business, our partnership … and food, naturally. 

First thing’s first … what’s your foodlosophy?

No stress, little prep. It’s not sexy, but I ain’t got time for a fancy philosophy! I’m all about hacking your way around meal time. Practicality is key for me. 

• Prep a few veggies to start your week so you can throw together a simple protein and reheat your sides.
• Reinvent leftovers so you don’t have to spend more time in the kitchen than needed.
• Clean out your fridge for Friday dinners to avoid food waste.
• Freeze everything you don’t use. 

Many of us are gearing up for a September Whole30. As someone tied closely with the Whole30 community, any advice for newbies?

I’m a big believer in keeping things simple. You have the ability to make a Whole30 challenge as easy or as complex as you want it to be. I often tell people to just play. Throw things together and see what works. You expand your skills and knowledge about flavor combos so much if you just step outside your comfort zone. A great place to start is a simple ground turkey hash. And if the attempt fails, just throw some compliant ranch on it!

Valuable life lesson. When all else fails … add ranch. As a super busy mom, successful blogger, business owner, and pilates and barre instructor, how do you manage it all? Tell us your secrets. We’re listening (and maybe taking copious notes).

After I had our first child, I experienced a little bit of an identity crisis. We’d moved to a new city and I was a new stay-at-home mom. I realized as much as I loved being a mom, I needed something for me too – specifically a creative outlet. I started Physical Kitchness and poured my heart and soul into it. 

I won’t lie, the first 2.5 years were an all-out hustle. It takes work to get something off the ground and that meant up before the baby, working all through nap time, late into the night, weekends, etc. I was tired and I don’t advocate for women to burn themselves out, but I believed in my heart if I gave it my all, I could make it work (specifically creating a profitable business around my passion and scaling it). 

I think we live in a world that sends up polar opposite messages about hustle/do-it-all and rest/self care. And for me, it’s a very delicate balance that I still struggle with. I grapple with mom guilt, anxiety, overwhelm like everyone else. But also have a deep sense of self-awareness, resiliency, and fire to chase my dreams. 

Speaking of dream chasing … in just 2.5 years, you grew your brand to over 80k instagram followers – whoa. Can you share a bit about what that journey looked like for you?

Instagram stories have been such an integral part of my growth and building a tribe of people! I never intended IG to be one of my main platforms for connecting with my audience, but through my daily stories, I found that interest for what I was eating, how I fed my kids, and just dealing with all the ups and downs of life (taking some moments in stride and humor, others with real, raw responses) was what people really wanted to see instead of just food photos on their feed. I think real-life application is what interests people vs perfection. I’ve also done three Whole30 Recipes IG takeovers which has most definitely helped catapult my following.

It’s clear this work is your life’s passion. Any advice for folks looking to make a leap of their own?

I think they key is to really explore your purpose. We often get so caught up in the day-to-day ’stuff’ that we don’t really sit down and think “ok, what do I want to DO with this life I have?” Once you have clarity and figure out something that lights up your soul, it’s a game-changer. It takes time though! I’ve failed more than I’ve succeeded, wanted to quit multiple times, and learned a ton of lessons along the way, but using those experiences as lessons instead of defeat has grown me (and my business, and my parenting, and the way I show up for my spouse and myself) in ways I could have never imagined! 

With your success comes lots of cool opportunities, but it’s unlikely you grab them all. Can you share a bit about why you decided to team up with Territory Foods?

I only team up with companies where our mission aligns. I value the trust of my audience more than anything, so if I know a product or offer will benefit them (because I know how it has benefitted me), I’m thrilled to share it. When I first tried Territory Foods last year, I was hooked. The flavor combos were incredible, the meals were convenient, and everything was perfectly paired to fuel me through the day. I’ve tried a lot of subscription meal delivery services (both fully prepared and make-yourself) and Territory Foods by far has exceeded my exceptions for tastiness! 

Of all the recipes you’ve delighted your community with over the years, how did you pick this one?

These cod cakes are just different! I know how mundane paleo and Whole30 compliant recipes can become, so I love showcasing this recipe to mix up the ’normal’ a bit! The slaw is so fresh and pairs perfectly.

Is it kid approved?

Sure is! My kids love these and surprisingly prefer the aioli over ketchup (ketchup is life over here). I try to pick out the pieces of jalapeño in the slaw when I serve it – that level of heat is a bit intense for them. 

What inspired this dish?

Fish tacos! When we lived in Southern California we’d go out for fish tacos regularly (they’re the BEST), so this is a little twist on our favorite SoCal meal. 

Have a favorite aspect of the meal?

I love the crunchy, fresh slaw paired with the savory fish cake. I’m a big fan of varying textures so this just hits the spot.

Aside from this meal of course, can you point us to a few of your other faves on your blog?

• My most popular meal is my Whole30 Sloppy Joe Bowls (and probably my kids’ favorite).
• I make my 5-Ingredient Hawaiian Chicken Burgers regularly and serve them for breakfast, lunches, and dinners (you can even freeze them raw and make later).
• Another favorite are my Whole30 Meatless Buffalo Burgers – people love these because they have the same consistency (and look) as an actual burger. They’re fantastic served hot or cold with any side dish or even with eggs for breakfast. 

You can order Chrissa’s Southwest Cod Cakes with Pico Slaw and Lime Aioli every week for the month of September – making those Whole30 dreams come true, one cod cake at a time. Happy eating!