My journey with food began when my husband's career as a professional basketball player took us to France. Newly married and living abroad for the first time, I jokingly told people I was a private chef for a pro athlete—but it was true! For 12 years, we lived in Germany, France, and Turkey, and before we had our two daughters, I spent four years fully immersed in traveling and experiencing different cuisines. I became fascinated by other cultures—how they sourced their food and their dedication to eating seasonally and prioritizing fresh, local ingredients.

After my second daughter was born with severe eczema and food allergies, I dove deep into the world of food to heal her gut and, in turn, her skin and inflammatory responses. It was a challenging journey, but it opened our eyes to the hidden ingredients we often consume without a second thought. That experience taught us to prioritize food from farms that practice regenerative farming and use ingredients we can actually pronounce.

The amount of time and effort it takes to go against what mainstream food systems promote can feel overwhelming. Who has time to work full-time, be a partner, and a parent, and also filter out all the inflammatory ingredients hidden in supermarket foods? It’s like having a full-time job in itself! That’s why I started Pure Plates—to help busy people feel confident that they’re truly fueling their bodies with real, clean ingredients, without being misled by clever marketing. We’re passionate about using food as medicine—and the best part? It tastes really freaking good!

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-Madelyn Sim