Your doctor has prescribed you a gluten & dairy-free diet, but cooking feels impossible with your demanding work schedule. You’re anxious about going out to eat—worried about hidden gluten or dairy. So, you’ve been eating the same thing every night. You and your husband have started eating dinner separately since you’re eating different things, anyway. You want to be able to have that quality time together over dinner more often, you’re both so busy at work. I ask about what your, and your husband’s favorite foods are and I take note. You also let me know after long days in front of a screen, you struggle to unwind and get a restful night’s sleep.

Mondays are quieter at work, so you are able to cook a recommended dinner. On Tuesdays, when work gets busy, you don’t think you’ll have time to cook. You email me a picture of what’s in your fridge. It looks like you have most of the things to make grain-free tacos with the leftover chicken you have—you and your husband honeymooned in Mexico. You ask him to pick up salsa and a taco seasoning packet to add to the chicken on his way home. You’re able to quickly make this meal for dinner. Since tacos are DIY, you can customize—he tops his with crema while you add nutritional yeast and extra avocado. After closing your laptop at night, you put on your new red light I suggested to help you relax. Your husband thinks it sets the mood ;)

In your toolkit is now a set of go-to meals and routines that feel doable. After a couple of weeks though, you’re still feeling hesitant about going out to eat, but hate that this is making you miss out on dinners with your girl friends. So, we plan a girl’s night dinner party for you to co-host with a best friend. Together, you make a few of your favorite apps and a simple dish. You and your guests are having a fabulous time talking, no one has noticed your food is gluten or dairy free. You’re not just using your toolkit—you’re having fun with them.