Hi there, and welcome to my cozy little corner of the internet.
I’m Andrea — mama, wife, food lover, certified nutritionist, menopause coach, ADHD coach and forever lifetime learner of holistic wellness. I created Simply Salt & Soul as a sanctuary to share the practices that keep me grounded—a place where wellness meets simplicity, where taking care of yourself feels natural, intentional, and completely doable.
I chose the name because it reflects the way I see a balanced life. Simply represents my belief that wellness shouldn’t be complicated. Salt is the mineral-level foundation of health. It represents the non-negotiable habits and functional nutrition that build a resilient body, giving you a steady base to handle whatever life throws your way. Soul is the ‘why’ behind the wellness. It’s the richness of life that happens when we’re healthy enough to be present—the laughter shared over a home-cooked meal, the depth of our connections, and the simple joy of feeling truly alive in our own skin.
Learning to Listen to the Whispers
My path hasn’t been a straight line. I started my career as an Early Childhood Educator, then a home-baker, but as life shifted—bringing me two energetic boys and a busy home-baking business—I found myself facing an unexpected detour.
My interest in nutrition began with my first little one. Like many new moms, I wanted to give him the very best, and I started seeing food through a lens of nourishment. But as I focused on his health, my own started to feel out of balance.
Somewhere between late-night baking and caring for my family, my body started sending me signals. At first, they were quiet—tiredness, stress, and lingering fatigue. But over time, those whispers became louder and harder to ignore. In 2017, I reached a breaking point that led me to stop and truly listen—and I was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN).
My curiosity about food and wellness shifted from something I was exploring into something I truly needed. I realized I couldn’t show up the way I wanted to if I was running on empty and in constant discomfort. Learning about nutrition became a way to support my own well-being, so I could be present for my family.
(You can read the full story of my battle with Trigeminal Neuralgia and how I found my way back to health [here — My Story]).
A New Foundation of Care
That breaking point became the turning point I needed. It changed how I cared for myself and showed me the power of starting from the inside out. Once I began truly listening to my body, food stopped feeling like just another task on my to-do list—it became a way to nourish my brain, my body, and my wellbeing.
I didn’t just want to “eat clean”—I wanted to understand the why behind it. I wanted to learn how food connects to our energy, our moods, our hormones and our overall well-being. This curiosity eventually brought me right back to my roots as well. I found myself making the same strong, (sometimes bitter) herbal teas from Traditional Chinese Medicine that my mom used to brew when I was a kid—the ones I used to run away from! It’s funny how something I once avoided became something I came back to, especially as I learned how different herbs are used to support the body in finding balance again.
Everything she told me started to click—from the way certain herbs support us, to how different foods can feel better in different seasons, and how important sleep and rest are for the body. I realized that nutrition and wellness aren’t about one “magic fix”—they’re more like a puzzle, where food, sleep, movement, and mindset all come together.
The Evolution of My Kitchen
This space began as a place to share my favourite family recipes—simple, everyday meals made with love. As my journey into nutrition deepened, the intention behind my cooking shifted. It became less about “what’s for dinner” and more about how food can support us in feeling our best.
I’ve always loved to travel, and looking back, it was my first real “nutrition school.” Whether I was noticing how people in Hong Kong chose herbal teas based on the weather, or observing the mindful, seasonal meals in Japan, it taught me that food is so much more than numbers on a plate. It’s cultural, it’s seasonal, and it’s deeply personal. (And honestly, there’s nothing like fresh air and a view of the ocean to remind you that nourishment comes in many forms.)
My Path Today
After years of feeling dismissed at doctor’s appointments, I realized I needed to take the lead in my own health. That personal mission is growing into a professional one.
After earning my first nutrition certification, I started experiencing perimenopause firsthand which led me to become a Certified Menopause Coach—I wanted to provide the straightforward, science-backed guidance I couldn’t find myself. My years in Early Childhood Education also gave me a front-row seat to how our brains work, which led me to become a Certified ADHD Coach. Today, I’m pulling all of these pieces together as I finish my studies to become a Registered Holistic Nutritionist.
Wellness doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. It lives in the messy, everyday moments.
I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s take this journey together—one simple, intentional step at a time.
I share things from both a Traditional Chinese Medicine and holistic nutrition perspective. Everything here is for educational purposes and is meant to give you more tools for your health journey. Just remember to always listen to your own body and check in with your own health pros for individual advice!