Welcome! I’m Lily Brooks – and I’m here to make your life in the kitchen easier, healthier, and a whole lot tastier.

Hi! I’m Lily – the woman behind the recipes, grocery lists, kitchen messes, and the very real struggle to put something decent on the table at the end of a long day. If you’ve ever looked at a fridge full of ingredients and thought, “I have no idea what to make,” you’re not alone — and you’ve found the right place.

I’m a recipe developer, certified nutrition coach, wife, mom of two little wild ones, and former stressed-out marketing exec who used to eat cold pizza over the sink and call it dinner.

Quick Easy Healthy Meals started out of pure necessity. I didn’t set out to build a food blog. I set out to survive the chaos of daily life with meals that wouldn’t leave me feeling sluggish, guilty, or overwhelmed — and I wanted to help others do the same.

Let me back up a little…

🏡 My Story: From takeout queen to food-focused mama

I grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in a family where dinner wasn’t fancy, but it was always a priority. My mom made casseroles, my dad grilled burgers, and we had spaghetti nights every Thursday. It wasn’t about gourmet—it was about gathering.

But when I moved to San Diego in my 20s to chase a corporate career, my eating habits fell apart fast. Late meetings, long commutes, and way too much caffeine meant I was constantly running on empty. Fast food was my normal. Cooking? That felt like a luxury I didn’t have time for.

When I became a mom at 32, everything shifted. Suddenly, I wasn’t just fueling my body — I was responsible for feeding a whole little human. I realized I didn’t want my kids growing up thinking “healthy food” was boring or hard, or that dinner had to come in a cardboard box.

I needed recipes that were fast, doable, and actually nourishing — not just calorie-counting or bland steamed veggies.

So I started experimenting.

🍽️ The Birth of Quick Easy Healthy Meals

At first, it was just for me. I’d batch-cook grains, prep proteins, and chop veggies to save time during the week. I figured out how to build quick flavor with herbs and spices. I learned how to make one-pan meals in under 30 minutes that actually tasted good. And I started writing it all down.

Friends began asking for my recipes. Then coworkers. Then my sister-in-law said, “You should really put this online.”

So I did.

What started as a Google doc and a few Instagram posts has grown into Quick Easy Healthy Meals — a space filled with nutritious, delicious recipes for real life.

Today, this blog is read by thousands of people every month who want the same thing I did: a way to eat better without losing their sanity.

🥕 What You’ll Find Here

This isn’t a “perfect food” blog. I’m not a chef. I don’t own a dehydrator. And I believe that frozen veggies are one of the best modern inventions ever.

What I do promise is this:
Real food. Real quick. Real good.

Here’s what you’ll find at QuickEasyHealthyMeals.com:

  • 30-minute dinners that are simple, flavorful, and won’t break the bank
  • Meal prep strategies that save your time and keep your fridge stocked
  • Wholesome snacks and lunches even picky kids will try
  • Balanced comfort food (yes, we do tacos and pasta!)
  • No-fuss breakfasts to start your day strong
  • Slow cooker and sheet pan meals for lazy days
  • Plant-forward options that are satisfying and simple
  • Easy-to-follow recipes with ingredient swaps and tips
  • Nutrition-minded choices that are still full of joy and flavor

🚫 What You Won’t Find Here

I don’t follow trends unless they actually work. You won’t find:

  • Calorie-obsessed meals that leave you hungry an hour later
  • Overly complicated “health food” that needs 17 ingredients
  • Shame-based eating advice or “clean eating” lectures
  • Unrealistic perfection — because life is messy, and dinner sometimes burns

You won’t see me pushing detoxes, macros, or six-dollar powders. I’m here for balance — and for meals you can actually make with what’s in your kitchen.

👩‍🍳 A Bit More About Me

Here are a few fun facts, just so we’re not strangers:

  • I’m 38 and live in San Diego with my husband Ryan, our two kids (Ella and Noah), and our rescue mutt Pepper, who thinks she’s a sous chef.
  • I used to think healthy food meant dry chicken and sadness. Now I know better — and I’ll show you how, too.
  • My favorite comfort food is roasted sweet potatoes with garlic yogurt sauce. Don’t knock it till you try it.
  • I believe you don’t need a fancy kitchen or expensive ingredients to cook something amazing.
  • I still mess up recipes. And I’ll always tell you when I do.
  • My ultimate goal? To help you feel confident feeding yourself and your family — without stress.

❤️ Why I Do This

I created this site because I know what it’s like to be tired, hungry, overwhelmed, and unsure what to cook. I’ve stood in front of the fridge with 20 minutes and no plan. I’ve had weeks where cereal was dinner — more than once.

This blog is for you — the parent who wants healthier meals but doesn’t know where to start. The college student trying to cook real food for the first time. The person who wants to eat better, but also loves butter.

If that’s you, you’re my kind of person.

My recipes are tested, family-approved, and built for busy lives. They’re quick, easy, and healthy — just like the name says.

💬 Stay Awhile

Whether you’re here for a weeknight dinner idea, a meal prep hack, or just to remember that healthy food can actually be joyful — I’m so glad you stopped by.

Welcome to Quick Easy Healthy Meals.
Let’s cook something good, together.

— Lily Brooks
(Your kitchen cheerleader)