INSIDE THE COLORFUL KITCHEN OF ELLE MCGEE
It's definitely Good Eats with Elle.
I started my day with a protein yogurt bowl inspired by Elle McGee, the head chef of GoodEatsWithElle and a Rodeo fashion content creator. Every morning, she enjoys a protein-packed breakfast consisting of her favorite Truvani protein powder mixed with a large dollop of coconut yogurt. She garnishes it with seasonal fruits and berries, alternating between gluten-free granola, cacao nibs, or cereal. Finally, she adds a drizzle of raw honey, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and a spoonful of almond or peanut butter. I have to tell you it was delish!
(style on Rodeo: ellemcgee | food: goodeatswithelle)
During Elle’s sophomore year of high school, COVID-19 hit, sending everyone into quarantine. Growing bored of social isolation, confinement, and her mother’s four meals served on rotation, Elle decided to take cooking into her own hands. After Zoom school hours, she began watching grocery store hauls, “What I Eat in a Day,” and cooking videos on YouTube. Inspired to create her own healthy meals, she started collecting cookbooks and writing grocery lists filled with ideas for new recipes to try.
Cooking became a therapeutic activity for her during those challenging times. “It truly makes me happy,” she says. What started as cooking for her family soon snowballed into cooking for her friends as well. This led her to share her recipes with a larger audience, giving birth to GoodEatsWithElle. The account has since grown to 5.3k followers and showcases Elle’s healthy recipes along with her vibrant sense of style.
Elle’s kitchen staple is a big bowl that she uses to marinate her proteins and season her veggies. Seasonal, fresh, whole foods are what inspire most of her cooking. Seasonal produce is harvested during peak ripeness which enhances flavor and nutrients, and summer is her favorite. The vibrancy of the foods she cooks with inspire much of her style as well. As you’ll notice, Elle has a colorful and eclectic style herself. She often matches her meals, incorporating lots of color, pattern, and texture into her looks.
(style on Rodeo: ellemcgee | food: goodeatswithelle)
When deciding what to cook, Elle doesn’t meal prep. Instead, she listens to her cravings and what nutrients her body needs. With all the traveling she has been doing this summer, she loves incorporating meals that are nutrient-dense and filled with protein, carbs, and veggies. She’s been rotating between Asian-style beef bowls, grilled vegetable salads with cilantro honey chicken, ground chicken enchilada skillets, air-fryer salmon nourishment bowls, and her favorite—burgers with Japanese sweet potatoes as the bun.
Elle’s favorite flavors often incorporate Asian ingredients like coconut aminos, garlic, ginger, and toasted sesame. She also believes you can’t go wrong with Mediterranean herbs and spices, which add fresh and bright flavors to her dishes.
The most amazing part of Elle’s cooking process is that she barely relies on recipes anymore. As she started cooking, she became more familiar with cooking times, spices, and flavors. Now, she cooks freestyle, mixing and matching her favorite herbs, spices, and homemade sauces with new dishes. She finds that freestyle cooking allows her creativity to blossom.
(style on Rodeo: ellemcgee | food: goodeatswithelle)
Concluding our interview, Elle left me with this small piece of advice:
“Do the thing that makes you happy”
For Elle it’s not just putting together cute outfits but her love of cooking that really makes her glow.
“Cooking is truly a passion of mine and in a world of chaos I know I can always come back to doing the little things that fill my cup. Cooking is my form of girl therapy and the kitchen truly inspires me.”
She hopes after reading this you try your hand at cooking something special. So,
“Light a candle, play your favorite song, pour a glass of wine, invite a friend over and make yourself a delicious dinner!”
Xx,
Elle
Discover this superstar on Rodeo and elevate your style and culinary game by following GoodEatsWithElle—your go-to source for fashion trends and mouthwatering recipes. Don't miss out on the inspiration!
(style on Rodeo: ellemcgee | food: goodeatswithelle)