I'm a busy city girl trying to do her best to eat healthy, work out, take care of herself and find balance. Read on to find out how meal prep helps keep me on track and living my best life – it can do the same for you too!
Hello & welcome!
My name is Taylor Stinson and I'm The Girl on Bloor! I create healthy, easy meal prep recipes that are perfect for busy people, and I've been running this blog since 2014.
I know you're probably wondering: what's with the name? Well, Bloor Street is one of the busiest main streets in downtown Toronto, and I've lived on this street on and off for the past several years. I love the area so much and really identify as a busy city girl!
My blog aims to help other super busy people like me save time, stress and money while eating more wholesome, homemade foods on-the-go.
If you'd like to contact me, hit up my contact page. And if you'd like to learn more about meal prep, you should join my free 5 day meal prep challenge to start this healthy habit off on the right foot, and reduce overwhelm!
My meal prep story
I initially started The Girl on Bloor as a way to capture some of the meals I was making as a full-time graduate student and freelance writer.
For 7 years I balanced full-time school, part-time work, volunteering and extra-curricular activities. I knew how to eat healthy thanks to my mom's nutrition knowledge, but I found it so difficult to make single servings for myself once I left home, or use up leftovers in creative ways, or plan out a whole week's worth of meals around my weird schedule.
Like lots of other university students, I gained the Freshman 15 my first couple years away from home. Actually, it was probably closer to a Freshman 25 lol!
Downtown Toronto is filled with all kinds of crazy amazing food, so I was like a kid in a candy store, eating my way through the city and I could have cared less about what I was putting in my body.
For so many years in my early twenties, I struggled with yo-yo dieting because I had trouble with meal planning. 🙁
I would care less what I was eating over the school year, then I would start my full time job in the summer, realize how much weight I'd put on over the school year and how crappy I felt, then restrict myself to a lifestyle that was unsustainable in the long run: counting calories and feeling so guilty if I had to skip a workout. Then it was back to school and …well, rinse and repeat as they say.
I knew there had to be a better way to focus on my overall health and well-being without having such a toxic relationship with food and dieting. And the solution turned out to be meal prep!
Prepping healthy food ahead of time that you know you're going to love will help you get more time back in your week to focus on activities that bring you joy and it allows you more time to be active. Meal prep saves you time and mental energy, plus there's a host of other benefits such as reduced food waste and saving money on food (both on groceries AND takeout) because you've planned ahead.
My qualifications & education
Okay, so I know you're probably thinking: that's all fine and great, Taylor, but what exactly qualifies you to talk to me about meal prep?
Well, how does 7 years' experience sound?!
I have been developing and photographing my recipes FULL TIME since 2014. I have over 500 free recipes published to this website, and in that time I have amassed a wide readership – over 1.5 million people visit this blog every month, and over 30,000 people subscribe to my meal prep email newsletter. CHECK OUT MY RECIPE ARCHIVES HERE.
You can also join over 300,000 others and follow me on Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube! Or check out my ebooks that you can purchase for more.
In 2015, I finally finished school and graduated with a Master's degree in journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto. I've worked with several different food brands such as Vitamix, Canadian grocery store chain Loblaws, Andy Boy, Philips, Sabra, Harvest Snaps and more, and I've also done some food styling for CHCH TV's Morning Live show.
As I was working on my Master's degree, I had a column on Toronto.com and worked for the Yellowpages, so I know ALL about publishing and ensuring the best user experience possible.
As The Girl on Bloor and as a Master of Journalism graduate, my work has been featured around the web, from features on Buzzfeed, Better Homes & Gardens, Brit + Co, Women's Health, Reader's Digest, Apartment Therapy, Yahoo, HuffPost, Prevention Magazine and more! Through the blog, I was currently a regular contributor to HuffPost Canada Living, writing a Cooking in Season food column.
Outside of The Girl on Bloor, I have written for the Yellow Pages, YP NextHome, She Does the City, Elite Daily and more.
Here are some articles where I've been featured:
- Buzzfeed Food – 18 Fizzy Cocktails Guaranteed To Get You Kissed At Midnight
- Buzzfeed Food – 18 Vegetarian Grain Bowls That Are Better For You Than Yoga
- Buzzfeed Food – 17 Delicious Ways To Take Your Avocado Obsession To The Next Level
- Yahoo – Jazz Up Your Grilled Cheese Sandwich with These 20 Recipes
- Brit + Co – 9 Comfort Food Appetizers for All Your Spring Parties
- Brit + Co – 13 Smart Foods to Eat Before a Test or Major Presentation
- Brit + Co – 22 Starbucks Copycat Recipes Your Wallet Will Thank You For
- Huffington Post – The Best Meal Prep Containers (I was featured as an expert in the article)
- HuffPost Canada Living – Meal Ideas from the HuffPost Canada Living Contributors
- PureWow – 30 Spring Dinner Recipes You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less
- The Everygirl – 40+ Seasonal Recipes to Make This Spring
- Community Table – 36 Spaghetti Squash Recipes That Will Make You Drool
- Greatist – Meal Prep Chicken Recipes
- Lifehack – 15 Healthy Dinner Recipes
- Country Living – Vegetarian Slow Cooker Meals
- Livestrong – Instant Pot Pasta Recipes
- Healthline – Instant Pot Keto Recipes
- Delish – Instant Pot Indian Takeout Recipes
Beyond all the brand collaborations and my formal education, I've been cooking for myself for a long time – I've experimented with what works, and what doesn't.
How I can help you with your goals
If you want to learn more about meal planning, I walk you through my step-by-step process in my free 5-Day Meal Prep Challenge. You'll receive 5 days of helpful meal prep emails filled with my process and free printable work sheets (see below) to put it all together. Plus, you'll get access to my meal prep Facebook group as well!
My all-time favorite recipes from the blog!
So with all the recipes I create, which are my absolute favorite?
Here they are:
- Coconut Mango Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
- Tahini Coconut Energy Bites
- Sashimi Tuna Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing
- Chicken Spring Roll Jars
- Fajita Stuffed Chicken
I have these meals on repeat ALL the time at home!
My food philosophy
When you have a busy lifestyle, it can be hard to commit to whatever diet or food fad is out there, so I say it's time to forget about the complications of cooking.
We're only human, and food should be about enjoyment and nourishing your body so you can feel and look your best – and I find that that's really only possible when you're eating delicious food you love. Hopefully I can help out a bit with the healthy meal prepping part (Side note: check out my How to Meal Prep post to get started!)
Rather than restrict ourselves, I think it's time for all of us to just get back in the kitchen, and start cooking again! Find your groove and your style, what you like and dislike.
Be adventurous, or be simple.
But most of all, be authentic to what your own food philosophy is and what your time constraints are.
I'll be along for the ride! ❤
How to get in touch
You can reach me at taylor[@]thegirlonbloor.com
You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube!