Meet Delaney
Hi there! Thanks for stopping by!
My name is Delaney, and I am the owner of Joyful Balance. Through Joyful Balance it is my goal to help you find the healthy steps to a happy you, and to promote a joyfully balanced plant based lifestyle. But let’s talk about how I got here!
My Background
I grew up outside of Austin, Texas, in a home that was relatively health-conscious. However, my love of everything health and wellness related REALLY kicked into high gear during my college years.
After high school I wanted a change of scenery, so I decided to run off to the mountains to pursue a degree at the University of Montana. Early in my college career I joined the UM Triathlon Club. I started training like crazy, taking group fit classes at the university recreation center, and surrounding myself with other students who were passionate about health and fitness. This newfound love led me to work towards a degree in Exercise Science. I eventually decided that I wanted to learn more about well-rounded health, rather than just fitness and exercise, so I switched to a Community Health and Prevention Sciences degree. This allowed me to learn about various aspects of health such as fitness, nutrition, and even mental health. I fell in love with health and wellness so much that I also completed a certificate in Health Behavior Coaching through my University.
Throughout my college years I found many passions related to health outside of school itself. I became a certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer. I continued competing in triathlons and eventually worked towards a half-marathon as well. I de-stressed by playing in the kitchen and constantly trying new vegetarian recipes.
Shortly after college I ended up back in Austin after marrying my high school sweetheart. I continued adding to my wellness-related passions by becoming a licensed massage therapist and working towards other fitness-related certifications. I eventually found my way to a plant-based lifestyle and loved it so much that I studied all I could about it and got a certificate in Plant Based Nutrition.
I decided to start Joyful Balance in 2019 as a way to share my health and wellness passions with others. Although I love many aspects of health and wellness, these days I focus most on sharing delicious plant based recipes on the blog, and offering one-on-one health coaching!
My Food Philosophy
When it comes to “healthy eating”, I truly don’t believe that there is a one-size-fits-all answer. I believe that everyone needs to find what their own personal version of “healthy” is, and that physical health is only one aspect of that. Of course it is important to take care of our bodies, but it’s also important to take care of our souls and do what makes us happy. I believe that you don’t have to be perfect to find health. You just have to find balance (joyful balance, if you will).
As far as my personal eating habits, I consider myself plant based. I eat the majority of my meals at home, and all of my home meals are free of animal products as well as highly-processed foods (such as oil or refined sugar). However, I also love a good takeout meal. When I eat out I typically stay vegan if at all possible, but if a little bit of dairy or egg sneaks its way into my meal I don’t sweat it. Everything is about balance, and I know that an occasional “splurge” meal won’t doom all of my goals! However, this is just how I personally eat. Like I said above, everyone needs to find what works for them.
The recipes on this site reflect how I cook – since I’m the one making the recipes! They all focus on whole plant foods. I of course advocate for eating more plants, but I recognize that this looks different for everyone. Maybe you’re 100% vegan. Maybe you’re vegetarian. Maybe you eat animal products but want to incorporate more plants onto your plate too. Maybe you are intrigued by the plant based lifestyle and want to try a few plant based meals a week. Wherever you are, you are welcome here.
You don’t need to live a lifestyle identical to mine to enjoy the recipes I provide. To enjoy my recipes, all you need is to be willing to eat some plants! And maybe be willing to dance around to some fun music in your kitchen while you cook them.
Welcome to Joyful Balance!
