Get ready to jump in Join Kaitlyn Prettyman, the force behind Kalefornia Kravings, as you explore a kaleidoscope of flavors and culinary fun. If you’re not already one of her 485,000 Instagram followers, you’re in for a treat. Kaitlyn’s page is brimming with vibrant, healthy recipes that make health and wellness seem easy and fun.
In our interview, Caitlin shared the inspiration behind her cooking style, her relationship with food, and how a simple guacamole recipe played a major role in her healing journey. Her story is more than just about creating delicious food; it’s also about growth, health, wellness, and savoring life with each bite. Find more quick and easy recipes in Caitlin’s debut book, Fast & Fresh Cal-Mex Cooking.
How has growing up in San Diego influenced your cooking style and flavor preferences?
San Diego has the best food! Fresh produce, seafood, and amazing Mexican food make it a true foodie playground. I think that’s why most of the food I make leans more towards Mexican-inspired flavors. Bell peppers, citrus, lots of spice/hotness, fresh herbs. These are flavors and ingredients that I find very comforting and are great for health and wellness too. I love creating fusion with all the fresh, locally grown ingredients we have available in California and recipes inspired by traditional Mexican dishes/flavors with a bit of Mexican flavor.
What’s the most popular recipe you’ve ever posted on Instagram and why do you think it resonated so well with your audience?
My Baked Salmon with Avocado and Feta. I actually posted this recipe earlier this year, and it’s already surpassed all of my previous “most popular” recipes. I think it’s really resonating with you all because the ingredients list is short, so it’s not intimidating, and the end result is so delicious. I’ve had a few people tell me that even their picky kids love this recipe, which is always a big win. It’s simple, easy, and delicious.
What is the most unique or unusual ingredient you have ever tried in a recipe?
Butternut Squash Brownies! I make these all the time and they are one of my favorite desserts. My friends and family hated them at first but now they love them. Don’t judge until you’ve tried them!
Are there any kitchen tricks or tips that you swear by and think everyone should know?
Yes! If you have leftover guacamole or avocado (that hasn’t turned brown yet), just place them in a plastic bag, remove the air, seal, and freeze. They’ll stay fresh and green for weeks! And if your lettuce starts to wilt, just cut off the ends and stand it up in a bowl of water. It’ll crisp up again in a few hours. (This method also works with fresh herbs and veggies!)
How do you unwind and relax after a long day of cooking and creating content?
Watching TV, this sounds so cliché. I love most reality TV shows and find them so entertaining. I think it’s because during the day you’re constantly making decisions and using your “creative brain” so it’s nice to disconnect in the evening and watch a show that doesn’t require too much thinking. (And dessert at night is a must!) My favorite shows are Below Deck, Survivor, The Bachelor and The Amazing Race.
What’s the best cooking advice you’ve ever received and who gave it to you?
“Don’t be afraid to try, even if you fail.” That’s what my mom always told me when I first started cooking. I was hesitant to try new techniques or new ingredients because I was afraid I’d fail. But this advice has led to some of my best recipes.
“You can’t take the salt out of a dish, but you can always add more salt later.” – My husband, Charlie
Can you talk about your relationship with food growing up, the challenges you experienced, and how it impacted you?
To be honest, I never had a problem with food when I was younger. I ate everything, had a voracious appetite, and never thought about what I was putting in my body. That all changed around my junior and senior years of high school. (One thing you need to understand about me at that time: I was an extremely people pleasing person. If someone didn’t like me, it felt like the end of the world.) I was also an avid softball player, but as I had said before, I began to realize that I didn’t want to play in college. Due to my people pleasing nature, I didn’t know how to express that I didn’t want to play softball anymore. So I tried to force myself to continue, but I quickly grew to hate it. I started playing terrible (not on purpose, my heart just wasn’t there anymore), felt even worse, and felt like I was letting everyone down even more. My social life started to be affected, I became depressed, I felt like I was out of control of everything in my life, and my health and happiness suffered.
The only thing I could control was food. I had control over what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat… but I abused it. It started with small things like telling myself I was “trying to be healthy” but it quickly escalated to a long list of “feared foods” that I would swear I would never eat again. It even became like a punishment. For example, if I played badly in a game, I wasn’t allowed to go to Starbucks with the team afterwards or have ice cream for dessert. All of these things I had done before without any problems. Eventually, I would think, “How long can I go without eating today?” And it was an accomplishment to only be able to eat one apple all day.
I felt so “in control”. After a year or two I realized this wasn’t best for my health and happiness and I didn’t like living like this. I needed help so I got the help I needed and began my journey of recovery.
Why did discovering the recipe for guacamole and making it become such an important part of your healing journey?
Look at the reactions I get when I tell people that a simple guacamole recipe truly accelerated my journey to recovery: Among those lists of dreaded foods I mentioned earlier was guacamole (I thought of it as something horribly unhealthy that should be avoided at all costs).
I remember when I was taking a speech class in college back in the day. The assignment was a “how-to” speech. The professor decided to randomly hand out topics to the class and, no joke, gave me the topic “How to make guacamole”. I was furious. I remember walking back to my dorm room feeling so angry. It’s funny to say it now, but at the time I had never made guacamole from scratch, so I had to look up recipes to complete the project. That was the moment that changed everything. I was shocked to see that all the recipes had very simple and basic ingredients: avocado, lemon juice, cilantro, and a few spices. All of them (to me) were totally fine on their own. So why was I so afraid of combining them to make a “terrible” guacamole?! It was as if a switch had flipped in my brain and suddenly guacamole was edible again.
So I started thinking, “What other things do I not need to be afraid of?” I then picked certain “fear foods” from the list, looked up recipes for them, and quickly crossed them off my list, one by one.
What advice would you give to people struggling with eating disorders and trying to find positivity through cooking and food?
Have fun! It may seem impossible right now, but food is something to enjoy, not fear. Since I started experimenting with recipes and having fun in the kitchen, everything has become a lot easier. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, it can be something simple like making tostadas instead of tacos because I want a crispy crust.
Can you talk about the emotional and spiritual aspects of your recovery journey and how that has intersected with your culinary journey?
I think changing your mindset plays a huge role in your recovery. If you can switch from thinking “I can’t eat this” or “This is bad for me” or “I’m scared to eat this” to “What can I do to feel more comfortable eating this food?” I truly believe that those small switches can give you huge freedom. It could be a simple swap, changing a bunch of ingredients in a recipe, or something totally random. But if it makes you feel better and you can actually eat the food you dread later without feeling guilty, who cares?!
What message do you want to convey to your followers through your recipes, your blog, and the content you share on Instagram?
Good food doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create delicious dishes that are good for your health and wellness. You can and should enjoy all kinds of foods, too. There’s nothing quite like eating a hearty salad in one hand and a big bowl of ice cream in the other.
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