47. Stella Dillard: The Healthy Green Casserole Queen

In Episode #47 of the More Than Miles Podcast, physical therapists Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards and Dr. Kacy Seynders interview professional chef, triathlete, and owner of Atlanta food business, Dandelion Food & Goods, Stella Dillard. Stella worked in the Atlanta restaurant scene for over a decade before the COVID-19 pandemic left her out of work and inspired to take the plunge into cooking the way she had always wanted. She started her own business selling frozen soups and casseroles at farmers markets and for delivery in the Atlanta metro area. In the interview, Stella discusses the importance to her of sourcing quality ingredients from local farmers and cooking meals with a health-conscious focus and intent to create balanced meals for busy families and professionals. During the interview with Dr. Kate and Dr. Kacy, Stella also gets to tell her, “running story” and talks about her journey from being a younger restaurant worker running on a treadmill with the goal of “getting fit and stronger” for her job demands in a professional kitchen, to her current love of triathlon training including her upcoming USA Triathlon Nationals race in August. Stella also talks about the unique demands of being a professional chef- think standing for up to 12 or 14 hours a day, and how she tries to integrate recovery practices such as massage, sleep, and relaxation breath work into her days and weeks. Stella also talks about how the process of training as a triathlete has made her eye for the nutrition of her meals all the more discerning and how she is now more attune to getting enough macronutrients including sufficient protein, quality carbohydrates, and fats in each meal to support her training (and the health of her customers)! The interview includes positive food reviews from Dr. Kate and Dr. Kacy (who have tried her food and give it the flavor and healthy thumbs ups!) and bonding moments with Dr. Kate as female small business owners. Dr. Kate also shares a little bit about her experience working in restaurants growing up and in graduate school and how that has created in her a similar “ingredients first” mentality. You will not want to miss this interview with such a down to earth and inspired chef and endurance athlete. Plus, you may just find that it gives you one more option for healthy meals on the go! We hope this description has whet your appetite for more from Stella and you can check out the full interview in the most recent More Than Miles Podcast episode!