UPDATE: I just want to say that I am humbled by your overwhelming support in the comments (with a few notable exceptions 😅) and I promise I will respond to them soon! Thank you so much for sticking with me on this new path! 💕
There are going to be some changes around here on I Breathe I’m Hungry, and since many of you have been here for years and years, I feel I owe you an explanation as to what and why.
When I started IBIH back in 2011, it was just a hobby and a place to connect with friends and give a home to the recipes I’d created over the years. By 2012 I had gained some followers and discovered that people were searching for low carb recipes that tasted good and helped them reach their goals – and there weren’t a lot of websites focusing on that at the time.
So I leaned into that niche and I Breathe I’m Hungry became a destination for people looking for delicious low carb, gluten free, and keto recipes. Eventually I created the free 3 Day Keto Kickstart and 12 weeks of keto menu plans – and then came the egg fast plan, the keto soup diet, and more recently the Squeaky Clean Keto plan and 30 day challenge.
I was so committed to keto recipes that I published two books on the subject – Keto for Life, and Squeaky Clean Keto, which were both well received.
Things were going great. So great that thousands of people and companies started creating keto recipes – some good, some not so much. Traffic to my website started to decline, but we were doing ok and there were plenty of people who were still coming to IBIH for keto recipes.
And then the pandemic hit.
Suddenly nobody wanted keto recipes anymore, and everyone was baking banana bread and crafting their own sourdough starters. Even my family went down the rabbit hole of baking and cooking elaborate non keto meals because what else were we going to do stuck at home for months at a time?
And so after publishing new keto recipes to the sound of crickets, I eventually put the website on autopilot and started pursuing other interests.
Since then we moved back to NY from Honduras, and bought an old 1870’s colonial estate that needed a lot of work. So we’ve been restoring that for the last 3 years, while renovating and launching 2 new short term rental properties, and more recently I’ve been building a micro flower farm on the property to sell specialty cut flowers locally here in the Hudson Valley.
It’s been very busy, but also very rewarding – and we are exhausted. Which hasn’t left a lot of time for making new recipe content here on the website.
Is I Breathe I’m Hungry Finished?
No. But…
While I want to get back to creating recipes, I honestly haven’t done keto in several years (though my closet is telling me I probably should be) and there has been a sharp decline in searches for keto recipes, so it feels like a waste of time to create more.
Also, ironically my house is huge with rooms I don’t need upstairs (and no closet space, WHY? ðŸ˜), but my kitchen is tiny, which is a constant source of frustration and has stifled my creativity and desire to work on cooking and photographing new recipes. So I need to be really inspired if I’m going to push through, and I haven’t felt inspired by keto in a long time.
In spite of those challenges, I have been feeling itchy to cook and get back to work doing what I love, and I need a direction to go in.
If you’ve been around the last few months you know that I have talked a lot about higher protein recipes, and I even started a new meal plan called Prioritizing Protein.
I also posted on social media that I was under contract with my publisher for a new high protein cookbook that was going to release in December. I am still publishing the cookbook, but I have delayed it to put my energy into rebuilding I Breathe I’m Hungry.
But what does that even look like?
Finally, She Gets to the Point
I’ve toyed with the idea of posting non keto recipes here on I Breathe I’m Hungry for years, but I’ve watched others go down that path in the past and get raked over the coals by their followers so I never did it, even when I lost my passion for keto.
Now that so many people have moved on from keto, and I have stepped away from the blog for an extended time, I’ve decided if I’m going to return and do my best work creating new recipes, then I have to do what inspires and excites me.
I also need to be posting recipes that resonate with people’s needs today, so that blog traffic will recover and I can continue to afford to put time into creating new content. Because without that income, I can’t justify the time it takes to keep working on it.
So while all of the existing keto content will stay on the website, and I will occasionally be posting new keto recipes as inspiration strikes, moving forward I Breathe I’m Hungry will no longer be primarily a keto recipe destination.
That may be tough for some of you loyal followers from the early days to accept, and please know that I don’t make this decision lightly. I have appreciated you being here and commenting and making this website and the Facebook pages into a thriving community. I hope you will stick around and see what’s next, but if IBIH is no longer for you then I totally understand.
Based on my polls and research though, many of you came for keto and kept following even though you don’t do keto anymore. You will hopefully love the new content. If you liked and trusted my keto recipes, then you will be as excited as I am that unrestricted by a need for non traditional keto ingredients, I will be able to bring delicious new recipes that are more accessible and seasonal.
That doesn’t mean I will be posting overly indulgent and unhealthy recipes here either though.
I’m currently inspired by higher protein recipes, that are moderate in carbs and fat – which is a healthy trend that I can get behind, and that many are finding a lot more sustainable than keto for the long term.
I will also be getting back to the Prioritizing Protein Meal Plans in the coming weeks, with the goal of having at least 6 weeks of meal plans available by the end of the year.
In a Nutshell aka. TLDR (too long didn’t read)
I Breathe I’m Hungry will maintain the keto and gluten free recipes and meal plans that are currently on the site, but moving forward I will be posting a variety of recipes that may or may not be keto. I am currently focused on healthy higher protein recipes that may include natural sugars, fruits, starches like potatoes and rice, and even sometimes *gasp* gluten.
Where possible, I will include modifications for those who are keeping to a low carbohydrate diet, or even gluten free or dairy free if applicable. I will also continue to provide nutrition information for the new recipes.
It will take some time to build up a catalog of the new high protein recipes, so meanwhile I will still be sharing existing keto recipes on social media and by email, so don’t be surprised if you see keto recipes still popping up.
As I release them, I will tag the new recipes and meal plans with “new” in the email title and social media description so keep an eye out for those coming soon.
If you are not already subscribed to my newsletter, now would be a great time to do so! You can find the subscribe box at the bottom of the post or on the front page of the website.
pinguino says
Your keto recipes were always my favorite, but keto’s been really hard for me to stick to after the pandemic as well. Hyped to try your high protein recipes!
Cheri says
I love your recipes and make them even when I’m not following a keto diet! I’m excited to see what you post!
Leslie says
Melissa, Bless you for all your work. I’ve made your recipes and tried almost all of them. Always go back to my favorites!!
I purchased all your books and if keto, no gluten books happen to be in your future I’ll buy them as well.
I have no choice but to remain Keto as I’m borderline celiac.
Thank you and blessings and congratulations on your new home & specialty flower shop. I’ll keep following!
Love you!
Karen N. says
Your recipes made a huge difference for me when I was on Keto…so THANK YOU for that! I’m off Keto now but always looking for good, healthy recipes and I know I’ll be able to trust you to come up with truly tasty creations. I’m glad you’re making this change and it comes at a good time for me so that’s a bonus! Looking forward to all your new creations!!
Wendy T says
Totally understand. I also haven’t done much keto lately. Would love to see you post about your flowers and new house. Thx for all your hard work.
Stephanie says
Your recipes are among my favorites and on repeat! I’m excited to read about the continuation of your journey, and your new direction. While I’m not keto (never have been for any extended periods of time), I have been low carb for about 12 years. Right now, I am low carb-whole food-protein focused-vegetarian which is quite a challenge!! I do find that with a little creativity, I can adapt recipes to meet my health goals. So I can’t wait to see what you share with us!
Best wishes with the new direction of the blog, the new home, the new book, the rentals, the micro flower farm, and ever having free time again! ;) Will always be here to support you as you have always supported us!
AL says
Hello Mellissa,
I am glad that you are busy and have lots of things going. I came for your keto recipes. Mainly because your recipes WORKED. A lot of the other websites, the recipes even followed to the letter didnt. Keto stuff is too expensive to waste on bad recipes.
That being said, I follow more of a modified keto that is much more sustainable for me. Your commentary and recipes have allowed me to learn much more about nutrition and I can choose the carbs, not let them choose me. And my modified keto does sound closer to your protein adventure. I too will hang out for your stuff, because it works. If it sneaks a little more carbs in, then I can deal.
I love your stuff! Good luck with your kitchen too.
Ludonna Flanningan says
I am looking forward to prioritizing protein.
MsGF says
Sounds great! I’m high protein, low carb for years. I’ve always doubled the protein in your recipes with great results. Looking forward to the new recipes.
Kim says
I love every one of your keto recipes that I’ve tried and I’m grateful that you shared your delicious creations. I understand the need to find a reason to continue, and I look forward to seeing your new recipes. I know they will be delicious! Thank you for spending so much time and effort for our health.
Leslie George says
Good Morning Mellissa, I first want to thank you for all your hard work on being the best site , in my opinion, for low carb / Keto foods, recipes and ways to jumpstart my low carb way of eating when I fall off the wagon. I have found that eating regular flour foods is not a great thing for me to do, BUT, I do miss the smell and taste and on occasion I indulge. There is something special about your site and I do believe sit is your commitment and love of doing not just a good job but a GREAT job on whatever you pursue. I want to welcome you home to your new home in NY. Your flowers are gorgeous and the ranunculus are one of my favorites. Good luck for your new venture and I will still be following IBIH and will begin to follow your new site. Bless you and yours.