I’d like to start this off with a big fuzzy cyber hug. THANK YOU for visiting my lil’ corner of the world wide web and for wanting to know more about me. It’s damn good to have you here.
What’s my deal?
I’m Ashlyn, Ashlyn Anne Lincoln if we’re getting real formal. Leo by the Sun, Mercury and Venus; Taurus by the Moon and Mars. I’m a University-qualified nutritionist, an aspiring food photographer and stylist, and a total sucker for anything Italian. I adore plants, doggies, the sound of rain, and all shades of orange. I believe in the connectedness of all things and a power far greater than my own. I believe in eating as whole and organically as possible, 80% of the time. The other 20% is for choc-chip cookie dough and baked brie. I don’t believe in mustard or wasabi. Oh, and I have this weird thing where I have to know what everything smells like.
Some time ago, after 20 years of seemingly perfect health, I developed a myriad of digestive woes. I’ve been transfixed on learning about the ever-incredible ecosystem that is the human gut ever since.
How did I get here? (a not so glamorous food story)
Those last few points are what first brought me to the blogosphere six or so years ago, and they’re ultimately why I’m here now. This website, known as Nourish by Ashlyn back when the word nourish hadn’t begun rivaling moist in terms of cringeworthiness quite yet, essentially started off as a frustration mitigation project to help me navigate the early days of my own digestive misadventures.
2012 was a year characterised by gastrointestinal grief. I subsisted through constant pain and discomfort, several elimination diets, countless ‘specialist’ appointments, laxative abuse, a gastroscopy, a colonoscopy, and a trip to the ER, all to no avail. My doctor concluded that since it wasn’t Coeliac or bowel cancer, it was “probably just a fiber deficiency – drink Metamucil!” Yeah, sweet. I knew I’d have to take matters into my own hands.
Typically, I took to Google for answers and pretty much concluded that I was plagued with every digestive autoimmune disease under the sun. Not willing to accept my ill fate, I dug deeper into my symptom research and started seeing the terms ‘Fructose Malabsorption’, and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) pop-up more and more. During my search engine rampages I also started reading about the bizarrely termed ‘Low FODMAP Diet’, a three-phased eating plan developed by Monash University to relieve symptoms of IBS by limiting the dietary irritants. The jaw-droppingly restrictive nature of the diet’s ‘elimination phase’ was met with a fair bit of inner resistance, but I was getting desperate and decided to give it a shot.
LO AND BEHOLD, within just three (!!!) days of eliminating all FODMAPs from my diet, most of the ghastly symptoms I’d been experiencing daily for the last eight months subsided. So, I self-diagnosed Fructose and Sorbitol Malabsorption and IBS, the former of which was confirmed by clinical hydrogen breath testing a few months later. Because, you know, I’m neurotic and needed quantified closure.
Side note: If you’re currently screwing up your face thinking, “is this girl even speaking English?! What the hell is a FODMAP?!”, then I’d recommend jumping over here first and having a read…
The diagnosis was bittersweet. Sweet because I felt semi-human again; bitter because all the first-world inconveniences of being a die-hard foodie on a super restrictive diet took a toll. Not to mention that it was still 2012, a time when terms like ‘fructose’, ‘IBS’, and ‘FODMAPs’ were pretty much untouched by the food industry, disregarded by chefs completely (“A recipe withoud onyon and gahlic?! Fahhhhhget aboud id”), and met with puzzled possum-eyes from family and friends. After a few months I became insanely frustrated. All. The. Damn. Time.
I was frustrated with my digestive system for suddenly rejecting what felt like 90% of my favourite foods; frustrated with how unpredictable my attacks could be; frustrated with no longer being able to cook the beautifully styled and photographed meals from my favourite cookbooks and blogs; frustrated with the lack of genuinely healthy -let alone aesthetically appealing- FODMAP friendly recipes out there; frustrated with not being able to order straight from menus anymore; frustrated with all the inconsistencies and misinformation regarding food sensitivities from one ‘expert’ to the next.
All this bratty self-pity led to a light bulb moment and a subsequent kick up my ass: if I was so desperate for FODMAP and fructose friendly recipes that were tasty, wholesome and easy to prepare, I mustn’t be alone. I began playing in the kitchen with the ingredients I could eat substantial amounts of without being debilitated/spewing/smelling like a septic tank afterward and quickly discovered how liberating it was. I could FINALLY cook and eat meals that contained more than three ingredients again and didn’t taste like a wet sock.
With zero knowledge of what it meant to ‘blog’, I took to WordPress, downloaded a really bad free theme, and started posting my recipes – along with a lot of tragic iPhone 4 photos in all their over-filtered glory. After living low FODMAP and blogging about it sporadically for a few years, I became more and more curious about the physiological roots of food sensitivities. Even though the prevalence of IBS meant that the amount of decent FODMAP friendly recipes, products, and menu items were becoming increasingly available, I was still unsatisfied with the lack of comprehensive information out there. It also concerned me that I was still relying on the diet quite heavily to keep symptoms at bay.
I began noticing that my general wellbeing was going downhill as time passed. My mind would race for no apparent reason, and anxious thoughts of self-doubt, fear and insecurity would creep in unannounced. My energy levels were up and down, my moods unpredictable. I found it difficult to stay focused. My muscles were generally tight, sleepless nights were common, and hangovers became unbearable. Eventually, I began losing my appetite and forgot what it felt like to be genuinely hungry. I stopped cooking, writing recipes, and blogging as a result.
Deep down I knew it all had to be related. There just had to be more to the IBS story than simply developing food sensitivities “out of nowhere” with “no known cause or definite cure”. Why were these so-called ‘intolerances’ becoming so common throughout Western society? What was the root cause of the ‘malabsorption’? What physiological processes were determining whether I could digest apple and raw onion or not? Why did I STILL rely so heavily on limiting most FODMAPs in order to keep my gastrointestinal symptoms at bay, despite initially reading that severe restriction should only be necessary during the elimination phase? What was the link between what was going on in my gut and the onset of my psychological and emotional challenges?
Past experience told me that I wasn’t going to find answers from conventional practitioners or publications, so I began looking elsewhere. I’d always been interested in alternative heath approaches and Eastern medicine, but hadn’t had much exposure to them. In 2016/17 I started reading books and research papers on topics such as intestinal microbes, chronic inflammation, the gut-brain connection, holistic nutrition, naturopathy, fasting, and medicinal plants. My mind was opened up to a whole new realm of science and way of thinking.
Once I combined my existing knowledge with all the concepts and practices I’d been learning, and tweaked my existing low FODMAP diet accordingly, I noticed a quantum shift in not only my digestive health but also my general wellbeing. I’ve been obsessed with learning about the incredible ecosystem that is the human gut —and its far-reaching impact on the rest of our health—ever since.
What’s my goal here?
“People who love to eat are always the best people”
– Julia Child
Amen, Julia. That woman really knew her shit. I can’t name one person who is utterly in love with food that I don’t like. Food is SO much more than a means of sustenance – it’s celebration, connection, and comfort. It’s nostalgia, joy, and the ultimate sensory experience. When I lost my appetite for a year or so, I was not the kind of person I wanted to hang out with.
My ultimate goal for this website is to help you rekindle your love affair with food, and encourage you to begin your gut-healing journey.
I want to show you how to cook home-style, FODMAP friendly meals that are wholesome, tasty as hell, and promote long-term gut health. I want to help you eradicate the anxieties and overwhelm associated with restrictive low FODMAP eating. I want you to be able to play, convert and adapt recipes to suit your own preferences with ease, confidence and JOY. I want to teach you how to dine out without getting FOMO over what everyone else is eating at the table. I want to teach you how to eat whilst traveling without a shadow of worry. I want you to understand the difference between eating for short-term symptom reduction, and long-term gut healing, because let me tell you my friend, there’s a BIGGGGG difference. I want to debunk the bullshit and filter out the noise so that you are equipped with information that is up-to-date, accurate, and digestible (soz I had to).
I really hope you find something on here that adds a little magic to your day, whether it’s a simple smile, a knowing nod, new knowledge, or a whipping of your ass into the kitchen.
Here’s to saying adios to overwhelm and FOMO, and holaaaaaa to happier tastebuds and bellies!
Hey Jess! I just recently came across a bunch of comments from a long, long time ago that I’d somehow missed, yours included! I’m so sorry. I assume you’ve started your blogging journey – hope it’s going fantastically! X
Hey Hannah! I’ve recently discovered a whole heap of comments in my ‘pending’ folder that Ive never seen before and yours was one of them – I’m so sorry! I hope your cycles are still back to normal without the pill, unfortunately I’m still on it to keep my oestrogen up but hoping my naturopath will be able to get me off it! Sorry for the ridiculously delayed reply again, hope all’s wonderful in your world x
Thanks Paula! If you head to the home page and navigate to the ‘follow me’ button on the bottom of the left side bar, you’ll be able to sign up to email notifications. Please let me know if you have any issues 🙂 x
Ashlyn, how do I subscribe to your blog or get notifications for new recipes etc. I’m a very interested recently diagnosed fructose intolerant!!! Thanks Paula
Thanks a bunch Jo!
Email me at nourishbyashlyn@gmail.com and I’ll give you some info 🙂 x
Hi Ashlyn!
Absolutely love your blog, its amazingg!! i am really interested in doing food and nutrition sciences and just wondered where you did your course in Melbourne? i have found a few but thought i might ask someone who is already doing one. So any suggestions would really be great! Thanks
Jo xx
Hi there Jaye!
Please forgive me for the super delayed reply, I received quite a few notifications around the same time as yours and it’s only now that I’ve gone back through them that I realised yours was still sitting there unattended! So sorry!
More importantly, thank you so incredibly much for taking the time to give me such wonderful feedback! It truly means a lot. I’m so glad my long-winded waffle has been so useful for you – it’s always amazing to hear that I’m actually helping others to feel somewhat ‘normal’ again, whatever normal is! I hope you’re feeling even more positive than when you contacted me a few months ago (once again, so sorry that it’s taken this long for me to get back to you).
And YAY about the laksa! Who would have thought we’d be able to enjoy laksa again hey? Anything is possible! Xxxxxx
Hi there lovely!! I am just letting you know, I have emailed through to you just about possibly doing a little foodie interview with you on behalf of Bake Mixes….all details will be in email, im so excited to hear from you! Thanks a bunch xx
Hi Ashlyn, I am SO glad I found your blog! I was googling healthy laksa recipies, when your blog popped up. I read about your FM and a little light went off for me! For the last 5 and a half years, I have been dealing with all the symptoms you describe. Unable to pin point what was causing it and I always found that the majority of the food you mentioned seemed to make me sick. It could range from just slight stomach cramps and bloating to full on extreme cramping with vomitting. I lost a weight few years ago because I started to become so worried about eating because I would be in so much pain. I went to the GP’s only for them to fob me off and tell me to write a food diary but the issue was I couldn’t pin point the food (like I had done with shellfish) that was doing it to me. I assumed I must have some form of IBS that was made worse by stress. I always had a healthy diet but still dealt with these issues and just assumed I would have to for the rest of my life. I feel like I didn’t stumble across this blog by accident and I was definately supposed to. Everything makes sense to me and it’s like a puzzle that’s finally coming together. So THANK YOU, I can see this blog becoming my recipie bible. I really love your food philosophy also, having tried Paleo (my MIL is strict Paleo), I found it too strict and ending up binging on crap and paying for it for the week. Sorry for the long speel but I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am to have found this. PS The Laksa was ACE and was an absolute hit with the Hubby!!
Jaye x
Absolutely! It’s @greensmoothie.supercleanse …Feel free to email us at holla@skinnimini.com.au
Hi Sally, do you have an Instagram page I can check out? X
Hi lovely,
We would love to offer you a free bag of our green smoothie detox to review for your followers.
All we would ask is for you to put up a post on your Instagram.
I’ve checked out your page and I think you would love SkinniMini.
We would love it if you could help us out.
Let us know your thoughts.
Hey Chelsea,
I must apologise for the delayed response, I must have missed this comment!
Thank you so incredibly much for your lovely feedback. Yep, it’s a fantastic motto (except a little bit of dark choccie each day doesn’t count!) Thanks again Chelsea, have a wonderful weekend xxx
Hi Ashlyn,
After stumbling across your instagram account yesterday i thought that i would come and have a look at the website from your link and i am so happy that i did. You are simply amazing! After feeling somewhat uninspired over the last few weeks and quite simply hard done by for not being able to eat like my husband and keep an amazing figure i have been reminded that there is such a bigger picture and of why i started this journey in the first place!! My new favourite motto is to never sacrifice what i want most for what i want in the moment and i cant wait for what is next!
Thank you again for your honesty and for sharing your experience with us all and I look forward to your continued posts 🙂
Chelsea xx
Hey Vanessa!
I guess I just wanted to feel fit and healthy and I developed a preference for female figures with a (little) bit of muscle, most likely because a bit of tone is a reflection of fitness in my eyes. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym or with a PT, just find an exercise or sport you genuinely enjoy and take it from there. You’ll find it’s quite addictive because you just feel so great afterwards, and you’ll start to seek more challenging workouts as your fitness and health increases! I’ve been injured for a long time and I miss working out more than anything. I use Afterlight xxx
Hi Ashlyn!
I recently discovered you through Instagram and can I just say it is perfection… I only aspire to have an Instagram feed as good as yours.
But I just wanted to know what was the most important factor that made you become transform from just skinny to toned and fit? Because I am bone skinny and I would love to just add some muscles here and there and appear a little more healthier.
PS: I was wondering, what apps do you use to edit your Instagram pics?
Hi Ashlyn,
I’m amazed with your blog,brilliant recipes,beautiful photography,motivating me to do more healthier lifestyle…Thank’s a lot for sharing all that usefull things for anyone…
There’s still one thing i want to confirm for a conclusion of your ‘about story’ that might be a guidance for me having a concept of healthy lifestyle…: “keeping exercise that burn calories more often,eating small portions and strictly away from bad fat,or is it allowed that sometimes we still could enjoy the moment of eating ‘high calory’ such as chocolate or ice cream…?”
Would you correct me if i’m wrong or not complete in healthy lifestyle concept of yours?Please advice…Thanks before to you very very much…
Hi Ashlyn, have followed your blog for a while now, regularly checking in for updates! always so intrigued by your opinions/recipes and personal little side stories your so generously willing to share with others. Like you, I’m passionate about empowering others with knowledge that will impact their lifestyle…. I’m guilty of trying a tonne of recipes and was pleasantly surprised by each one.
recently i have become increasingly interested in blogging and look to you and your own blog for inspiration, it would mean loads if you shared any advice/websites/tips & tricks in starting up this blog! + anything else you want to throw in there!
Look forward to hearing from you.. Thanks a bunch, Jess X
Heya Gary,
Facing cyber-seeing you here! Thanks for the great comment. I’m proud to say that I’ve definitely developed a better attitude towards fitness than what I had (or lacked!) when you coached me all those years ago haha!
I absolutely agree. No medicine can do what proper nutrition and a good sweat can!
And yes, Dr. Libby is wonderful.
See you ’round soon 🙂
Hey Kelly,
Apologies for the delayed reply – I’ve been overseas for the past few months.
Firstly, do you have fructmal or IBS, and When were you diagnosed? Secondly, have you gone on a strict low-FODMAP diet and completely cut out all irritants for at least 6 weeks before you tried reintroducing them? If you haven’t, you will need to because it’s the only way to allow your gut to begin healing. Have you seen an intolerance-specific dietician? X
Hey Kartia,
Thank you, thank you! Similar questions about what constitutes my weekly shopping list and fridge/pantry ‘essentials’ are becoming increasingly common, so I’ll definitely have to do a post about this in the very near-future. Thanks so much for your lovely feedback!
Ashlyn xxx
Hi Ashlyn,
Love your food blog it’s so inspiring! 🙂 Just wondering if you may do a blog about a shopping list? Kinda what you always like to buy from the supermarket and what is generally on your list all the time (if you have one haha) or even where you like ti buy your products from? I think it would be really helpful!
Keep up the great work and I hope you enjoyed your European adventure!
From Kartia. xx
Ashlyn
http://www.drlibby.com/
I love reading Dr Libby blogs and facebook messages as well
Hi Ashlyn
its you old tennis coach. Its so wonderful to see you have developed a passion for health and fitness. As a tennis coach and health mentor to kids, im so proud that one of my ex students is leading by example to help others live a healthier disease free life. Lets stop dying longer snd LIVE LONGER.
Hi Ashlyn,
I’ve really, really enjoyed reading your blog. It’s so honest and that’s refreshing! Lately I have been taking a bit more notice the clean eating phenomenon and today I made my first slice of the kind! It really is a new leaf for me, as my biggest downfall to date would be my tendency to party too much and overindulge. Your body definitely does tell you what it’s feeling and it’s high time I listened. I would be really interested on more hormone balancing nutrition etc. I found the above comment really interesting. I was on the pill for seven years and went off it a two years ago. I did not have a period for 14 months and despite the doctor trying to put me on another pill, I stuck it out (worryingly) and the period returned. Ever since then I go through (what I hope is) a normal 28-30 day cycle. It makes me wonder what the pill is doing to our bodies!
Anyway, I just wanted to express my appreciation for this blog!
Hi, how do you build a tolerance to fructans /fructose without horrible symptoms? If I eat 1 bite I’m suffering for 3 days:/
Hey Ashley!
Thank you so much for the gorgeous comment! It makes me incredibly happy to hear that you’re enjoying the recipes!
You’re lovely xxxxxx
I recently came across your blog and I fell in loooove! I’ve already tried a couple of your recipes and they are incredibly tasty. Seriously, people like you are so inspiring with your love for health and wellness, and proving that whole foods can be delicious, if not more tastier than processed/packaged/fast food! Keep it up! This is now one of my favorite blogs. I have it bookmarked 🙂
Hey Taylor!
Thanks so much! Super glad to hear to enjoy them 🙂
Now on the birth control subject, I’d be lying if I said I practice what I preach. I decided to go off the pill at the beginning of last year because, like you, I wanted to balance my hormones naturally. After that, I was all anti-pill and swore I’d never go on it again. But then I didn’t menstruate for a whole year and my oestrogen levels were near-menopausal, which was giving me other menopausal symptoms – terrible headaches, extreme mood swings etc. It’s strange because I first went on the pill when I was 17 for my unbearable menstrual cramps, but other than that, everything else was normal: cycle was regular, mood swings were normal (for a crazy teenager) etc. I did my research and tried eating foods that would balance my hormones and nothing seemed to work. My body had obviously come to rely on the pill for more than just regulating my menstrual cycle. I think the first brand of pill I was put on (which I stayed on for over 3 years) was far stronger than what I needed. Natural or not, I had no choice but to go back on the pill (a weaker one this time), and voila! Within a month, my oestrogen levels and moods were back to normal and I menstruated as normal. The fact that my body relies on the pill to function as a woman does worry me, but I couldn’t risk menopause any longer. A friend of mine was having the same issue after she took herself off the pill, and she went to see a Chinese doctor, and he fixed her up within weeks. I would have done that in hindsight – there’s a lot to be said for traditional Chinese medicine. That would be my advice to you 🙂 X
Hi Ash thanks very much for your post, I love your blog! Your recipes always turn out and are so delicious – my favourite recipes are the chewy choc nutter bars and the roasted vegetable quinoa 🙂 I just have a question regarding eating pre exercise. Can you please advise if you normally have something to eat before you exercise or do you normally exercise on an empty stomach? Also would you mind sharing your weekly exercise routine? Thanks again for sharing all your amazing recipes and stories 🙂
Hi Ashlyn,
I love your blog so much! So many incredible recipes ☺ I was wondering what your opinion on birth control and hormone balance is? I try hard to eat healthy and nourish my body (I have come off the pill at the end of last year and am trying to balance my hormones naturally) and am really discouraged when nothing appears to change and my skin doesn’t seem to improve. Do you know anything about certain foods I should be eating or what may help level out my hormones?
Hello Grace,
I figured out that I had it through a lot of research, trial and error and through an elimination diet. However I was officially diagnosed after having intolerance breath tests done. You don’t need a referral, just google ‘hydrogen intolerance breath testing’ and find a hospital or clinic closest to you who do it 🙂
Hope that helps! X
Wow, that actually means a lot. I think I have commented on your photos like twice and it’s crazy that you remember me so thanks a bunch 😀
Thanks so much for replying love! I’ve learnt so much 🙂 my exams start in 60 days so hopefully I’ll be able to get a job and volunteer afterwards. It’ll be so much easier when I’ve actually got money to buy the things I want myself as I hate relying on my parents. Would I be able to email you or something about advice for university and exams? I’m hoping to go to uni next year and I’m so stressed out as you can imagine. Xxxx
Hi Ashlyn!
I was just wondering how you found out that you had developed fructose malabsorption. Were you diagnosed by a doctor?
Love your blog by the way!
Grace xx
Hey Sophie!
I think I recognise your name from Instagram! Thank you so much. It can be SO difficult to drill the importance of healthy living into the minds of others who are totally apathetic towards it all, and even more difficult if it’s your parents. Unfortunately, there’s no super ‘cheap’ way to eat healthy, but there’s always ways to do it on a budget. I must admit, I’m very lucky that I have my parents to support my grocery shopping while I’m at Uni and still living at home.
My top tips would be to eat seasonally, stock up on fresh produce at Saturday farmers markets and other markets because they’re much cheaper and FRESHER than elsewhere, buy frozen berries over fresh if fresh berries aren’t in your budget, GROW all your own herbs and other veg if you can (I have a large veggie and fruit patch, but growing your own herbs is very easy cheap, plus you have them all year round and whenever you want them and they don’t even require a garden – just use pots if that’s all the room you’ve got!), buy typically expensive but essential ‘superfoods’ like coconut oil, chia seeds etc online to cut supermarket/health food store costs. The more organic stuff you buy, the better, but it can become impossibly expensive. I know I wouldn’t be able to afford it if I was a student and on my own financially. The most important thing is to just buy natural whole foods. Even if it’s not organic, it’s still gonna surpass packeted junk by a mile!
Good luck honey xxxxxx
Hey Hannah!
Awesome! I must make these again. Thanks so much for the feedback 🙂
Ashlyn xxx
Hello Zara!
To be totally honest with you, I struggle to find blogs that really resonate with me because I’m intolerant to a lot of the foods in the super ‘healthy’ recipe blogs out there, and the majority of ‘low FODMAP’ recipe blogs out there aren’t particularly healthy, so I’m struggling to find ones myself! That’s why I created this one 🙂
Here are a few blogs I frequent, whereby I adapt the recipes to suit my intolerances and/or ‘healthify’ them if need-be:
Oh She Glows
Eat Drink Paleo
My New Roots
101 Cookbooks
What Katie Ate
Kath Eats Real Food
The Healthy Chef
This Rawesome Vegan Life
Hope this helps! xxxxxx
Hi lovely! I love your blog so much 🙂 I’m 16, a full time student (in year 12) and I’ve been looking for part time work, but unfortunately no luck at the moment. My family don’t eat healthy and I’ve started to dedicate my life to eating clean and exercising 3-4 times a week. However, my parents don’t understand the importance of healthy eating and exercise – even when I tell them they don’t listen. They often moan at buying fruit, vegetables, green tea etc just for me. How do you stay healthy on a budget? Do you have any tips? Thank you! Xxx
Just made your raw vagan chocolate mousse tarts amazing! Worked perfect and taste amazing.
Thanks a bunch Sophie! Such kind words xxxxxxx
you are just lovely and your food is amazing. i’m so glad to have happened here!
Hi Ashlyn,
Your blog is very inspiring! Can you recommend other blogs similar to yours – recipes for healthy/organic food; healthy versions of fast foods etc.?
Thanks in advance 🙂
Thanks a bunch! xxx
What an amazing blog you have! Glad to have found you.
i completely agree with you. lista de emails lista de emails lista de emails lista de emails lista de emails
Thank you SO MUCH! What an honour. I absolutely love your blog, photos and recipes! Keep up the awesome work 🙂
Hi there! I wanted to stop by to tell you I have really loved reading your blog and I’ve nominated you for a Liebster Award! http://mylittlejarofspices.com/2013/09/05/liebster-blog-award/.
Thanks for sharing such great content!
Hi lovely , sorry the delay, I have just recently returned from a trip to New York. My email is admin@mhmmodels.com.au , when you get a chance flick me an email and we can chat further about the offered position, we know you will be perfect for. Kyra
Oh my gosh, I’m most definitely interested! What’s your email address so we can discuss it further? Thank you for the opportunity! X
Hi Ash,
Would you be interested in becoming a paid, health & fitness blogger for an Australian Model Mentoring Agency, we are looking for someone to post twice a month in both categories of health & fitness!