About IGE
I’ve lived in Iowa for the better part of 26 years (minus a three year stint in Minneapolis after college) and while it may get a bad rap, Iowa’s a fabulous place to live! Great food can be found locally which lets me eat well, trails are abundant which allows me to run free and the cost of living is low which encourages me to travel far!
My Philosophy
Eat Well
Eating well is tough, isn’t it? Eating well with a major sweet tooth + a curiosity to taste everything = really tough!
I love to cook, and I love to eat even more. I am always up for trying something new (except if it contains mushrooms, bell peppers, or cooked carrots!) and feel the absolute best when I eat nutritious and healthy meals. That said, I am definitely a self proclaimed junk food junkie! Give me a bag of Doritos and Thin Mints any day and a happy girl you will find.
Obviously junk food does not do a body good, so I try and live by the 80/20 rule: 80% clean and healthy eating, 20% sanity-keeping splurges. Some days it’s more like 60/40 – but hey, we do the best we can. 
My favorite foods to cook and eat include Asian foods, 5 ingredients or less recipes and comfort foods made healthy. Most nights you’ll find me in the kitchen whipping up a scrumptious, healthy meal for me and my husband – always leaving room for dessert, of course!
Run Often
I “became” a runner when I moved to Minneapolis after graduating college and was able to take advantage of the incredible trails and lakes that Minnesota has to offer. They don’t call it the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” for nothing! In 3 years, I went from barely being able to run 1.5 miles, to knocking out 6 miles – no sweat!
After moving back to Iowa, I continued running on the trails near my home and eventually took those runs from 6 miles to 13 miles. All my training culminated in the Banco Popular Chicago Half Marathon in September 2008…on the rainiest day in Chicago’s history! Finishing that race gave me one of the biggest feelings of accomplishments I’ve ever had, and is something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
I absolutely love the feeling that running gives me, and I am proof positive that if you stick with something – it will get easier!
Travel Far
I’ve got the travel bug and it cannot be cured!
Some people work to get the latest and greatest gadgets and gizmos, I work so I can travel. I absolutely love exploring new and unfamiliar places – learning the history and mystery behind every new discovery.
Whether it’s searching around European churches that are hundreds of years old or trying to figure out the intricacies of the mysterious Japanese culture, I want to do and see it all. Every place I go I consider a “favorite”, but my favorites among favorites include Japan, Germany, New York City, and ALL of California. Destinations on my must see list include: Greece, Italy, Morocco, Alaska and India!
Hey! I just stumbled apon your wonderful blog! I live in Iowa City & its great to see someone with a food blog from around here! Keep up the good work
omg. i love this. so. freaking. natural. (and you are gorg.)
yayyy new bloggy find! xoxo hope you sleep sweet girly!
Hi Kristin,
Just found your blog through foodbuzz… love it! I’m new to the Midwest from California and it’s nice to find blogging about healthy things in this area.
Best,
Amber (Cal Med Chef)
I just found your blog from fitnessista…I am from Iowa too! I go to U of Iowa but travel home to des moines frequently. Thanks for representing the state so well
I’m gonna add you to my bookmarks!
Kristen
Hi guys! I can’t believe I ran across your website!! I was hopping from one food blog to another and ended up here! Hope you are doing well, have a good weekend! PS Come out Colorado soon…Drew says “Bring us some GODFATHERS!”
Is your wedding picture by chance taken at Faith Lutheran Church in Clive? It looks a lot like it.
You have the prettiest face!
I thought I was married to the best guy in the world?
Hi! I just found your link on Glamour.com and I thought “I have a wordpress blog too!” so I clicked. Your blog is awesome and you are just so pretty!!!
Oh you’re welcome! My link is http://marissa1273.wordpress.com/!!
I just found your blog through RD Daily Bites and I think I have a bit of a blog crush? Your food is so pretty!
Hi Kristin! I got here from Glamour and I am loving your blog. I just started my own (http://runsrests.blogspot.com) but have been reading on food and running blogs for a looong time.
It’s interesting that you want to learn Japanese. I’m currently working here in Japan and have learned the language to be able to carry a conversation. But I still have a long way to go. OMG, I just re-read your list and I pretty much have the same on my list: ride a hot air balloon and work in a bakery. 
You are super cool.
Learning how to surf and hot air ballooning are on my list too! I got to go up in a tethered ride, but that doesn’t count
And I want to live in another country like somewhere in Europe-that would be awesome
Very cute story. You are so pretty, by the way. You really remind me of my brother’s ex girlfriend. She always wanted to be a model.
Anywho, I just wanted to say how you sound alot like me. Grew up in Indiana for 25 years and shortly after my 25th birthday headed for the California Coast. Today, I live in San Diego.
Have a great day girly!
Hey! I just stumbled upon your blog, and I’m soo excited to see another Iowa girl blogging! They’re tough to find!
Feel free to check out my blog :
hopesjourneytohealthy.blogspot.com
I just want to say that I absolutely love your blog. The activities and recipies that you post are completely inspiring. I get so excited everyday when I see an update from IowaGirlEats, and your enthusiasm for life is incredibly uplifting. Keep it up, I thoroughly enjoy it!
Hurray for Iowa! So wonderful to find another girl who appreciates the state! I grew up in a small town in southwest Iowa but moved away for college. Such great looking blog you have here!
It’s great to see another Iowan who is also a foodie. I enjoy cooking a lot. Maybe some time we could swap recipes.
Just tried your Green Monster smoothie this morning – surprisingly YUMMY! I will definately make it again! The vibrant color alone kinda “wakes you up”.
We’re taking a trip to NAPA VALLEY in October and I’ve already scoped out a Trader Joe’s location there – I will be visiting them for the first time when we go, thanks to your recommendations.
You are absolutely stunning!!!
Iowa rocks! Dubuque here — love the blog. I’ll be watching you!
I love love your blog! i just started reading
you are such a cutie
i can’t wait to keep reading!
hope your havin a fab weekend, and congrats on the new paint on the house
I’ve just started reading your blog, it’s great! You’re an inspiration to me to eat better and get outdoors. I’m in IA too, tell me about the almond butter, where do you get it from?
Wow.
I love your blog!
I’m ecstatic that I found ya!
Thanks for all the GREAT recipes … and your honesty!
I stumbled upon this while browsing Juice and with almost every entry I’ve read, I have to go back and make sure this isn’t MY blog! Perhaps it’s that Iowa/DSM girl connection, but I feel like we have so much in common, except you do it better than me, LOL. I love to work out and I’ve been running more with the hopes that one day I’ll finish my own half and I love to try new foods! You have so many great tips in here that I wouldn’t think of! I did a major diet overhaul last fall to lose weight for my wedding, and I pretty much ate the same things everyday. (I don’t know when I’ll be able to eat a tuna sandwich again.) Thanks for all the great ideas!
Cool blog love locals succeed and blog the real stuff
Way to go grl…
[...] Kristen from IOWA GIRL EATS who said, [...]
Were you a cheerleader at UNI? I was trying to figure out why you look so familiar!
Hi Kristen,
So nice to see another Iowa girl blogging – my husband and I used to live in Urbandale, but recently moved just east of Iowa City. I just started my own food blog this week – please check it out (www.sweetandsavoryfood.blogspot.com) – I’d love to get some pointers from you….especially the steps into making it my own website! Stay inside today, it’s miserable out there!
Ally
Hello fellow Iowan! I live in MN, but am an Iowa native. Good to see the state represented so well in the blog world.
Happy cooking!
Shelley
[...] About [...]
This is completely random, but I saw someone else ask as well…do you and your husband belong to Hope Lutheran Church? My husband, daughter and I recently joined. Love the church! And love your blog.
G’day Iowa Girl,
I came to your site after you left a comment at mine.
Great site you have and you seem very full of energy, great to see!
Hot air ballooning is awesome, so peaceful and awe inspiring!
I will have to try some of your recipes.
Keep up the great blog!
Cheers,
Matt
I just found your blog and think it’ll be a keeper : )
- Nutrition Nut on the Run
I just stumbled across your blog this week and have been reading it ever since! I’ve lived in Iowa all my life, so I was thrilled to find your blog! My husband is from DSM, and we live in the Iowa City area! I love to cook and love to run, so your blog has been a perfect fit for me! I’m excited to try some of your recipes and a workout or two!!!
Autumn
Kristen! Idk if you remember me… I went to Faith AND we went to Germany together way back. I can’t believe how I stumbled across your remarkable blog… it’s a good story
I’m a student at the Iowa Culinary Institute and I’m a subscriber to the magazine Saveur. This month’s issue features a list of readers’ 100 random food world favorites. Number 11 is a website called tastespotting.com… a website that features links to recipes, blogs, other websites, etc by showing food photography. I was sitting at the computer while reading, so I figured I’d check it out. On the website, I see a picture of Ruby Red Velvet Whoopie Pies… firstly they LOOK just perfect. I’m catering a friend’s birthday party next month and I know they would be a hit at the party, so I click on the pic. I’m surprised firstly that the blog is by a fellow Iowa girl/foodie. Then I see your picture! “I know her from somewhere!” Then I saw your wedding pic and recognized the Faith sanctuary (I think the most beautiful sanctuary in the city…) and read your snippet about old German churches and it clicked. Small world, right!? Anyway, I just wanted to say Hello and give you kudos galore for the blog… I love it and will be reading regularly.
Good luck with all and keep it coming!
Katie
I LOVE your blog!!! I just wanted to comment and say that!!! All your eats always look amazing as ever!!!! I love your overnight oats with yogurt combos!! Thanks too for posting how exactly you create it!!!! Love it!!! Have a great weekend! xoxo
Hi Kristin,
I just found your blog! I am new to the blogosphere and recently started a blog on my own.
I have been living in Iowa for the past 5 years and you are right! There are many positive things to be said about Iowa!
I share your love of food and traveling. I loved reading the part about Japan. Japan is a place I definitely want to visit some day. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I read that you love thin mints. I just developed a recipe for healthy chocolate truffles and my husband said the peppermint version tastes exactly like thin mints! (I do not know, never had them!)
They are much much healthier than the real deal, so maybe you want to give them a try.
Love your blog!
- Christina
PS: You are stunning. You look like a movie star in the picture above! Except more natural!
I lived in Minnesota for 4 years while I was in high school, I wish I had taken more advantage of all the trails there were! I wasn’t really a runner back then though…I’m really glad I came across your blog a few weeks ago, I’ve enjoyed following along with all your posts! Your meals have definitely given me some good ideas for the future!
Hi IGE!
Stumbled upon your blog today. Looks really cool. Ever been to Boston? Check out my blog if you ever get the travel bug to visit
I love to travel as well. I would love to go to Japan. I see Greece is on your list of places to travel. GO.THERE.NEXT. I did a trip in 2006 to Athens and the island of Santorini. maybe we can exchange stories!
iowagirleats.com, how do you do it?
http://rattrapvideo8.blogspot.com/