Hi and welcome to Green Healthy Cooking! Here you can find out more about Lorena.
My name is Lorena Grater and I am…well….many things.
I am a German Peruvian, a certified translator, a globetrotter, a mother, a wife, a YouTuber (uuuuh), a real food lover and a self-proclaimed chef creating healthy recipes that fit into my definition of clean eating. I am an Instant Pot Pro and a Meal Prep addict, too, to be more precise ;)
I live with my Mexican husband and two kids in snowy Montreal, Canada, which officially makes my kids polyglots because they are growing up with 4 languages. How amazing is that?
Green Healthy Cooking is my online baby and where I share healthy recipes, detailed cooking tutorials, and other clean-eating how-tos.
My Story
I was born and raised in a small town in Southern Germany by a German father and a Peruvian mother. My grandfather was a butcher and my dad’s best friends were all hunters. Meaning, I grew up on wild meat, bucket loads of fresh fruits and vegetables, sweet potato, avocado, and quinoa because that’s what my mom knew how to cook from her culture. Basically everything was always cooked from scratch and I was taught to cook as early as 3 years old.
When I moved out of my parents’ home to go study at university I learned for the first time that there were other people that did not know how to cook, nor did they know what eating healthy actually looked like. Even after graduating and meeting “older” people (lol) that had had their independent kitchens for a while, I still kept meeting a lot that were struggling with cooking and meeting their nutritional needs and always asking me for advice and help.
I found out quickly that for most of my friends eating healthy sounded super complicated, not very appealing, and super expensive.
I’m not a nutritionist (though I wish I were) but I grew up being kept updated on the latest research and development in nutrition studies and never stopped reading about nutrition up until today. My mother was always very interested in this topic and definitely passed on the hunger for nutrition knowledge to me.
Needless to say, I felt like there was a huge need for easy but delicious healthy recipes made with clean ingredients. Recipes that could easily be accessed by everybody at any time from anywhere in the world. Recipes for all those that had a really hard time wrapping their head around eating healthy to feel healthy.
Green Healthy Cooking was born out of a passion to help others find joy in the kitchen and enjoy the wonderful natural flavors of clean ingredients. Healthy eating and clean eating doesn’t have to be complicated at all, can be incredibly delicious, and also fit into everybody’s budget.
Start here
If you are new to Green Healthy Cooking, these are great topics to start browsing through the website:
- Read more about my Philosophy.
- Browse through all Recipes easily sortable by category and find your new go-to favorites.
- Are you as much of an Instant Pot junkie as I am? Let’s be besties! Learn how to make Instant Pot Rice and you’ll never cook it any other way.
- Meal Prep is a million times more effective than will-power alone when it comes to eating a healthy diet. Start with something easy like overnight oats.
- If you’re unsure which diet to follow, give each a try for a day and figure out what your body thrives on and what makes you feel good: 1-Day Clean Eating Meal Plan, 1-Day Keto Diet Plan, 1-Day Paleo Meal Plan, 1-Day Vegan Meal Plan.
Next, join the community!
Wow, you read all the way here. Thank you so much! I’d love to hear YOUR story as well and get to know YOU.
So please join my community on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest and say hello.
You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel to find all of Green Healthy Cooking’s video tutorials.
If you’d like to contact me privately the fastest way is through Facebook messenger or via e-mail to lorena@greenhealthycooking.com. I absolutely love hearing from you!
Features
Green Healthy Cooking has grown quite a bit over the years and it’s thus been featured in various media including Forbes, CBC Radio, Food Bloggers of Canada, Buzzfeed, msn, Elle, Popsugar, and Greatist, amongst others.
Lots of love from my kitchen to yours,
Karin D. says
Saw your salmon patties recipe on Facebook and landed here on your site! Interesting comments…I. too, have a Germany/Canada connection. Born in Wales, moved to Newfoundland at the age of 9, then to boarding school “im Schwabeländle” near Ravensburg a few years later, Lived in Germany until I was 28 and now live in Atlanta GA for over 25 years. My hubby is German and we go back 3 or 4 times a year. (Im Mai immer um den Spargel zu geniessen! ). Glad I found you here and will be bookmarking this site for cooking inspiration! Besten Dank!
Lorena Grater says
I love your comment so so much! We have a lot in common and I wish I could go in May for the Spargel!!! I have kids in school then though, sigh.
Margarete says
Hello, dear Lorena, I am a 74-year-old German living in Canada and originated from Tübingen in Baden Wuerttemberg. Ja -das Kochen war immer meine Leidenschaft, eigentlich der ganzen Familie meinen Vater eingeschlossen. Wir haben immer alles frisch gekocht. Bestimmt bin ich deshalb noch so gesund. Seit ich in Canada lebe – das sind jetzt 16 Jahre – sind noch viele in englischer Sprache dazugekommen. Ich kenne also viele Rezepte auch backen ist eine Freude.
Aber Deine Sendung ziegt mir noch viel, was ich noch lernen kann – ich bin Dir so dankbar fuer die guten Tipps und Ratschlaege. Zu Weihnachten hat mir eine Freundin einen Instantpot geschenkt und da hast Du so viele Rezepte, Das erleichtert den Einstieg in diese Technik sehr. Gerade wenn man aelter wird, sollte man immer offen sein, was die jungen Hausfrauen so wissen – man lernt nie aus. Es gefaellt mir auch meine althergeberachten Kochkenntnisse mit jungen frischen Ideen zusammen zu bringen. Danke fuer all die schoenen videos, die so munter, liebevoll und sachkunding kreiert sind. Alles Gute Margarete P. S Morgen gibt es Deutschen Gulasch, mit hangeschabten Spaetzle
Lorena Grater says
Vielen lieben Dank für die tolle Nachricht Margarete. Es macht mich so glücklich dass ich so viele Menschen mit verschiedenen kulturellen Hintergründen hier auf meiner Webseite willkommen heißen kann. Du wirst sehen, der Instant Pot ist ein super Gerät. Ich bin total begeistert davon und benutze ihn mehrmals die Woche. Liebe Grüße, Lorena
Aloy says
Hello Lorena,
I love your recipes, and my daughter too .!
Juste have question I wanted to find the utensils that you use on some of your video (notably the thingy to cook the bacon in the oven on the instant pot lentils soup) and on you website it doesn’t appear when I go to the shop section can you help .?
I live in France so maybe that’s why it is not working ..
thank you so much for you recipes again
Lorena Grater says
Hi Aloy, here you go: https://www.amazon.fr/OXO-Grips-bratrost-Silicone-56/dp/B074FJ7YF3/ref=sr_1_5?__mk_fr_FR=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=2TBD2B9PUY37E&keywords=bacon+silicone+rack&qid=1670435144&sprefix=bacon+silicone+rack%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-5
Celene says
Hi Lorena
Bumped into you on Facebook yesterday and have been browsing your recipes since…..wow I’m so impressed. Had a feeling you live in Canada, I live in Hamilton Ontario myself.
I’m fairly certain discovering you was divine intervention, you are exactly what I didn’t know I needed, lol. Your personal story is intriguing……what a melting pot of a family…..German, Mexican, Peruvian(so obsessed), and Canadian!
I’m also a foodie, love to plant it, prepare it, serve it, see people enjoy it … and by the way you’re so right, the secret ingredient is organic, non GMO sun ripened love!
You’ll certainly be hearing from me as I make each of those delicious healthy recipes. I’m starting off with the warm goat cheese salad 😋
Lorena Grater says
Celene, I’m so happy you are enjoying the videos and recipes. Welcome to Green Healthy Cooking. Hugs!
Diana Flesch says
Dear Lorena,
I just discovered your wonderful recipes and very inspiring videos. I would be very grateful if you could write the recipe or even better – make a video for the classic Italian pasta e fagioli in the Instant Pot. It is important that the beans are soaked overnight and the Sauté option is great, especially for onions and garlic. So, the most important questions are: when I should add the pasta (Penne)? Or do I put the pasta together with the beans from the beginning? And when I should add carrots?
Thank you so much :))
Diana
Fabrizio Lavoie-Martellucci says
Halo Lorena :)
I’ve just discovered you on Facebook with your crustless quiche which I will attempt asap.
I found your slight accent charming and couldn’t help but find out where you were from. lol
I was born in Italy grew up in Québec then moved back to Rome in my teens only to finally settle in London ( UK ). So I totally understand your eclectic family lingos’ situation.
I’ve liked your Facebook page and am looking forward to seeing more of your recipes popping up on my walls :)
Tschüss
Fab
Lorena Grater says
Yay! Very interesting upbringing. We are citizens of the world. That’s for sure :)
Vicki Duggan says
I’m curious whether you have published your own cookbook. I’d buy it for sure.
Lorena Grater says
Only e-courses and e-books. You can find the e-course here: https://green-healthy-cooking.thrivecart.com/6-week-clean-eating-program/ and the e-books here: https://greenhealthycooking.com/21-day-meal-plans/
Cynthia says
Loving watching your cooking videos! So inspiring, love your enthusiasm, and how you make everything very understandable and doable— and it’s giving tons of great ideas for me and my husband and family to enjoy!
Thanks so much Lorena!!
Lorena Grater says
I’m so happy to read you like the recipes :)
Beatrice Garcia says
Hi came across your healthy berry cake recipe which looks great. I try to be gluten free and low carb mostly. but i saw that i needs chia seeds. I have diverticulitis so i need to stay away from small seeds. is there a possible substitute? would unflavored gelatin work?
Lorena Grater says
I don’t know. I haven’t tried.
Camille Cowan says
Hi I was just making my grocery list for the 3 meal prep: quinoa and blackbean recipe. In the ingredients list the spinach is a bunch of dashes. You also don’t reference it in the recipe. Im excited to try these recipes.
Kay Vollmer says
Hi Lorena,
Firstly I love many of your practical, delicious and realistic food ideas. I incorporate them daily and feel better for it.
I just wanted to let you know about a “typo” on the 6 week clean eating plan part of your page where you go into the “Who is this program for?” part. You have * “loose” weight as one of your reasons. One “o” too many – “lose weight”.
I am a translator and proofreader and just pick these things up whether I want to see them or not!! I hope this is useful.
All the best,
Kay
Lorena Grater says
Thank you so so so much for this Kay! I really appreciate it and made the correction just now.
Heidi Ward says
You are a genius! The instant pot rice guide is brilliant! Tried it tonight and it worked. The first time it didn’t burn ever. Thank you so much.
Jacqueline says
Hi Lorena,
I’ve been really enjoying your videos. I try to make my family healthy meals and I find your recipes easy and tasty!
Your children are lucky to be growing up in a polyglot family, plus having a mother who cooks the way you do :)
Thank you for your inspiration. I’m serving one of your recipes to guests tomorrow night
Cheers
Jacqueline
Lorena Grater says
Hi Jacqueline, I am so happy to read you are enjoying the recipes :) The secret ingredient to all of them is: love!
Brenda F says
Hi Lorena
Just wondering if you have any guidance for myself .I Have to watch my Carbs as I am pre diabetic and also have to watch my cholesterol .I am 56 and in menopause so weight loss can be very slow. I do need to loose 25lbs . Your Youtube Channel i samazing by the way. Any advice would be welcomed Thanks Brenda
Lorena Grater says
Hi Brenda, I highly recommend a nutritionally balanced clean-eating meal plan. If you want to try any of my meal plans I give you permission to discuss them with your doctor or a dietician to ensure they fit your health goals.
Carol says
Hi Lorena I belong to a bookclub and we have a news letter. This month I shared a healthy sald with them and thought your salad dressings would be an added bonus and wanted to attach your link. What needs to be done to get your permission to use your link on our website? Keep up the good work!
Lorena Grater says
Hi Carol, you can always share a link to my recipes. Thank you for promoting my work :)