📚 Food People, Parent Picks: Amanda's Favorite Things
Amanda’s feeding her family with a balance of practical snacks, real talk about parenting emotions, and the luxury of a good espresso.
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Food People, Parent Picks: we ask our favorite chefs, food writers, and industry insiders who we interview in our Order Up! Series to share the products, books, and bites they can’t live without.
Did you have a chance to read our Order Up! interview with Amanda Ashcraft? Amanda is a dietitian, counselor, mom of three, and snack-slinger-in-chief. Whether she’s stocking the fridge with snap peas and hummus or dishing out spaghetti with meat sauce for a comfort food reset, Amanda brings the same grounded, compassionate vibe to her kitchen that she does to her clients. Here, she shares the pantry staples, parenting books, and everyday rituals that help her feed a family—and herself—with care.
➡️ Be sure to stay tuned next week for One Potato’s combined interview with Amanda and Ann Kent about their new mental health cookbook and supplement guide, The Brain Plate. Learn more, and get on the wait list here.
Start a free trial of Peas & Hoppiness, Ann Kent’s family meal-planning app!
📖 Is there a cookbook or food-related book that really shaped how you think about nutrition—something you recommend to others?
I’ve read a lot—some books lean into intuitive or gentle nutrition but don’t offer practical recipes, while others are more rigid and clinical, especially around mental health. I always felt like there was a gap: nothing really helped you apply the science to everyday meals in a sustainable way. That’s actually why Ann Kent and I decided to write our own book—to bridge that gap with approachable guidance, full meal ideas, and simple recipes that support both physical and mental health.
🍽️ Go-to meal when time is tight?
Asian lettuce wraps! I’ll sauté ground turkey or textured vegetable protein with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, lime, and whatever nuts we have—usually cashews. Everything gets scooped into lettuce leaves, and if there’s time, I’ll throw on some rice. It’s quick, flexible, and everyone’s happy.
🥨 Snack MVP?
Trail mix—especially the single-serving packs. It lives in my purse, car, pantry, everywhere. We also keep fruit bars, meat sticks, and other shelf-stable snacks stocked and ready to go.
🧃 What's always in your fridge or pantry?
So many fruits and veggies—apples, bananas, berries, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, mini peppers, broccoli (my picky eater’s favorite!). I rinse and dry berries as soon as we get them so they’re easy to grab. We usually have eggs, hummus, sauerkraut, coffee creamer, and always nuts. There’s usually kombucha too, though I wish it wasn’t so expensive.
(We have a great life hack! If you’re into kombucha like Amanda, make your own at home. SAVE 15% on Home Kombucha Brewing Kits and Supplies from our friends at Kombucha Kamp – they have everything from starter kits to scoby’s. Stay tuned for more kombucha tips from Hannah, the founder, coming soon!)
🍝 Comfort food?
Spaghetti with meat sauce. It’s the definition of home for me.
🥘 Favorite kitchen tool or ingredient?
My Crock-Pot, hands down. Not an Instant Pot—we’re firmly in the slow-cooked, tender meat camp over here. It’s just more comforting.
🧘♀️ Daily ritual or product that supports your well-being?
Three things:
Movement—it’s essential for my ADHD and mental clarity.
Our home sauna—it’s a splurge, but it’s helped me so much during Colorado winters.
Fancy coffee—I make myself a legit espresso or frothy latte each morning. Even before I had an espresso machine, I had a totally affordable milk frother that made mornings feel a little brighter.
📚 Favorite parenting or kids' book?
There are so many! A few we love:
Becoming a Food Explorer by Dani Lebovitz MS, RDN (Amazon - Bookshop)
I’m also a big fan of The Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy (Amazon - Bookshop). And I’m tracking down the name of a beautiful book about a Korean child sharing lunch at school—it’s such a great example of normalizing different food cultures. Oh - it’s called The Yuckiest Lunch Box by Debbie Min (Amazon - Bookshop)
I also recommend My Body Sends a Signal: Helping kids Recognize Emotions and Express Feelings By Natalia Maguire (Get it on Amazon - Bookshop).
Best food gift to give or get?
Coffee! I was gifted a monthly subscription this year, and it’s a dream. I also love giving food gifts—especially good olive oil or cheese—and consumables in general. They’re thoughtful without adding clutter.
Favorite local food shop or brand?
We love supporting Fort Collins spots—like Rocky Mountain Olive Oil downtown.
Kitchen hack?
Keep a good spice rack! It lets you change things up without much effort and keeps meals interesting.