Welcome, friend! I’m so happy to have you here. I’m Erin Indahl-Fink, the author, creator and recipe developer here at Delightful E Made. I bring over 12 years of recipe development experience, along with a lifetime of enjoying amazing food. I began cooking and baking when I was age 8, where I mastered making French toast all by myself. As a passionate cookbook author and recipe developer, my life and career has led me to become a trusted voice in the world of food.
Erin’s Food Philosophy
I’m someone who loves to cook and bake, but like you my time is very limited. I’m a mom of a very busy and active teenager, Harry, and wife to Jason. Like you, most days I don’t have a ton of time to spend in the kitchen – I value the time and moments spent with my guys.
Most nights are filled with my son’s sports events and activities, so having simple, quick-to-make dinner options on hand is really important to me. I don’t like relying on fast food or take-out as it isn’t good for our budget and doesn’t typically provide the best nutrition for any of us. I like providing protein-rich, high fiber foods that don’t require extensive ingredient lists or hours of preparation. Simple is key at our house.
Another one of my food priorities is to rely less on over-processed store bought food, and more on fresh foods that can be quickly and easily prepared. I want to be able to have my family grab good-for-them snacks, and breakfast options that don’t need lots of time to prepare. Here at Delightful E Made, I focus on developing recipes that can be prepared, frozen or refrigerated and enjoyed later. Meal prep is a tool that has become instrumental in keeping my family nourished and has also helped keep me consistent with prioritizing my own health goals.
With fresh, nourishing foods at the heart of our routine, I also value and appreciate the occasional treat. Life is always better when you can celebrate a birthday or milestone with a delicious cake, homemade brownies or a special cocktail. For me and my family, enjoying food is never about restriction or purity – it’s more about keeping life real, honest and balanced. The occasional treat is definitely a part of that lifestyle.
Erin’s Background
I was born and raised in rural South Dakota, which sometimes seems worlds away from where I live now, suburban Washington, D.C. I’m the oldest of four kids and the only girl. As an adult I now bring that hands-on knowledge of cooking for a family and balancing a tight budget to how I develop recipes for home cooks.
By the time I was 8, I was very active in 4-H where I learned all the basics of cooking, food safety, food preservation, baking science and horticulture where we grew much of our own food.
For ten years I participated in the 4-H Special Foods Program, which is a cooking program designed for kids. It taught me how to prepare a meal from start to finish, the nutritional value of the foods I was using, along with proper food safety and measurements. This spurred an interest in cooking contents, as I later went on to win the South Dakota Beef Cook Off and the Idaho Beef Cook Off.
In the Great Plains of the Mid-West, we grew up on good casseroles, hearty beef and chicken recipes, homemade pies, cakes, cookies and plenty of ice cream in the summer. My grandparents were dairy farmers and instilled in me the value of farm-to-table food and how American farmers are truly the source of sustenance for our world.
Erin’s Education and Professional Career
- 1999: Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Marketing, Minor in Mass Communications from The University of South Dakota School of Business, Vermillion, South Dakota.
- 1999 – 2008: Career in Communications Marketing, Sales and Project Management in the Technology Sector, Boise, Idaho and Herndon, Virginia.
- 2013 – Present: CEO and Founder of DelightfulEMade.com
Erin’s Story
As a teenager I was a bit of a “Sporty Spice.” I was a three-sport athlete in Basketball, Volleyball and Golf. At an early age I learned weight training, conditioning and learned how to fuel my body properly for sports performance.
Once I graduated college and retired from high school sports, the weight began to creep on, almost immediately. By the time I graduated college from The University of South Dakota, I had gained about 50 lbs from the time I graduated high school.
After getting my first desk-job outside of college, I took on a full-time sedentary lifestyle and gained even more weight. I got married, had a child, moved across the country a few times. By the time I was in my early-30’s I was over 100 lbs heavier and pre-diabetic. I knew something had to change in order for me to be the mom I wanted to be for my son.
Erin’s Weight Loss Journey
This is where my weight-loss journey began. I implemented less fast food (I use to eat fast food almost daily), and more cooking at home, along with meal prep. The first-hand knowledge I gained in my own personal weight loss journey helped inspire numerous recipes as well as my Quick-Start Guide to Healthy Eating Workbook and my 90-Day Healthy Habits Journal.
I also found my “Sporty-Spice” again at Orange Theory Fitness where I’ve taken over 2000 HIIT classes. As a valued “fit-family” community member, I’ve led numerous Healthy Eating Seminars and Transformation Challenge Fit Food events.
It took me 3 1/2 years, but I finally lost over 100 lbs and have maintained my weight loss for over 9 years.
Erin’s favorite resources that guided my weight loss and helped make healthy eating easier:
- My Favorite Tools for Healthy Living
- How I Quit Sugar and Survived
- 15 Things I buy at Costco for Quick and Healthy Meals
- 30 BEST Healthy Target Snacks
- Breakfast Meal Prep
- The 90 Day Healthy Habits Journal
Cookbook Author
In addition to creating recipes here at Delightful E Made, I have also published a cookbook; The Protein Smoothie Bible. The Protein Smoothie Bible includes over 60 protein-packed smoothie recipes that includes simple, delicious options for breakfasts, lunches and snacks. It also includes a kids section where I’ve offered simple ways to get kids actively involved in making quality food choices for themselves.
In addition to my website, you can get The Protein Smoothie Bible anywhere books are sold, including Amazon and Books-A-Million.
Some of Erin’s Favorite Recipes here at Delightful E Made
Losing over 100 lbs was a difficult journey, but maintaining that weight loss has been even more demanding. It requires a level of consistency and diligence to the new habits I’ve created. Routine is paramount for me, as it’s how I prioritize eating whole, minimally processed foods. I try to prioritize high protein and fiber options as they keep me full, satisfied and prevent snacking during my day.
Here are some of my favorite high protein and fiber recipes that I make regularly and incorporate into my daily routine:
What type of recipes are you looking for?
I ALWAYS love hearing from you. Please feel free to visit me on Instagram at @delightfulemade where I’m active daily. You can also send me an email at delightful.e.made@gmail.com . Let me know what recipes you are always looking for or the kinds of foods that make your life a little easier.
With that being said – Welcome, again! I’m so happy to have you here. – Erin