About

April

April Ashcroft, Plant-Based Nutrition Coach & Cooking Instructor

I grew up enjoying the standard American diet (SAD) and have a standard American family.  Both sets of  Grandparents, my Dad, aunt and uncle suffered the consequences of heart disease and diabetes. Both my parents died of cancer. I decided in my early 20’s that I was going to do everything I could to avoid what many would say is my genetic destiny. After struggling with my own health issues, battling my weight, and basically just feeling horrible, in 1991 I switched to a whole-foods, plants-based (vegan) diet.  Within a week my world changed. My energy skyrocketed, I felt amazing and maintaining a healthy weight became much easier.  Because of this experience and meeting others with similar experiences, I developed a great desire to teach others about the benefits of a whole-food, plant-based diet. I began teaching cooking classes in 2004 through the Dixie State College Community Education program. In 2005 I co-founded the Vegetarian Society of Utah . The monthly meetings and potlucks gave me more opportunities to teach, meet others and create friendships.

In 2007 I created Health 4 Life Cooking classes.  I teach private classes as well as classes for church and civic groups.  From 2010 to 2015 I taught monthly classes at the Bosch Kitchen Center and Kitchen Corner store in St. George.  In 2010 I earned a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University’s Nutrition Fundamentals on-line certification program.  In January 2012 I joined the team of providers at The Bridge Health Recovery Center. This was an exciting opportunity to demonstrate to the guests how delicious plant-based eating can be how plant-based nutrition can help those who are suffering from chronic illnesses and seeking health through 20150802_203725 holistic methods. In March of 2022 I became of presenter for Movara Home doing on-line cooking demonstrations for guests from all over the country who are seeking greater health.

After many years of developing my own recipes, I published my first cookbook Whole Food Goodness, which is not only a collection of my favorite plant-based recipes but also contains documented research studies and other references supporting the health benefits of a plant- based diet. In August 2014, I published Whole Food American Favorites, a 2nd cookbook featuring not just American food, but the food that Americans love including Mexican food, Mediterranean, Asian and more!

I live in beautiful southwest Utah with my husband Brian and cat Benson and dog Tipsy. I love hanging out with my family, which include three daughters and eight grand-kids. I love hiking with my dogs, biking, swimming, water and snow skiing, and anything that involves being in the great outdoors! (I’ve even been seen ironing on my back patio!)

 

 

My Daily Menu Plan

People often ask me what I eat in a day. Here is my daily meal plan that I have been using since I started a plant based diet in 1991. It’s an easy way to keep things simple.

Breakfast:  A Green (Hyper-nourishing) smoothie everyday! Watch my YouTube video on how to make that here.  I also love sweet potatoes for breakfast! I fix them so they taste like pumpkin pie! Watch my YouTube video here.  I also love oat groats for breakfast. Watch my video for Apple Cranberry Oats here. When cranberries aren’t in season, I use whatever fruit is available.  

Lunch: A big leafy green salad for lunch every day (except weekends) since I started a plant based diet in 1991. And I have never gotten tired of it. For variety, I use different types of beans and dressings, various lettuces, red or green onion, and a cruciferous veggie like cabbage. Sometimes I’ll add whole grains like quinoa, rice, millet, or wheat berries. Sometimes I’ll mix in left over dinner from the night before. Hearty soups like minestrone or chili are great mixed in with my salad. I keep it simple enough so my salad only takes 10 – 15 minutes to prepare.

Dinner:  Most of the time I’ll make a recipe from one of myThai Kale & Chic Peas

cookbooks, but sometimes I’ll try something new that I have found off the internet. My most favorite quick meal is steamed greens, with onions, mushrooms, garlic, a type of bean and some kind of ground up nuts, seeds, or avocado. Then I spice it up either Mexican, Italian, or Indian.  So simple and delicious!

Desserts: It would be fine to have a small serving of one of my desserts every night. They are healthy enough. My problem is that when that one small serving is gone, I want more and more and more until I’m completely stuffed and that is so unhealthy. I really battle sugar addiction, even in the healthiest form and so it’s best for me to have none. Occasionally I might have a date or two but that even starts a cascade of wanting more and more. I would just rather not go there.  Desserts are fun so when I do make them, I have my kids over to share it with.

Snacks: I don’t snack. I can’t. For the very reason mentioned above. Food addiction. I could eat all day long. I could be obsessed with food. That is why I have to stick to 3 meals a day with no snacking in between. (Occasionally, I might have an apple or other fruit) This has been shown to contribute to longevity anyway and that is what I’m shooting for.  

Something else that contributes to longevity is fasting. I hate to fast but do a 24 hours fast once a month for spiritual reasons and I try to fast for 12 hours ever night. Kitchen is closed at 7 pm and I have my smoothie around 7 am on week days and I usually go until about 9 am on the weekends. That kind of fasting gives your body a much needed break from digestion, which increases cleansing and detoxification processes.  

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of fasting and time restricted eating click here.

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Cookbooks by April

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Book front

Whole Food Goodness – $13

“Thank you April for your cookbook. We have been using your recipes for about 10 weeks now and I’ve lost 25 pounds. We’ve not been perfect but darn near. Best of all, I’m feeling healthier and I don’t feel deprived.” Rob - Pocatello, Idaho
Whole Food American Favorites FRONT cover finale

Whole Food American Favorites – $13

Buy the set – $25

“I’ve been using the recipes in your cookbooks. I love the Spicy pumpkin soup and your mustard potatoes…. yum! I cook up a batch of the potatoes and freeze them to use for meals for my brother. Usually potatoes get mushy in the freezer but these seem to be OK. I tried the Peppermint Patty’s and really liked them too! Thanks!”  K. Page, St. George, Utah

“Your recipes are making it much easier for us to keep on the diet.” Yvonne, St. George

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“I just love your cookbooks! I’ve been gradually working towards a plant based diet since about 2012 and have used a few really good cookbooks – the happy herbivore books, the China Study Books, Engine 2 etc — which all gave me a great foundation for this approach. Your cookbooks have offered new ways of seeing some of the recipes . I’ve made a few of the deserts, some of the loafs, and breakfasts. Great use of herbs and spices, and I like the fact that the ingredients are very simple to use. ” Thanks again, Sue

Whole Food Goodness and Whole Food American Favorites contain a collection of my favorite high nutrient whole food plant based recipes. My recipes are unique in that they contain no extracted oils, minimal processed sugars, and limited processed grains. I use an abundance of leafy green vegetables, which are the healthiest foods on the planet and have the greatest power to cleanse, detoxify, and repair damaged cells and bring you greater health for life.

Along with the recipes, you will find quotes from some of my favorite nutrition experts and documented research studies that will tell you why it’s important to eat a plant based diet. Knowledge is power and it is my hope and prayer that these books will help you gain the strength and determination to make the changes necessary that will bring you excellent health throughout your entire life!