Welcome!! I’m Lacey Baier, and I’m so glad you’re here! I help people make realistic, lasting changes for a healthier lifestyle. Throughout my weight loss journey, I found the best way to maintain a healthy lifestyle is to LOVE what you eat and how you go about your day. I’m here to share everything with you, whether it's here on the blog, on my YouTube channel, with my cookbook, or the Cleanish Squad, my free weekly newsletter 🙂
In short: I like to make clean-eating food that is delicious, good for you, and simple. I'm all about big flavors without a lot of fuss.
Here at A Sweet Pea Chef, you’ll find TONS of recipes, from sweet to savory, that are easy to make, and oh-so-yummy. My goal is for you to eat the food you love — just in a healthier way — and to NOT go crazy with 1,000s of little details in the process. That’s also why you’ll see a heavy focus on meal prep because it is a total life-saver if you wanna eat healthy and still have a life.
In This Post You'll Find:
My Story
I was born and raised in Southern California so I’m a big fan of the beach, mountains, fresh fish and burritos (YUM!). I’ve lived in Texas since 2011, first in Austin, then in Dallas, and now back in Austin. Living in Texas has also made me a big fan of brisket, breakfast tacos, and peaches...not to mention country drives and summer thunderstorms.
I’m married to my high school sweetheart, Dustin, who is to thank for initially pushing me to start this blog and to pursue a life I loved (for which I am so grateful). He’s also the tech guy behind A Sweet Pea Chef and has been a frequent cameo in my YouTube videos and Instagram Stories.
Together, we have 4 kiddos (Jordan, Savannah, Hunter, and Carolina), and we also have 2 adorable dogs, Kiwi and Drax (both mini Aussies). Over COVID, I decided to homeschool all the kiddos, and we never went back. So, yea, life is amazing and crazy, all rolled up into one bundle of awesome and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
My journey with developing a healthy relationship with my food and health came after struggling with my weight for years and feeling trapped in my own body. You can read more about that here.
I learned how to stop battling with my food, love who I am, and enjoy life in the process. Along the way, I’ve lost a total of 250 pounds, and -- more importantly -- I learned how to enjoy the foods I love without any of the guilt and self-hatred, thanks in BIG part to embracing whole, unrefined foods and making intentional choices with my food through clean eating.
And, I'd love to help you do the same, too!
Along the way, I've also learned the value of strength training, and focusing on a high-protein, mostly clean diet, which is how I came up with the concept of “cleanish.” In fact, I started a whole company called cleanish, which sells clean-eating supplements, including the best-tasting plant-based protein you'll ever find!
I’m glad I have you on board for this healthy life with clean eating and I hope you’re excited to change your life for the better and to become a healthy, happy person that is able to enjoy your favorite food without the guilt or stress.
xoxo,
PS After you’ve finished browsing the recipes here on the blog and pinning your faves, come say hello on Instagram or YouTube!
My Qualifications + Education
My fans know me for providing easy-to-follow, clever, and healthy new ways to enjoy the foods they love by using whole, clean ingredients and simple, realistic steps. And I have the recipes and videos to prove it 🙂
You can browse the recipes on this site or visit YouTube, where millions of followers enjoy my healthy eating recipes, videos, and health and wellness content.
As for my formal education, I have completed the following degrees and certifications:
Degrees
- BA Psychology, University of California at Santa Barbara (2003)
- BA Spanish, University of California at Santa Barbara (2003)
- MS Psychology, California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo (2005)
Training Programs and Certificates
- Certified Personal Trainer, International Sports Sciences Association
- Certified Nutritionist, International Sports Sciences Association
Background In Research
During my undergraduate and graduate programs, I relied heavily on conducting, assisting in, and researching neuropsychology, perception, behavioral psychology, and social psychology studies. During this time, I developed a strong interest in the scientific method and understanding what science truly shows rather than following hypotheses and assumptions. This culminated in my graduate thesis, where I conducted my own research and published the findings. I've carried this love for science into my newfound passion for living a healthy lifestyle. I hope you appreciate the mix of personal experience and scientific truth.
Read more on my Editorial Policy for what I share on this blog.
Websites Where I've Been Featured
- Women's Fitness
- Food Network
- Good Morning America
- The Huffington Post
- BuzzFeed
- Fox News (Austin)
- Tastemade
- Wellpreneur
- Food Blogger Pro
- Trainers Talking Truths
- Center Cut Cook
Podcasts Where I've Been Featured
- "Finding success on the verge of quitting with Dustin & Lacey Baier from A Sweet Pea Chef," Food Blogger Pro, Episode 48
- "Personal Chef Lacey Baier Finds the Sweet Spot in Business," Wellpreneur, Episode 108
- "After the Pivot with Lacey and Dustin Baier," Chopped Podcast, Episode 149
- "Case Study: How to Scale from $500, to $11K Monthly With Facebook Video Ads," The Art of Online Business with Rick Mulready
- "How Can Meal Prepping Help Your Fitness Goals?" Trainers Talking Truths, Episode 49
My Cookbook
I’m a little biased, but I think you’re going to LOVE this cookbook. Clean-Eating Breakfasts And Lunches Made Simple dives into two of the biggest pain points of a clean-eating lifestyle: Breakfast and Lunch!
I am so proud of every one of the fuss-free, nutrient-packed recipes, and I refer back to it often. You can read more about my cookbook here or buy a copy for yourself here.
Where To Get Started
To help you get started, I've gathered a few of my favorite posts. Some of these posts are recipes, and some are helpful beginner articles on health and wellness to start from the beginning.
My Favorite Recipes
- Chocolate Protein Pancakes
- 5-Day Anti-Inflammatory Meal Prep
- Pan-Fried Salmon
- Homemade Chili
- Quinoa Lentil Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
- Chicken Bowl with Cashew Lime Crema
- Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
(Wow, that was really hard to pick my top faves! lol)
Start With These Articles
- Eating Clean For Beginners
- Intermittent Fasting Guide For Women
- Ultimate Guide to Meal Prep Containers
- Ultimate Smoothie Guide
- How To Quit Sugar
- What Is Inflammation?
My Digital Programs
Need some motivation, nutrition, meal plans, and accountability? Let me help!
30 Day Healthy
Reduce your inflammation, feel amazing, and lose weight in the next 30 days. This is my most popular digital program. Learn how to meal prep to save time while you enjoy healthy and tasty recipes designed to reduce inflammation and make you absolutely love your food. No more losing a few pounds, and then gaining all the weight back because of boring recipes.
Learn more about 30 Day Healthy.
The Cleanish Movement
A refreshingly reasonable and positive solution to the healthy lifestyle you want.
The Cleanish Movement is a 90-day digital program designed for those who want ongoing support and motivation to live a healthier, cleanish lifestyle. This program focuses on Mindset, Fitness, and Nutrition as the key elements of a cleanish lifestyle.
Learn more about The Cleanish Movement.
One on One Online Coaching
Together, we will create a plan for you to reach your goals, and I will be with you every step of the way. As your coach, my goal is to help you become stronger and more confident and understand exactly what you can do every single day to guarantee you reach your goals, whether you're just starting on your nutrition and fitness journey or you want to push it to the next level.
Learn more about my Coaching Services.
Custom Macro Calculation
Get started on the next step towards truly understanding your unique nutritional needs.
Whether you're looking to lose weight, gain weight, or maintain your current weight, reaching your goals is inevitable when you provide your body with the correct combination of protein, carbs, and fat it needs.
Learn more about a Custom Macro Calculation.
Join the Cleanish Squad!
I'd love to have you as a member of the Cleanish Squad, my weekly newsletter on health and wellness, where I share recipe spotlights, tips and tricks to living a cleanish lifestyle, realistic motivation, and more...all for free!
Join the Cleanish Squad today!
My YouTube Channel
If you're a visual learner, and you prefer to watch a recipe video before making it, head over to my YouTube Channel, where you'll find many of the recipes on this site. You can also find many helpful videos on weight loss, intermittent fasting, inflammation, and more. I've also gathered a few of my favorite playlists below to help you get started.
- How To Meal Prep On A Budget
- How To Start Intermittent Fasting
- Healthy Breakfast Recipes
- How To Reduce Inflammation
- Clean Eating Recipes
Fun Fact 🙂
Fun fact: Do you know those hands-only Tasty-style videos that blew up over the past few years? Well, chances are you've seen my hands in many of them, as I was among the first creators to produce them! I worked with Tastemade as a recipe creator and videographer and created 1,000s of recipe videos, many of which gained millions of views online.