Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mackenzie Burgess. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Mackenzie, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
It was extremely difficult first starting my blog–I had little to no views. I really had to teach myself everything there was to know about food photography, website creation, graphic design, and SEO– but it has been so worth it. I have built up my website to reach thousands of people every day from all over the world. I really think that taking the time to appreciate the big and small wins along the way has played a huge part in building my resilience. I actually have a “Smile File” on my desktop where I keep screenshots of kind comments and goals met to look back on during those difficult days.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’ve always loved cooking, helping others, and entrepreneurship ever since I was a young girl. Today, I’ve combined these passions to create my own blog and business called “Cheerful Choices”. Here, I provide healthy recipes with customizable ingredients “of your choice”. This allows recipes to fit different dietary preferences and use up ingredients already on hand. As a dietitian, I also provide virtual nutrition coaching and virtual cooking classes.
I first started my website, CheerfulChoices.com, back in college at Colorado State University. I was always creating new, healthy recipes and my friends encouraged me to publish them online. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I figured the most important thing was to just start. From there, I wrapped up my studies, completed my dietetic internship, and passed my exam to become a credentialed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
Many dietitians work in hospital or community health settings, but I knew I wanted to continue helping people in the culinary space. This sparked the idea for my “Coaching + Cooking” program–virtual nutrition coaching and hands-on cooking. This program allows individuals to learn personalized recipes made specifically for them and their nutrition goals. These sessions are all virtual and one-on-one with myself, the nutrition expert. I’ve recently expanded my program to include personalized meal plans now too!
My goal is to support people along their health journey and give them more kitchen confidence. Sometimes tips like how to meal prep breakfast or the best way to cut a bell pepper seems like it should be easy. However, it may be something brand new to a client. I find it so rewarding to share these small learning opportunities and really have a positive impact on peoples’ health and cooking abilities.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Reflecting on my journey, the three key areas that helped with my success were hands-on experience, continuous learning, and adaptability. I didn’t know anything about blogging or food photography until I interned with a fellow dietitian and food blogger. During shadowing, I gained invaluable insights into lighting, setup, props, and angles, which laid the foundation for my own style. For those just starting out, I recommend seeking opportunities to shadow professionals in your field. This practical experience, combined with a willingness to learn and adapt, can be transformative in your personal and professional growth.
To find someone you want to shadow, try attending local networking groups or message people who inspire you on LinkedIn. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and ask for these shadowing experiences!
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is someone who doesn’t know where to even begin when it comes to healthy cooking and is confused with all the nutrition information out there. They often wonder… “Are carbs actually bad for me? How do I chop an onion without cutting my finger off? Are sweet potatoes healthy? How do I make chicken juicy?”
My program provides a personalized approach and accountability to help people reach their health and cooking goals! Learn more here: https://cheerfulchoices.com/coaching-and-cooking/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cheerfulchoices.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheerfulchoices/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheerfulchoicesblog/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenzie-burgess/
Image Credits
“Kira Whitney Photography” – for all images except for Curry image Curry image – “Cheerful Choices” credit
