by Rachel Johnson
Katie Farrell is a beautiful blonde with a penchant for all things kitchen-related. She loves to exercise, she launched her own website of recipes and healthy eating tips, and she is happily married to the man of her dreams. So it may come as a surprise that like so many of us, Katie, too, has struggled with image issues. She waged a war against poor body image for many years until she decided to face her problems head on: instead of finding her worth in society’s standards of beauty, Katie found her identity in the Lord. Through her revelations, she discovered that her passion for food could be channeled into a powerful ministry. Read more to learn about Katie’s story and about her work with Dashing Dish.
Q: Katie, we are honored to feature you as part of our Spotlight Series. Your vision for Dashing Dish is incredible. Please tell readers what Dashing Dish is and how the idea for the website came to fruition.
Dashing Dish is a website that shares recipes and exercise regiments, all while encouraging healthy body image. Through this platform, I hope to show readers how easy it can be to make simple changes that will end the misconceptions about healthy eating and dieting.
I started Dashing Dish two years ago as a side hobby while working full-time as a nurse. Though I started the ministry with the thought that it would remain part-time, I soon began to realize that God had something different for my life than what I had in mind.
About six months after starting Dashing Dish, I started receiving hundreds of e-mails from women of all ages and origins. Whether they wrote about losing unwanted weight or finding freedom from eating disorders, each woman had their own story.
I realized the great responsibility that God had given me with this website and that it was meant to share much more than just recipes. I felt the Lord prompting me to share about the freedom and joy that can be found in Him, and to teach women how to find their true beauty, value, and worth.
I recently made the decision to leave my full-time nursing job to pursue this ministry, and I haven’t had a single regret! It has been such a blessing to be able to fulfill God’s calling for my life – I am truly so excited to wake up each and every day!
Q: You are so brave – you have shared your struggles with body image and food openly and honestly. Is it scary to reveal these thoughts with your readers and supporters?
Honestly, no—not at all! I truly believe that Revelation 12:11 applies to all of our lives when it comes to sharing our testimonies. This verse says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
This means that we overcome the enemy’s plans for our lives by the word of our life story. Also, when we do so, we can help others escape from the very same trap. As Christians, we should never shrink back from sharing our testimonies—being open and honest with others yields powerful results.
Q: On your website, you say that transformation began for you when you “finally got off the ‘control’ wagon.” Can you unpack that statement for us and share about the moment when you knew you wanted to pursue a more balanced lifestyle?
I have found that when I try do things by society’s standards or my own reasoning, it always ends up being like the disciples that fished all day and ended up catching nothing—it’s fruitless. But when I choose to follow God’s lead, I find that I am so much more fruitful in whatever it is that I’ve set out to accomplish.
Q: You have so many delicious recipe ideas on your website – right now I’m drooling over the apple pie turnovers and the pulled pork BBQ chicken sandwich. Where do you find inspiration for your cooking?
Thank you so much! When asked where I get my ideas for my recipes, I can’t help but give all the glory to God. In fact (and this is totally ironic), I hate following recipes in general. I make up each and every recipe as I go, which leads to a lot of trial and error, but ultimately I believe that every good dish I create is a result of the guidance of the ultimate creator!
Q: If you had to pick, what are the top three favorite recipes you’ve created?
If I had to narrow it down to three, I would say that my shake recipes, my triple chocolate chunk muffins, and my pizza rolls are my favorites!
Q: In addition to healthy recipes, you have a place where readers can find exercise tips and workout plans. What motivates you to exercise on a consistent basis?
I have truly come to love exercise! My workout routines change frequently—I think it’s important to spice things up (pun intended, of course)—and if I’m not in the mood to hit the gym, then I try to do something simple yet active, like take a walk with my sister.
Stay tuned for part two of Katie’s interview tomorrow!
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: Shameless plug alert! Do you relate to Katie’s story? We recommend grabbing yourself a copy of our recently re-published bible study, Wonderfully Made: Healthy Eating and Abundant Living!
Explore healthy eating, and discover your true identity in Christ through six lessons, which will help you discover how to stop counting calories and start living—living through your relationship with God, not food.