Who’s the author?
I’m Sally Parrott Ashbrook. I’m a Southern girl in my late 20s. In 1999, I started significant work with low-income, minority communities while I was in college. In 2002-2003 (my senior year of college and first year out of college), I had ovarian cancer. In 2005, I met the man who would become my wonderful husband. I also (not coincidentally) started straightening out my financial life that year. And I took a job that I usually find really cool at a large housing nonprofit in the Atlanta area. In 2006, my husband and I finished paying off all debts we had other than student loans. I lost a bit of weight as well. I also began taking very seriously the responsibility for us to take care of this planet we call home. At the beginning of 2007, I committed to taking care of my body through a gradual, long-term, realistic process of eating right and exercising. In the summer of 2007, I started a simplicity circle that is helping me on a path to being more the person I want to be. That same summer, I learned that I am horribly allergic to various environmental elements and that I have pretty bad allergies to gluten, cow dairy, soy, tomatoes, eggs, oysters, crab, white vinegar, and probably a few other foods. In fall of 2007 I learned that I am actually also gluten and casein (dairy) intolerant. (They tear up my body.) I’m trying to incorporate all of these elements and more into a life that expresses joy and contentment–to run with what life has to offer me—but not take too much—and to keep giving as well.
How can I contact you?
You can email me at sally dot parrott at gmail dot com.
You can also leave comments on my blog, of course. I love me some comments.
Why is the title of your blog ‘Aprovechar’?
To understand the origin of my blog’s name, I suggest you read my first post.
18 responses so far ↓
1 Sheltie Girl // Dec 12, 2007 at 8:20 am
Hey Sally – I’m a cancer survivor myself…I had breast cancer two years ago. Congratulations on hitting the 5 year mark cancer free!
Sheltie Girl @ Gluten A Go Go
2 Lynn Barry // Apr 29, 2008 at 9:26 am
WOW! I read your list of no no foods and say HEY I can’t tolerate those foods either…hello friend! HUGS
3 Nita // Aug 29, 2008 at 7:19 am
Thanks for commenting on my blog. I’m fascinated to find yours, because I too am gluten/dairy intolerant. I’ll be reading and learning here, thanks!
4 Sarah // Aug 29, 2008 at 1:13 pm
What a lovely blog you have here. I couldn’t agree with you more on…. well, so MANY things I’ve read on your blog. Congratulations on changing your life for the better, for surviving cancer, and for being such an obviously cool girl! ¡APROVECHE!
5 Still Life in Buenos Aires // Sep 15, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Hi Sally–
I just discovered your blog from Diet, Dessert, and Dogs.
I love your blog title and blog content. You are an inspiring writer! I look forward to learning more about diet and self esteem from your posts.
Buen provecho! 😉
6 Jasi // Sep 23, 2008 at 11:40 am
Inspiring!
Incidentally, how did you find out you were allergic to these foods?
7 Tracy // Oct 11, 2008 at 3:43 am
I have low blood due to heart surgery and I was up early one morning looing on the internet when I ran across your site. When I’ve got through reading it I said a little prayer and asked the Lord to help me make changes to my lifesyle. I always wanted to embrace life but never new how to step out on my own and become that person who I know is the real me. Through eating right execersing and my spending habits. I know evey thing that I do is mostly done because of my emotions. But, since reading your blog, I realized that I can also take on life and live it to it’s fullest.
Thank you, for sharing your story!
8 Lorraine // Jan 26, 2009 at 8:40 am
Dear Sally,
Thank you so much for your wonderful website.
You have no idea how grateful I am for the recipe for GF dairy free, soy free, egg free bread. We have multiple allergies here, and it is DEE-LI-CIOUS.
Also enjoy reading your insightful, positive blog about your life and your challenges. Rock on.
9 Linda Simon // Apr 25, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Hi Sally,
It’s so great to meet you. I love your outlook on life. It’s just like mine, though I couldn’t have said it better. 🙂 I learned of your blog from Easy Eats magazine for gluten free living.
I am happily subscribing, adding your blog to my blogroll, and eagerly awaiting your next post.
10 Melissa // Jul 27, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Hi Sally! I’m finding your blog so inspiring! (I found you when searching for soy-free stir fry recipes. )
I was wondering how you finally found out what your food intolerances are? I’ve asked a couple of doctors for allergy tests or if they thought my health problems could be linked to an allergy and they both blew it off. Any tips?
Thanks!
Melissa
11 Leslie // Aug 20, 2009 at 6:33 am
Sally…you look FANTASTIC! More vibrant too, I would say! Give me a call when you get a chance and let me know what’s working for you!
L
12 sonya // Sep 22, 2009 at 10:36 am
I just found your blog and also sent you an email with a question about your bread. Congrats for the positive and uplifting blog! Also, congrats for overcoming so many health issues!
13 Jennifer // Sep 23, 2010 at 5:08 am
I am so glad I found this site! I recently found out I am allergic to eggs, dairy, gluten, watermelon, and because of other health issues can not eat soy. My daughter also has some of these allergies and what a change I have seen in her over the last month of cutting out these foods!! My only problem was, what do we eat? How do I cook and make my family healthy with all the temptations in the stores, on tv, and the internet? WallA I found your site 🙂 Thank you so much for paving the way for those of us with these food allergies!
14 Gluten Free Sunbutter Ice Cream Recipe | Gluten Free Recipes - Elana's Pantry // Dec 20, 2010 at 8:34 am
[…] of Gluten-Free Easily -Fresh Mint Ice Cream (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan, Cane-Sugar-Free) from Sally of Approvchar -Chocolate Espresso Ice Cream (gluten free, dairy vegan, vegan) from Ellen of I Am […]
15 Dairy Free Coconut Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe | Elana's Pantry // Jul 5, 2011 at 3:08 pm
[…] from other food bloggers: -Fresh Mint Ice Cream (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan, Cane-Sugar-Free) from Sally of Aprovechar -Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream (Dairy-Free and Vegan) from Alta of Tasty Eats at […]
16 John // Oct 3, 2011 at 1:00 am
“I love me some comments.” That made me laugh, I loved it so much I commented on it! I am just revisiting your site now after coming across it last night. I was intrigued by the word Aprovechar and instinctively bookmarked. I look forward to my findings!
17 Tyrene Hickman // Jun 24, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Hey there Sally!
I found your blog quite some months ago. I’m guessing while I was googling around about Vegan, Gluten Free and the similar. I didn’t have a plan to go Vegan, it just happened naturally. I did have a plan to get and stay healthy and hopefully avoid a whole list of major diseases. So I am now on my journey for a Lifetime! :)) Here’s something I wanted to share. When I found your blog I instantly fell in love with the name Aprovechar…that is is a verb, doing 🙂 and the meaning and thought that goes with that word. In fact I loved it so much that yesterday I actually had the word Aprovechar tattooed on the side of my hand. :)) Always there to remind me what everything in this Life is about. 🙂 So, many many thanks for starting this blog, and pouring yourself into it to help and encourage others!
Tyrene Hickman
18 CNyle // Feb 27, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Hi , I’m Plant based (Vegan without the religious nature) and my wife is Gluten intolerant . I am the chief cook and bottle washer around the house. so thank you my Dear for the blog. Aprovechar ” Love me some Aprovechar”
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