About Me
Welcome to Cait Plus Ate (full name credit goes to my witty friend Rachel), a place for me to share my musings about all things food (restaurants, nutrition, daily eats, recipes, products), fitness, fashion, marketing (especially social media), books, and just life-related in general! I hope you stick around 
I’m a 23 year-old girl in the full-time working world, also attending night school part-time to get my MBA. I graduated from UConn in May 2011 with a major in Marketing and minors in Communications and Statistics. I hope to be a marketer in the food world someday!
My Foodie History
I used to be the pickiest, most mundane eater of all time. My relatives always joked that I only ate things that were white or tan – aka any white carb imaginable (Wonder Bread junkie), lots of peanut butter (two crust-less sandwiches every day for lunch until post-high school), any potato starch (fried? baked? mashed? yes please), and SWEETS (vanilla, and eventually warmed up to chocolate, though even that took some time).
Like we’re talking, the only veggie I’d touch was a carrot and the only fruit I’d ever dream of eating was a banana. Oh, and I wouldn’t even consider trying any meat til age 15 when I took a bite of my first burger (and yes, my family took a photo).
But once I got to college and had unlimited dining hall access, and a job at UConn’s Student Union Food Court, I started trying more foods. Only greasy or sweet ones, mind you, but still more. Wings, where were you all my life? Cream cheese muffins, why weren’t we friends before?
So I gained a little weight (I was never overweight, just your typical freshman ten or fifteen). Junior year was when I started taking an interest in the lighter side of things. My mom has always been into healthy dishes, and once I started trying her versions of meals I realized that healthy doesn’t have to mean tasteless. Healthy can mean SO many delicious things, like the foods I love now: huge salad, cottage cheese + fruit combos, beans, Mediterannean fare, veggie pizza, and SO much more. I also got into working out thanks to my college’s awesome fitness programs.
Trying to Balance
The summer after junior year, I have to admit that I got too rigid with eating healthy, and to this day am still working on becoming more flexible. Eventually I had the idea in my head that there were a ton of “should eats” and “should do’s” to follow in terms of food and working out. I lived my life by these rules, not by my desires and feelings. Rules are good – to a point. My life was way too structured and way too determined by things that shouldn’t have been determining it.
The blogging community has taught me that healthy ALSO means knowing indulgence is a part of life and fun! Rigid rules about what we “should” and “shouldn’t” eat aren’t what we should guide our lives by – after all, I would have totally regretted not trying the BACON ICE CREAM in the photo above! This is something I am trying to teach myself and I hope that I can help others live that way too I am always open to talking to anyone about this topic because it is near and dear to me!
First bite of a wild boar burger at Ray's Hell Burger in DC.
Same with being active – I love to work out, but I need to remember that working out isn’t as healthy mentally if it’s a “should” thing. Keep trying different ways to be active and you’ll find something that works for you! And the more you try the better – boredom never helped anyone. So join me in moving in ways you want to, and resting when needed. I often need reminders to do that, from myself and from others. I am NOT perfect. But I’m trying to learn that I don’t need to be.
Dominating the cold pikilia platter + pita at Cavos Tavern in Newington, CT.
Please feel free to contact me anytime via email, comments, Twitter, or Facebook! I’d love to hear suggestions, critiques, or just musings on subjects I write about. Thanks for stopping by!
More About Me:
hey girl ! just found your blog from twitter!
nice to “meet” ya! You seem fun & cool. And I totally agree about indulgences once in a while! And I always have to switch up my workout to avoid boredom too. Can’t wait to read more about you!
Thank you for stopping by! I like your blog’s name – it’s named after something I love haha. I checked out your blog and I too discovered healthy living blogs in college and they helped change my 2am pizza runs into an indulgence rather than a weekly occurrence – it’s def all about balance. Hope you have a great day!
This is ridiculous – I was exactly the same way. I used to live on pasta and toast and baby carrots!
Hahaha – so funny! It’s crazy what we missed out on as little picky kids right? I just checked out your blog, so awesome that you are writing a book! I’m quite the bookworm.
Yay! I just found your blog and I’m glad I did:)
So glad that you are glad!! I just checked out yours and love your fashion posts!
HIiII!!! Im so glad you enjoyed the cookies!!!! And the box haha I wanted to make it pretty! I am so glad to have found your blog as well its so cute and awesome!!!
I LOVE finding CT bloggers! It seems like they all come from the South or something, so it’s great to see peeps from up here. Fellow UCONN alum, too.
Oh YAY another CT blogger! Where are you located? And yay UCONN! Can’t wait to check out your blog now. I am originally a Southern girl and hope to get back there haha but am a CT girl for now!
Love your title!
Thanks dear! My friend Rachel thought of it – can’t take credit haha
I am so so glad you stopped by my blog so I could find yours! I can of course relate to so much of this
Indulgences are a part of life! Working on remembering that
Can’t wait to read more !
Thanks girl! So glad to find someone I can relate to!
Hi! I just found your blog and funny I’m in te car on the way to CT to visit my grandma! I love your approach to healthy living- especially this time of year need to remember to indulge and not feel guilty, just enjoy. Looking forward to reading more!
So glad to find you as well! I’m always looking for friends to help me on my journey to find balance because I’m definitely still getting there. Where in ct is your grandma?
I just found your blog and I am from CT too! Are you still living there??
Yes! Are you??
I love your attitude on eating and working out– I’ve struggled a LOT in the past with knowing when it was time to give my body a rest, as well as when it was time to let myself indulge in certain foods. Glad to see you’ve got the right mindset
Working on it but def have some ways to go – thank you for your support! Love your blog!
I love your story. I also work in social media, and would love to get into fitness or food, or health in general, someday!
My “real life” job isn’t social media now, but it is indeed my dream. I’m jealous that you do it already!
I love finding CT bloggers! I love your approach towards balance – I struggle with feeling like I “have” to work out and then it becomes a chore rather than something I enjoy – which is frustrating because I do enjoy it!
Everything you said was amazing! I agree COMPLETELY, hands down, haha. I look forward to reading your blog
Oh goodness your blog’s name is adorable!