Academy Senior Kathleen Thomas Starts a Healthy and Inspirational Instagram

The instagram account @healthyliving_kathleen was started by Academy’s very own Kathleen Thomas (‘21) this summer. It already has a following of over 1,000 people. While Thomas has had ups and downs throughout her health journey,  she continues to be passionate about health and enjoys having an outlet to share this love with others. 

“I have been at several stages of my journey and faced lots of different adversities regarding my health, especially after moving [from Raleigh, NC, to Tampa,FL], but I have finally found a lifestyle that makes me happy and content,” said Thomas.

Thomas is most popularly known for her delicious, yet healthy, homemade recipes. At first, she begins the  process of creating recipes by researching other recipes online, studying them, and making small adjustments to fulfill her dietary restrictions and taste buds. Now, however, she is making up her own recipes without prior research. 

“Now I have become pretty intuitive with cooking and can come up with stuff pretty much on the spot. Like anything, It takes practice, but there’s a healthy way to make anything,” said Thomas. 

Every Sunday, Thomas meal preps as a way to get ready for the school week. To begin, she plans out each meal and all the ingredients needed for the week. 

“The number one thing to do when starting meal prepping is to get organized. I cannot stress this enough: you need a grocery list, a written plan of what you are having/when, and containers or a suitable storage method. I think for some people, meal prepping can feel redundant, so there’s always the alternative of ‘ingredient prepping’ where you have vegetables/meat prepared so that you can make something different each night but already have it semi-ready,” said Thomas.

The average grocery trip takes about thirty minutes for Thomas. She spends her time listening to podcasts while shopping and about an hour or hour and a half cooking both lunch and dinners for the entire week. However, much of that time is spent washing the ingredients. 

Thomas suggests meal prep to “people who are after a really particular physique or athletic goal because it helps to keep you on the track you want to be on. I also suggest it to people who are super busy; it may take a chunk of your time on Sundays, but in the mornings packing lunch and dinner time, it is super helpful.”

Thomas has left many people inspired and determined to lead a healthier lifestyle. Her positivity is infectious as it has encouraged fellow Academy students to follow her example.

Follower of Thomas’s instagram, Angie Pena (’21) said, “She has inspired me in so many ways, that I even decided to get a health journal to keep track of what I eat and my workouts. She is like a free nutritionist to me and has the best recipes on her instagram. Everyone should go check her out. Everything is either useful or delicious.”

Kathleen has been on a journey to build a better life for herself. By sharing her journey, she has encouraged people to change their unhealthy ways and find new ways to be healthy. She uses her platform to spread positivity and information about health necessities. She shares her meals and process of weekly meal preparations as a way to be a role model for others. Not only is she being an example to others but, her homemade recipes that she posts are nourishing, hearty, and delicious.

Thomas’s Favorite Recipes:

BLUEBERRY LEMON POUND CAKE

VEGGIE HASH BROWNS

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS