Foods that NOURISH.

Kitchens that FUNCTION.

SERVICES & OFFERINGS

  • NEW DIET OFFERINGS

    Guided Meal Planning, Shopping & Cooking Help for New Dietary Needs

    We know that learning to eat within new dietary guidelines can be daunting. We are here to guide you through that process. From recipe sharing and meal planning to getting you set up in your own kitchen with new ingredients, we can support you through every step in this process. With our help, you can feel confident in your own cooking and learn to make delicious meals for yourself and your family while following the guidelines from your doctor or nutritionist.

    LEARN MORE

  • POSTPARTUM CHEF OFFERINGS

    Homemade Meals to Nourish the Birthing Parent

    With the support of a Postpartum Chef, you can enjoy the benefits of homemade food while taking the time to care for your newborn and still find the time to rest deeply and fully. It’s easy for your own nutritional needs to be overlooked as you prioritize the needs of others. We provide fresh, homemade food designed to support your postpartum recovery. Comforting and nourishing dishes soothe the inherent stress of the time following the birth of your baby and sustain you as you care for your growing family—and yourself.

    LEARN MORE

  • PANTRY, FRIDGE, & FREEZER RESET

    Custom Food Storage Organization & New Kitchen Systems

    Organizing and stocking your kitchen with ingredients that keep you interested in cooking can be overwhelming. We organize your food storage areas and create systems that enable you to continue cooking on your own with ease and less waste. Having your spices, pantry, fridge, and freezer organized will enable you to enjoy cooking and save you time! We take care of clearing out the old and bringing in fresh ingredients. We create an organized & customized kitchen system that works for you and your family.

    LEARN MORE

  • POST-OPERATIVE MEAL DELIVERY

    Healing Foods that Support the Recovery Process

    The time following an operation, surgery, or accident calls for rest and healing. Rest can be easier to come by when you don’t have to think about or struggle to plan, shop, or cook for yourself. We offer healing foods to help you get stronger and allow you to focus on taking care of yourself. We provide fresh, homemade food designed & delivered to support your recovery.

    Learn More

Meet the Team

  • Anna

    I have spent over 15 years developing recipes to fit my own dietary needs and have loved sharing those with anyone who can benefit from them. In 2015, I started a small gluten- and allergen-free bakery selling at farmers markets in Minneapolis, MN. After moving back home to the Valley in 2017, I recognized a gap in local offerings for people with celiac disease and other special dietary needs and wanted to find a way to fill some of that. In 2020, I began expanding my repertoire by cooking for people with diets limited by allergies, auto-immune responses, cancer diagnoses, heart attacks, and other chronic illnesses. I know that a new diet or diagnosis can feel incredibly limiting and the task of learning to cook in a whole new way daunting. I also know from my own experience that it has the potential to be an opportunity for creativity and that food made with different ingredients than the ones you are most used to can be equally, if not even more, delicious!

    CONTACT

  • Emily

    My primary focus is feeding postpartum families with nutrient-rich, hearty, & healing foods. I prepare wholesome soups, filling stews, and easy to eat snacks filled with whole foods, fresh vegetables, healing herbs, and warming spices. I feed you, so you can focus on feeding your baby. I support and celebrate families of all kinds, people of every gender, and individuals of all races.  I believe couples, single parents, birthing individuals, adoptive parents , & those who are grappling with bereavement deserve equal care & nourishment.

    I am a NOURISH trained Postpartum Chef, a certified Culinary Coach through the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine, and a graduate of the Natural Gourmet Center at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City (formerly NGI).

    I love to feed people food that makes them feel good.

    CONTACT

  • What is a Lilac Spoon? We made it up. Or so we thought...

    When we were first introduced to each other, we talked about our interests, our values, our approaches to life (and cooking, of course). It was early spring and while we were strolling along a quiet street we were met with lilac after lilac.  The scent followed us. Or maybe we followed it.  We learned that we shared a love of lilacs, a flower that symbolizes new beginnings, rebirth, and renewal.  They are a sign of warmth & while they only bloom for a short time, their roots are strong and resilient. Lilacs, especially the light purple variety, were thought to be gifted as an expression of confidence in the recipient. We believe that you know your body and we want to foster & solidify that confidence in you through the food you eat.   

    We are believers in the Spoon Theory; an approach to wellness that individuals suffering from chronic conditions use to measure their available energy spanning the length of a day.  Daily tasks require a certain number of symbolic spoons. Based on individual circumstances, one must make choices about which tasks & activities to prioritize to ensure they do not run out of spoons, for then they can not flourish or thrive. As Chefs who focus on healing and nourishing, we want to help you understand and prioritize the role food plays in your life, at whatever stage you are at in your journey.  The spoon is an age-old symbol of nourishment, sharing, comfort, and care.

    So, LiLAC SPOONS was born.  And then we learned that a lilac spoon is the name of a plant, which has nothing to do with our story, but it is a beautiful succulent. 

Testimonials

  • Emily and Anna’s food is absolutely amazing. All ingredients felt fresh and healthy, and the meals so nourishing and easy in my early postpartum experience. Even communicating with Emily and Anna about details like food preferences, delivery timing etc. felt supportive and nourishing. I can’t wait to offer their meal service as a gift for friends expecting new babies!

    - Katie T.

  • Working with Emily has truly been life-changing. I have an immune disorder that causes allergic reactions to most foods, so I rely on a very limited list of safe ingredients. Before working with her, I was stuck eating the same meals every day, or skipping meals entirely, because cooking was too exhausting and time-consuming. Now, thanks to Emily, I have a freezer full of delicious, allergy-safe meals that I look forward to eating. She’s creative, careful, and incredibly easy to work with. Emily somehow turns my 20-ingredient limit into meals that feel like real variety. I'm eating foods I never thought I'd get to eat again, like muffins! It honestly feels like magic.

    -Eliza D.

  • There is something wonderful knowing that someone else figured out what to shop for and what to make!  Not just home cooked…quality, healthy, yummy meals. Thank you Emily for making my recovery a little “bite” easier! 

    -Elaine M.

  • Emily provided meals for us within the first six weeks postpartum and it was incredible. After the initial excitement from friends and family providing meals had slowed, Emily’s services of both cooking in our home and dropping meals off were perfect. My wife and I enjoy cooking and good food, so wanted to eat well even with a new baby in our home - Emily provided just that. The lunches, dinner, snacks, and sweets were all delicious! She worked with us to curate a menu we were excited about and fill voids we had with food. As the birthing parent, I appreciated her awareness of providing snacks that would be easy to eat while breastfeeding and also nutritious to help my body recover. Emily has such wonderful energy that her company while working in our home kitchen was nice to have when my partner had gone back to work. I recommend Lilac Spoons to anyone looking for nutritious & delicious food support postpartum.

    -Emily L.

  • Emily has been regularly providing inspired and scrumptious meals that support my unique health needs. Her creativity, adaptability, and 5 star culinary skills bring joy and flair to meals that frequently prompt me to bring out the candles! Emily is a treasure.

    Lea

  • super greens pea soup with dulse & shallots

  • golden chicken & red rice soup

  • lemongrass & ginger carrot soup with coconut milk

  • sun dried tomato powerhouse breakfast biscuits

  • miso carrot soup with tahini, lemon zest, and pepitas

  • apple almond muffins

  • spinach congee with ghee & shiitake mushrooms

  • coconut lentil stew with turmeric, delicata squash, & kale

  • tofu green curry with parsnip & sweet potato

  • cinnamon & anise golden milk

  • sweet potato quinoa & thyme muffin

  • lemon barley risotto with mixed mushrooms & thyme

  • curried cashew chicken salad with grapes