About me - Hi there, I am Kate Ouma Hahnel. I enjoy experimenting with new recipes during my free time (mostly in the evenings when the kids are fast asleep).
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I got diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I relocated to Germany in 2014. Hypothyroidism is a condition whereby the thyroid gland is unable to produce enough thyroid hormone. Seeing that the thyroid hormone plays a key role in running the body’s metabolism, people with hypothyroidism tend to exhibit symptoms related to slow metabolism. Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty losing weight, loss of memory, cold intolerance, hair loss, migraines, and depression among others. Most people normally have a combination of the symptoms. In my case, it was chronic fatigue, memory loss, cold intolerance, and hair loss.
I was actually pleased when I got the diagnosis. At least I had a name for the monster that was making me take several naps during the day! One tablet a day and all my problems would go away!! Nothing could be further from the truth. I felt slightly better but I was still constantly tired. My social life also suffered, I simply did not want to leave the house.
How it all started
They say having a child changes someone. I know it changed me. You just can’t nap whenever you want to just because you are tired. That’s when I knew I had to do something quickly. I did a bit of research online and decided to try out the ketogenic diet. That was sometime in 2017. I instantly felt better. I also lost a bit of weight and was standing at a UK dress size 8/10. Everything seemed perfect.
However, this was not sustainable for me in the long term as I craved having fruits and a variety of vegetables on my plate without having to worry about the net carbs. I also got pregnant and knew I wanted to offer my unborn baby more, in terms of a varied diet. Don’t get me wrong, I know women who have had successful pregnancies and births having followed the ketogenic diet whilst pregnant, and I still believe it is the best for weight loss, clarity of mind, self-discipline, and the list goes on. I’m just saying, this was not me.
So, I found some sort of middle ground in the name of Paleo and Low-carb and that was the beginning of this great idea to share my recipes with the rest of the world. I say great because I absolutely love creating and sharing recipes! This was the birth of Paleo Low-carb Kate (the name of my website previously, for those who do not know).
Did I enjoy the rare plate of pasta or rice, as well as other non-paleo and keto meals? Most certainly. For example, when eating in or out with friends.
Why the transition to We Eat At Last?
Having an African origin, it was always obvious that I would share recipes from my heritage. But if you ask any food blogger, this is a category on its own which means my website was now focusing on three different niches. Actually, four, if I count the Air fryer and Ninja Foodi recipes that I absolutely love! And then I have my International cuisine recipes. (I reside in Germany, and have learned so many family recipes from my German husband, that I wanted to share.) I will stop there for now. Ask anyone who owns a food website and they will tell you this is a recipe for disaster, especially for a beginner (beginner being relative here)! It is just too confusing for the readers. Imagine a keto reader visiting my website and coming across my Kenyan Githeri recipe! I had an audit of my website with a specialist in January 2022 and his advice was that I needed to niche down.
It goes without saying that I had to make a decision. I can assure you that it was no easy decision. I felt I was letting some of you guys down, especially those of you who follow me on my Facebook page. But the decision had to be made all the same. I made the decision to share more African dishes, which I love! The continent has so much to offer! I promise you, these are all easy recipes that you can easily recreate at home! Some are authentic, some are recreated versions learned from friends and family. The important thing? They all taste amazing!
Okay, so why Ninja Foodi Recipes?
The answer is simple. I am a gadget-kind-of-girl. I love my kitchen gadgets the same way some men love their external hard drives, speakers, and the like. I adore my Ninja Foodi 8 Quart and I wasn't going to leave it behind now, niche or no niche. I can only say I am blessed and grateful for the support you are giving my Ninja foodi and World Cuisine recipes, especially on my Youtube channel.
I now feel like I have found my place with We Eat At Last. I am glad you stopped by, hope you will find something you like here and that you will come again!
Love, Kate.
Keep in Touch
Feel free to contact me or subscribe to my newsletter through my contact page. You can also send a message directly using the email address hahnelkate@gmail.com.
I love to see your creations! Tried a recipe? Let me know how it went on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook.