About Me
Hello, I’m Flossie – a food scientist and flexitarian home cook behind Candyflosslife.
Here I share gut-friendly, flexitarian recipes that are colorful, down to earth, and genuinely enjoyable to eat. My background is in food manufacturing and nutrition, but my cooking is rooted in real life – simple meals, seasonal produce, and food that supports your gut without overcomplicating dinner.
I live in Colchester, England (Britain’s oldest recorded town) with my husband Dave and our dog Nala. Candyflosslife grew out of my love for food that feels good, tastes delicious, and fits everyday life.
My Food Story
I grew up in the Balkans, surrounded by women who cooked instinctively and seasonally. Food was never complicated, but it was always generous. Think juicy stuffed peppers topped with yogurt and long meals outdoors, at our grandparents’ farmhouse, shared after grape harvests.
That upbringing taught me how to create depth of flavor with simple ingredients, and it’s the skill I rely on the most in my cooking.
But through both work and vacations, I’ve been lucky to spend time eating my way through different cultures, picking up spices, techniques, and flavor pairings along the way. I’m not trying to recreate authentic dishes perfectly; I just adapt global flavors into real, everyday cooking that fits busy lives.
My Career in Food
I’m a food scientist by training and have spent my career in food manufacturing, working with food safety, quality, and nutrition. Understanding how food is made, labelled, and regulated has given me a strong foundation – but I’m a home cook first.
On Candyflosslife, science meets everyday cooking. You’ll find recipes that are practical, evidence-informed, and focused on nourishing your body, especially when it comes to gut health.
Why Flexitarian?
Healthy eating, for me, isn’t about restriction or perfection. Flexitarian eating reflects how I live and cook: many plant based, sometimes meat or fish, always flavorful.
I bake sourdough, cook with seasonal vegetables, grill outdoors, and love fermented foods, herbs, and spices. I also believe canned and frozen vegetables have their place – because balanced eating needs to be realistic.
As a cancer survivor, I became more intentional about gut health and variety, aiming for around 30 different plants a week without calorie counting or rigid rules. The result is a relaxed, sustainable way of eating that still leaves room for a little dessert.
My Mission
Candyflosslife is here to help you:
- Cook simple, flavor-led meals without overthinking
- Eat more plants in a flexible, enjoyable way
- Reduce food waste and feel confident improvising in the kitchen
Most of my recipes focus on a few core elements, with suggestions for swaps, leftovers, and variations. I want you to cook “by heart,” trust your instincts, and enjoy food that brings people together.
Let’s Stay in Touch
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering “what’s for dinner?” on the way home from work, you’re in the right place.
👉 Sign up to get my free ebook of budget-friendly flexitarian recipes, plus seasonal, gut-friendly ideas delivered straight to your inbox.
You can also find me sharing everyday cooking, seasonal inspiration, and behind-the-scenes moments on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube – often with Nala hovering by for scraps😃.
I’m so glad you’re here! Whether you came for sourdough, an easy midweek dinner, or a gut-friendly idea, I hope you leave inspired to cook something simple and delicious today.
Happy Flexing!!!
🩷 Flossie 🩷
