Growing up, our meals consisted primarily of vegetables, and then we had small amounts of meat.

I make my food in such a way that people can eat it every single day. My dad passed away from a heart attack, so it's always been very important for me to make food I love, the food we made growing up, but in a way that it won't be harmful to my body or to the people I love. Just as long as it's not boring. It has to be flavorful and delicious.

I'd like to see kids learning to cook and families sitting down to dinner together.

I really would like to help people get back into the kitchen.

I got married at 18 after dating my boyfriend for about a year. It was quick, I know. My husband joined the Army, and I thought I'd go to college. But we moved to Fort Hood for his job with no money, not even a car.

You don't have to be a renowned artist like Q-Tip to try your hand at poetry. You don't need any special equipment - that's the beauty of it.

I have had a love-hate relationship with my body.

At some point, I fell in love. Shortly thereafter, I got my heart broken. Sniff, sniff. And I realized at a young age - no matter what any adult literary critic would have us believe about female strength and autonomy - there is no test to strength of character like love.