About
Hi! I’m Cassie Johnston.
I’m the founder and creative director of Wholefully®. I’ve had a spatula in my hand since I was a preschooler, and food has defined my career and my life ever since. Wholefully is where I share my nearly 1,000 kitchen-tested, family-approved healthy recipes.
Why you can trust my recipes:
- 15+ years recipe development, food writing, and personal chef experience
- Author of three cookbooks—Cooking with Greek Yogurt (WW Norton, 2012), Chia, Quinoa, Kale, Oh My! (WW Norton, 2013), and Gifts in Jars (Zest Media Co., 2024).
- Developed recipes for major brands like Meijer, Crock-Pot, Ball Canning, Ziploc, Dave’s Killer Bread, Rubbermaid, Anytime Fitness, Chobani, and Blue Diamond
- Work has been published in major publications and websites like Bon Appétit, BBC, Forbes, Self, Shape, Country Living, CNN, NBC News, The New York Times, and Good Housekeeping.
- Culinary Arts Coursework (Ivy Tech State College, 2011)
- Nutritionist Certification (AFPA, 2017)
- Health Coach Certification (AFPA, 2017)
- Journalism and Graphic Design Degree (Indiana University, 2005)
Featured In
What you’ll find on Wholefully:
- Healthy recipes like my fan-favorite healthy chicken stir fry
- Canning and preserving tutorials and recipes like my canning salsa recipe
- Family-friendly meals that are easy and affordable like this chicken quesadilla recipe
- Meal prep recipes to make eating healthy easy like this overnight oats recipe
- Kid-friendly healthy food ideas like our tutorial on how to make smoothies
- Festive holiday recipes like my frosted sugar cookies
- Easy handmade food gifts like my caramel popcorn recipe
Get to know me:
- I’m a born-and-bread Hoosier. I live on a small homestead in rural Indiana with my daughter, husband, and way too many animals!
- I’m a Master Gardener, and I love organic gardening! I’m a big vegetable, fruit, and herb gardener, and many of the recipes I’ve created here on Wholefully feature produce harvested right from my own back yard.
- I’m an expert canner and food preserver, and I love to share my canning recipes so everyone can learn the joy of putting up your own food.
- In my free time, my favorite thing to do is watch race cars! I’ve been an IndyCar fan since I first went to the Indianapolis 500 in 1994. Most summers you’ll find my family traveling around the country in our camper heading to IndyCar and IMSA race tracks.
Meet the Wholefully Team
Cassie Johnston // Founder and Creative Director
Cassie is a holistic nutritionist, cookbook author, and all-around food lover. She grew up cooking dinner with her parents every evening, and her passion for home cooking has been strong ever since. Cassie is the author of three published cookbooks (Cooking with Greek Yogurt, Chia, Quinoa, Kale, Oh My!, and Gifts in Jars) and dozens of recipes published in major magazines and newspapers. Cassie has been sharing her award-winning recipes on Wholefully since 2010. She loves dark chocolate, homegrown tomatoes, colorful hair dye, motorsports, and anything that sparkles. She lives in Indiana with her family on a small homestead.
Julie Grice // Chief Operating Officer
Julie got her start as a food writer in 2009 while she was earning a degree in food science and engineering. She spent several years as a food writer and recipe developer before transitioning to working exclusively for Wholefully in 2016. She loves reading, crafting, color, red pandas, and a good jumpsuit or romper. Julie lives in the Twin Cities with her family.
Danielle // Editorial Assistant and Community Manager
Danielle has a background working in the restaurant and bar industry, and that passion and expertise for food translate into everything she does. She is that foodie friend you call whenever you need a recipe, restaurant, or cookbook recommendation. Danielle is an avid and adventurous home cook who lives in Virginia with her food-loving husband, two still-learning-to-love food kiddos, and their perpetually waiting-to-be-fed pets.
Steve and Yvonne // Food Videographers
As a husband and wife team, Steve and Yvonne have nearly a decade of experience crafting high-quality recipe videos. Their passion for good food comes through the screen when you watch any of their videos. Combine Yvonne’s decades of culinary expertise and food styling experience with Steve’s videography and tech wizardry, and you’ve got a dynamic duo that crafts video experiences you can taste.
Alison // Food Content Creator
Alison has worn several hats (some at the same time) since founding her foodie business in 2014: recipe developer, writer, photographer, and videographer. This Chicago-based mother of two children, four oversized cats, and fiancé to one New Jersey transplant enjoys tending her gardens, experimenting in the kitchen, traveling adventures, and, of course, a top-tier nap.