Once upon a time, Jenn Segal went to culinary school and worked in fancy restaurants. One marriage and two kids later she created Once Upon a Chef, the popular cooking blog that features tested and perfected recipes with approachable ingredients and step-by-step photos.

When Jenn hung up her toque, she wanted to help other families make meals that were easy enough for a busy parent, yet still appealed to a chef. “I had aspirations of writing a cookbook, but knew that getting published as an unknown was a long shot,” she recalls. “At the advice of my younger (and hipper) sister, Erica, I decided in 2009 to start a food blog instead.  While I am now a published cookbook author, I love running my blog and am in it for the long haul.”

Once Upon a Chef features an impressive array of mouthwatering creations. We asked Jenn where healthy eating fit into her culinary approach. “I believe in everything in moderation.  If you browse my blog, you’ll find recipes ranging from light and healthy like this Grilled Chicken with Lemon, Garlic and Herbs to indulgent options like this Boozy Caramel French Toast Casserole. Food is one of the great pleasures in life. In my opinion, it’s important to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet punctuated with periodic treats.”

Of course, we had to know Jenn’s take on dried beans. “Dried beans are a wonderful staple. They are inexpensive, easy to prepare, have a lot of versatility, and are great for you! I love chickpeas. Not only are they nutritional powerhouses, but they also can be incorporated into many different cuisines and used in a number of forms. You can throw them into salads, roast and salt them for a healthy snack, or puree them to use as a healthy, high-protein ingredient in baked goods!”

It’s white beans that are the star of Jenn’s hearty, healthy Chicken Chili with White Beans. Made from scratch and loaded with veggies, it’s the perfect supper or freezer-friendly family meal.

Find more from Jenn at onceuponachef.com and be sure to follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.