Caitlin is a Katy mama to two sweet girls, a registered dietitian, and co-founder of Healthy Bites Houston, a blog dedicated to helping families live a healthy lifestyle.
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Houston?
I am originally from Tucson, AZ, born and raised. After completing my undergraduate degree in 2010, I moved to Houston for a Masters program and Dietetic Internship. We have been here ever since! We moved out to Katy in 2014 after spending a few years near the med center where I was working.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
Two Daughters- Madison (4- almost 5), and Brooklyn (16 months)
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I eat dessert every night! Most people think that because I’m a dietitian I always eat healthy and never have any treats…and that is not the case! Im all about moderation…which for me means a little treat each night before bed!
Favorite local things to do in Katy?
My daughters LOVE playing outside- parks, waterparks, pools etc! Some of our favorite spots are the Katy Train Park, Exploration Park, Typhoon Texas and the green at La Centerra. We love to pack a snack or a picnic and spend the morning outside.
Do you have a favorite family friendly restaurant in the area?
Katy is great because there are families everywhere, so in my opinion most restaurants are family friendly, but I would have to say our favorite would be Zoe’s at LaCenterra. The kids can eat and then look at the ducks, while mom and dad finish the meal. Not to mention, it has some great healthy options that the kids love!
What is your go-to activity for yourself for pampering or for fun?
I am one of those weird people who loves to workout, so for me the ideal day of pampering would start with a good workout (a run, barre, or a weights workout at the gym), followed by some coffee and a mani/pedi, and maybe some shopping too!
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
I think the funniest/most odd thing I have done so far with parenting has been to keep a potty seat in the car. I learned early on while potty training my first that we needed access to a potty at all times…so as funny as it was to put my kid in the back of the car to go potty, it saved us on so many occasions. As we get closer to the potty training age with my second, I plan to do the same thing!
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I recently started a new job with Dagley Insurance, working as an Operations Assistant. I had worked for six years as a Dietitian in the Medical Center and finally decided it was time to move on in the beginning of this year. Though I still love nutrition, I am really enjoying working in a new field for the time being. I am learning a ton and developing new skills, and the position is a great fit for where I am at in life. I love being able to work part time, for me it’s the best of both worlds! I also started a blog a few tears back with a friend and coworkers as a way to share my passion for healthy living. As life has gotten busy for both of us, we haven’t been able to dedicate as much time as we would like to it, but in the future I hope to be able to get back to posting regularly. It can be a wealth of information with some great recipes, tips and basic nutrition knowledge. Feel free to check it out: www.healthybiteshouston.com
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now? (this means the Houston neighborhood community).
I absolutely love the Katy community, specifically my neighborhood, and all of the family friendly events that happen throughout the year. My husband works long hours and most weekends, so having a variety of activities (festivals, parades, storytimes, puppet shows- you name it) has been wonderful for us to stay busy while he is working. Staying active, meeting new people, and having fun experiences with my girls has been instrumental in my “success” as a mom.
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc)?
Be organized! I make lists for everything and try to plan ahead as much as possible! Obviously, kids are completely unpredictable so often times things don’t go according to plan, but having an idea of what you need to accomplish for the day, what you’re going to cook for dinner etc really helps when things get chaotic.
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?
I would tell the old me to enjoy the peace and quiet and relax! I have always been such a busy body- always had to be doing something and never knew how to relax. Now that I have two kiddos and don’t have a lot of time to just relax, I look back and wish I would have appreciated that season of life a little more!