By Inna Lanigan, Personal Chef and Founder of Innichka Chef

 

Where My Food Journey Began

I grew up in Ukraine, where food was simple, seasonal, and always real. We cooked with ingredients our hands had touched—fresh vegetables from the garden, fermented cabbage bubbling in a jar, eggs gathered that morning, warm raw milk, and herbs my grandmother dried above the stove. I learned early that food was nourishment, medicine, and love. Those lessons shaped my childhood and my entire philosophy on eating today.

I am originally from a small town far from the city, and after high school, I earned a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering in Kiev. I worked for a large commercial builder before relocating to the United States. Once I settled into my new home, I realized that my true passion had always been food. I’ve always been fascinated by food history, healthy eating, and new flavors.

One of my biggest surprises in the United States was how disconnected many people are from their food. Children—and even adults—often don’t know where their food comes from beyond a package. That disconnect affects our health more than we realize, and it inspired me to pursue a career centered around real, nourishing food.

My culinary journey in America began near Boston at the famous Legal Sea Foods Restaurant, where I learned excellent seafood preparation techniques. I later became the chef at Sahara Restaurant in Worcester, MA, cooking Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes full of vibrant flavors. After moving to South Carolina, I worked at a bakery and learned the art of bread-making and European pastries.

Now, as a personal chef, I help families avoid fast food and frozen meals. I believe we are what we eat—and even more, we are what we digest. The meals I prepare are tailored to each client’s needs—always delicious, always nourishing—and they save both time and money.

Why Healthy Eating Matters

Healthy eating isn’t about strict diets. It’s about choosing foods that support the body’s natural ability to heal, grow, and thrive.

Our bodies instantly recognize whole, unprocessed ingredients:

  • vegetables full of fiber and minerals
  • fruits and berries rich in antioxidants
  • healthy fats that support brain and hormone health
  • fermented foods that strengthen digestion and immunity

A healthy gut is the beginning of everything. When digestion works well, energy increases, inflammation decreases, immunity improves, and mood becomes more stable.

In my kitchen, I focus on:

  • fresh vegetables and leafy greens
  • seasonal produce
  • properly prepared whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes
  • nourishing bone broth
  • fermented foods like sauerkraut, beet kvass, and pickles
  • natural fats such as butter, olive oil, and tallow
  • herbs and spices rich in antioxidants

I avoid processed oils, artificial additives, and toxic cookware. Food should strengthen the body—not burden it.

Why I Care About Healthy Eating

I am a mother of two boys and one girl, and my kitchen begins with them. I want my children to understand food the way I did: what a carrot looks like pulled from the earth, how milk turns into kefir, and why homemade soup feels different from anything in a can.

I believe children should taste a wide variety of natural flavors early in life. Developing a child’s palate with herbs, gentle spices, vegetables, and real foods helps prevent the picky-eater habits common today. Kids who grow up tasting many flavors—and avoiding processed foods full of MSG—are more open to new foods, more curious, and more connected to what they eat.

Children learn by tasting, touching, smelling, chopping, and watching adults cook with intention. Healthy eating in my home isn’t a trend; it’s a lifestyle rooted in tradition, science, and love.

My Cooking Philosophy

I’m a firm believer that what grows together goes together. I choose ingredients from the same season, the same soil, and—when possible—the same local farms. When flavors are connected by nature, they blend effortlessly without artificial shortcuts.

I also believe deeply in the power of spices. Spices are more than flavor—they are some of the oldest forms of natural medicine. When used intentionally, they support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, strengthen the immune system, and make simple meals vibrant and alive.

My goal is always the same: to create food that supports the body, comforts the soul, and brings joy to the table.

Seasonal & Local Cooking

Seasonal eating connects us to nature’s rhythms:

  • Spring brings tender greens and freshness.
  • Summer offers vibrancy, hydration, and strength.
  • Autumn reminds us to gather, prepare, and slow down.

Local foods, freshly harvested and not transported long distances, taste completely different—bright, sweet, fragrant, and alive. Because they don’t require long storage, they typically need fewer preservatives and chemicals. Local food simply nourishes better.

What Healthy Eating Really Looks Like

Healthy eating is built from simple, consistent habits:

  • choosing whole foods over packaged foods
  • cooking at home more often
  • using herbs and spices for flavor and health
  • choosing quality over quantity
  • avoiding extreme diets
  • listening to your body instead of labels

Remember, even small changes done consistently can transform your health.

My Mission

My passion is helping families reconnect with real food. Through my blog, YouTube channel, personal chef work, and community workshops, I hope to inspire people to cook with intention, understand the healing power of ingredients, and enjoy the process of nourishment. Healthy eating is not a luxury—it’s a foundation. And it begins in our kitchens, one meal at a time.

Summary

Healthy eating begins at home, with simple ingredients, seasonal rhythms, and the intention to nourish ourselves and the people we love. When we choose whole foods and reconnect with where our food comes from, we strengthen our bodies, our families, and our communities.

 

Inna Lanigan is a Ukrainian-born personal chef and the founder of Innichka Chef, where she blends the wholesome, real-food traditions of her childhood with fresh Lowcountry ingredients. She grew up in Ukraine cooking simple, seasonal dishes—fermented vegetables, garden produce, homemade breads—and now brings those flavors to her clients through weekly prepared meals, private chef services, and vibrant cooking videos. Inna loves creating healthy comfort food, traditional Ukrainian recipes, and globally inspired meals that let her “travel the world from the kitchen.” Find her menus, recipes, and services at innichkachef.com. Contact: innichkachef@gmail.com