The chance to get healthy was sweeter than any sugary treat.
Samantha Aulick and Alex Lemley used to be surrounded by marshmallows and other confections. They made gourmet versions of the puffy treats, with flavors ranging from birthday cake to salted caramel to crunchy cinnamon, through their business 240Sweet.
But after Aulick was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the Taylorsville couple knew they had to make a change.
“Our mission statement had be to make people happy through food and drink. But we determined that what we were doing with the sugar was not something we could handle and be happy,” Aulick said.
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The transformation over the past year has been life-altering. They exercise regularly, riding bikes throughout Bartholomew County as well as kayaking, hiking and other activities. By following a strictly Keto diet — heavy on protein and healthy fats, with next to no carbs — Aulick and Lemley have lost more than 90 pounds. The reversal was so complete that Aulick was able to stop taking insulin and diabetes medication.
“By jumping into this lifestyle, we saw immediate results. And they were pretty dramatic, especially for Sam,” Lemley said.
Their lives have been completely remade through exercise and diet, and to go along with it, they decided to revamp their business model. Instead of making marshmallows, they’ve helped create Keto recipes that are not only healthy, but delicious. Aulick is also documenting her own diabetes journey, from the difficulties to the unique adventures she’s dedicated herself to trying, through a personal blog.
Their intention is to use their experiences to inspire others, giving them one way that they can become more healthy in their lives.
“We got to eat the foods we love. It hasn’t felt like a diet or a sacrifice,” Lemley said. “Food can be a cure. It can be a good thing and a bad thing.”
Inside the home base of what used to be 240Sweet, the last few bags of marshmallows are waiting on shelves for people to buy.
In their place, Aulick and Lemley have put together packages of spices such as Cajun spices, Italian blend and Happy Hearts, an herb mix filled with garlic, basil, thyme, parsley, sage and other ingredients.
Recipes for Keto-friendly appetizers, entrees and desserts were arranged in boxes and ready to guide others hoping to change their lives. They call the new endeavor KetoLuxe.
“We’re still trying to make people happy, but a little bit differently now,” Aulick said.
The Keto, or ketogenic, diet, is a way to force your body to change the type of fuel it burns for energy. Instead of relying on sugars from carbohydrates from grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes, the body starts burning ketone bodies, which the liver produces from stored fat.
In order for the diet to work, people need to all but give up carbohydrates. The body has to reach a state of ketosis to start burning stored fat, and doing so requires eating about 20 to 50 grams of carbs each day, according to Harvard Medical School. For comparison, a medium-sized banana contains about 27 grams of carbs.
Food allowed under the Keto lifestyle are heavy on healthy fats and protein such as beef, pork and bacon.
“It’s resetting your metabolism, a metabolic shift, it’s not really a diet where you can have a little cheat here and there. You’re changing the way your body functions,” Lemley said.
Aulick and Lemley decided to try eating Keto following a serious automobile accident in 2016 that left Aulick with a broken leg and Lemley with an injured knee.
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What: Chef Alexa Lemley’s version of the ketogenic diet. By eating low-carb, gluten-free, and whole foods, you benefit from a healthy diet.
Who: Lemley and her wife, Samantha Aulick
How to learn more: ketoluxe.us
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Prep: 10 minutes; cook: 45 minutes
Ingredients
4 cups cauliflower florets
16 ounces heavy whipping cream
1 stick butter
4 ounces cream cheese
1 pound shredded cheddar (reserve half a cup)
1 pound queso quesadilla (reserve half a cup)
8 ounces sour cream
8 ounces cottage cheese
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ cup ground macadamia nuts
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Fill medium sauce pan ¾ way full with water. Bring to a boil.
- Add cauliflower and cook for 2 minutes. Drain immediately.
- Place cauliflower between paper towels and press out as much moisture as possible.
- In a small sauce pan, combine heavy cream, butter, and cream cheese. Over low heat, stir constantly until melted. Remove from heat.
- Mix cheddar, queso quesadilla, sour cream, cheese, salt, pepper, and mixture from above step in a large bowl.
- Add cauliflower and mix until just combined. Spread into 9×13 casserole dish.
- Mix together reserved cheese and macadamia nuts. Sprinkle across top of casserole dish.
- Bake for 45 minutes (or until bubbly). Serve hot.
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Prep: 10 minutes; cook: 25 minutes
Ingredients
1 pound Italian sausage (check the label to make sure sugar-free)
1 cup Marvelous Marinara
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella
4 sandwich-size pepperoni slices
8 fresh basil leaves
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a round pizza pan, press raw sausage, forming a raised “crust” around the edges. Cover entire pan.
- Bake sausage for 10 minutes.
- Drain excess grease from sausage.
- Spread middle part of sausage with marinara, not raised “crust.” Sprinkle marinara with mozzarella. Top with individual pieces of pepperoni.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.
- Garnish with basil.
- Cut pizza into eight triangles. Serve warm.
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Prep: 45 minutes; cook: 20 minutes
Ingredients
2.5 pounds fresh Roma tomatoes (or a variety from your garden), peeled, seeded, and chopped
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves fresh garlic
2 tablespoons KetoLuxe Italian Seasoning Blend
Or
2 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 cup Beef Bone Broth or beef stock
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup packed fresh basil leaves, chopped fine
Directions
- Chop tomatoes. Save all the juices and goodness.
- Heat oil in small sauce pan. Add KetoLuxe Italian Seasoning or your own blend. Don’t brown. Stir for about one minute.
- Add tomatoes, juices, bone broth, salt, and pepper flakes.
- Turn heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes or until thick and luscious.
- Remove from heat and add fresh basil.
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