Food Influencer and Cookbook Author Diane Morrisey, 59, Says ‘You Got This!’—See Her Smart Tips for Budget-Friendly Meals (Exclusive)

Diane Morrisey’s warm personality and delicious recipes may have earned her 1.5 million followers and counting on Instagram (@dianemorrisey), but the 59-year-old mom of six never set out to be a social media star. “I first got on Instagram just to spy on my children,” she laughs. But one day, she posted a picture of a homemade cake and received far more likes than expected. “I didn’t even know what a ‘like’ was!” she says. Now, with millions of fans and a debut cookbook under her belt, she’s still in awe. “It happened organically,” Diane says. “It was a blessing—I don’t look like a typical influencer, but I think that’s helped me connect with others.”

With spring finally here, Diane, who appears on the cover of this week’s Woman’s World magazine (get your copy here!), is gearing up for a joyous Easter celebration. “I always host. We go to Mass, then have a brunch buffet. I have so much fun putting the entire menu together!” Whether she’s entertaining loved ones or crafting up recipes, that same sunny spirit carries into everything she does. “If you start each day with a grateful heart, good things follow.” Read on for her tips in the kitchen and beyond!

Woman’s World: You became a popular food personality in your 50s. How has being older than the typical influencer informed your experience?

Diane Morrisey: It was a complete change in my career path at the time—I’d previously worked as an art teacher and been an executive at Whole Foods. That aspect, along with my age, resonated with people, like, “If she could do it, maybe I can do something that I didn’t even know I wanted to do.” There’s nothing perfect about me, and I don’t pretend to be perfect. I’m sort of irreverent. I swear like a sailor at times. I am who I am. I’m pretty authentic, and I think people relate to that.

I actually have a lot of followers who are very young. I had really strong cooking influences in my life through my mom and grandma growing up, but a lot of people didn’t grow up like me, so they didn’t have a cooking influence to teach them. I think that I’ve become that influence to a lot of young professionals and kids who are just out of college. I feel like I’ve been a mom to them.

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WW: How has your family influenced your cooking?

DM: My dad’s parents immigrated from Italy and my mom’s parents immigrated from Ireland. I did not get any cooking guidance from my Irish grandmother, God bless her! She was funny as hell, but she didn’t know how to cook. My Italian grandmother, who came over when she was in her 20s, was the best cook I ever knew. She was a natural, and she grew everything that she cooked with. Her garden was legendary. She was a master of classic Italian peasant cooking where nothing goes to waste and everything gets used.

Growing up, every time my five siblings and I went to my grandma’s house, she’d want to feed us, even if we weren’t hungry. She believed food was love, and that idea has always guided me in the kitchen. I’ve long loved cooking for my family and friends, because to me, it is a way of showing them love, and nothing makes me happier than that.

WW: What’s something that’s surprised you about your online following?

DM: I receive comments about my hands a lot. My mom is 94 with end-of-life dementia, but she’s still as sweet as the day is long. I know that my hands will eventually look just like my mother’s. People say my hands remind them of their mother’s or grandmother’s hands, and those comments warm my heart. They’re strong hands. My hands have raised six children. They’ve cooked for people my entire life. They’ve taken care of sick, elderly parents. I love my hands because they’re my mom’s hands. They may not be the hands of a 20-year-old anymore, but I’m grateful for them.

WW: What are your best tips for saving money on groceries?

DM: I’m one of six kids, and my dad was a history teacher at a Catholic high school while my mom was a stay-at-home mom, so I learned from them. My mom had to be frugal. I learned how to stretch a dollar from her, and that’s something I applied to my own family of eight.

Working in professional kitchens, I learned that you should always give ingredients a second chance at life instead of throwing them away. I know how to make recipes that I can get two or three days out of by using them in different ways. I take inventory before I go grocery shopping, and that’s something that I learned from working in the retail world. I think if more people did that, they wouldn’t over-buy.

I’m also a vegetarian. I haven’t eaten meat in 30 years—and I’m married to an Irishman who loves his meat and potatoes! Cooking meatless meals cuts down on food costs tremendously. Even if you’re not a vegetarian, I think adding a few meatless meals into your repertoire every week is very smart. You can still get protein by using eggs, lentils and beans, and there are so many dishes that you can make that are hearty and family-friendly, while still being meatless.

WW: Your cookbook is called ‘You Got This!’ What does this phrase mean to you?

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DM: My dad was a basketball coach, and I played basketball for years, along with all my siblings. When I was an art teacher, I taught all of my children in grammar school. I know what it is to teach, and I know what it is to give encouragement both in the sports world and in the classroom.

When I started my Instagram account, I got a lot of messages from my followers saying things like, “I’m having my mother-in-law over for the first time, and I’ve never cooked for her. I’m a nervous wreck. I don’t know what to do.” I found myself saying, “You got this!” 100 times a day.

Cooking doesn’t need to be stressful—just approach it with confidence and don’t overthink it. “You got this!” became a mantra, and it was something that I heard all my life. I was always the person who encouraged people and tried to give them confidence when they didn’t have it, and I said this so often that it made perfect sense to use it as the title of my cookbook. Regardless of your cooking abilities, you got this!