I've always been around rich food culture
I was born in Charleston, SC and was always eating fresh seafood! My father is from England, but grew up in New Orleans. I spent summers in New Orleans with my grandma who ran a bed and breakfast and a British/ Cajun pub. I loved to help cook the food!
Moved to North Carolina
When I was 10, my family moved to a rural town in North Carolina. We often helped my grandfather with his farm. I learned so much about agriculture while living in the country.
My First Nutrition Book
When I was in middle school, I found this book in my house. One chapter was all about healthy eating. I thought it was so fun planning all of my meals according to the "instructions" in the book. I enjoyed thinking of creative ways to fit in all of the food groups.
Running in High School
During high school, I discovered that I was a talented runner. My team was consistently top in the state and I was able to run in college. A part of successful competition was learning how to eat best for performance. This meant learning how to "carb up"before races and eating enough protein after practice.
Mom becoming a Diabetes Educator
My mom is a nurse and had to become a diabetes educator for one of her jobs. As a result, my whole family started eating healthier! I knew all about Glucerna, foot sores, and blindness due to diabetes long before MNT!
Senior Paper in High School
I chose to write about the effect of vitamins and minerals in food. I researched for this paper every night because I was so intrigued by how food can actually heal people. I was told this was one of the best reports ever written in my high school!
Grandfather Dying Young from Complications from High Cholesterol
While I was in college I tested my blood cholesterol levels and I also had high LDL levels. I was scared and started eating a low fat diet. The next year I was retested and my levels were normal!
Gaining Weight in College
After gaining a little weight in college, I had to re-learn how to eat healthfully with all the added distractions. I had to learn how to make healthy choices in a buffet-style dining hall.
Switching my Major from Biology to Nutrition
After a year, I realized that I missed learning about nutrition, so I switched my major and was much happier.