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Hey!
I’m Traci: a cookbook author, ex gestational diabetic, holistic nutritionist in training, culinary graduate and more, with a purpose and passion to give other moms the resources needed to have healthier pregnancies.
How I Got Here
Passion for Food
Although I’ve had the desire to cook since preteen years, I’ve been cooking, consistently, since 2012. I found great joy in experimenting in the kitchen and sharing those meals with loved ones.
At that time, I was enjoying a career in the Air Force and stationed in Spain, living out a few of my dreams. The very next year, I had an epiphany that food was my passion. After that realization, I felt like the military was no longer a fit for me, and in 2014 I elected to separate to follow my culinary passion.
Culinary School
I immediately enrolled in culinary school at the Art Institute of Dallas. I ended up going for just one semester, then taking a year to work overseas. When I returned, I re-enrolled and started in January of 2016. Not even three weeks later I found out I was pregnant – my first pregnancy.
I chose to change the degree program and accelerate it so that I could graduate before having the baby.
Gestational Diabetes Diagnosis
Well, in my last semester, I got diagnosed with gestational diabetes. And guess what – I was in baking class; the class I had anticipated the most! It was a super stressful time in my life, for multiple reasons, then GD got added to the mix.
The diagnosis dropped like a bomb. The concern for her health was a hovering storm cloud, and trying to fathom a lifestyle change at that point was beyond overwhelming.
I had to wait almost 2 weeks to see a dietitian, and I had no guidance in the meantime. When my appointment finally came, it was underwhelming. I left, discouraged and confused, and went home to google more about GD and the diet. To my surprise, there was very little information. All of the sites said the same thing, and none of them provided guidance. Talk about feeling frustrated and defeated!
What I Ate
Because my schedule was so hectic and I really didn’t have energy to cook outside of class, I ate whatever we’d cook in class, and at home I’d eat TV dinners or fast food. Finding low carb fast food and TV dinners wasn’t easy, so I would just eat smaller portions.
Fast Forward
Fast forward two years, after delivering a healthy baby, and another 13 months later (without a gestational diabetes diagnosis), it occurred to me that other moms go through the exact circumstances I faced.
Those feelings of wanting to provide for and protect baby, but feeling overwhelmed and defeated are emotions that probably every gestational diabetic mother goes through. So, I created The Gestational Diabetic to serve the community.
It started as an idea for a cookbook and very quickly morphed into a brand that is determined to establish familiarity and trust, address pain points and relieve stress.
Education
- Bachelor’s in Health Administration – Hodges University
- Certificate in Culinary Arts – The Art Institute of Dallas
- Gestational Diabetes & Prenatal Nutrition – Women’s Health Nutrition Academy
Certification
- Certified ServSafe Food Manager (handler)
Featured Interview
Cookbook
A Little More About Me
I’m a total goof and I’m instantly won over with any “The Office” reference. I love business and entrepreneurship and I absolutely love to see others succeed. I will always cheer anyone aspiring to reach goals for self-fulfillment. <3 If you share any of these interests I would love to connect with you! Send me an email at thegestationaldiabetic<at>gmail<dot>com or DM me on Instagram.
I really like Instagram for communicating with you guys and making mommy friends. <3
The Gestational Diabetic
Food truly is the vehicle to optimal health in ALL cases! Prenatal vitamins don’t make up for what’s lacking in diet, and doctors aren’t required to know or counsel us on nutrition for baby’s development and our changing bodies. That means we have to spread prenatal nutrition knowledge.
It’s very important to me that you have quality and supported information.
There’s a lot of misleading in prenatal vitamins but this one is the BEST on the market.
We realize that life is hectic and completely changing your diet in a moment’s notice is sometimes not feasible, so we remove the pain of change with helpful tools like done-for-you meal plans, snack lists, one-click grocery shopping and more.
Birthed in April 2018 – The Gestational Diabetic:
- Helps those who are transitioning into the diet and/or looking for meal ideas
- Gives you foods that you are used to eating (meaning you don’t have to become a total health nut if you don’t want to)
- Educates and empowers
- Emphasizes getting nutrition by eating real foods
- Encourages eating as best as you can for your and baby’s health and development
There’s a lot on the horizon! I would be super appreciative if you stay on this journey with me! You can sign up for emails, follow any of my social media accounts, or just check back regularly for new content.
The information provided on this site is always linked to scientific research and/or field experts.