My current lifestyle is a far cry from how I was raised
on a small beef farm growing up in the Land of Beer and Cheese.
I grew up eating mostly home-cooked meals, but meals that were never raw or nutrient dense. We ate a lot of desserts and had packaged foods for breakfasts. I also ate public school meals every day.
However, I was blessed to have access to fruits that were encouraged as snacks and vegetables that we grew in a garden during the summer months.
But I believe that in general I ate way too many of the wrong foods. And this is probably where many of my symptoms developed.
Growing up, I had MANY digestive issues like bloating, gas, and stomach aches. I had very sore knee joints leading me to see a physical therapist already in the 6th grade. I constantly had a runny nose and I got sick with viruses very easily. I had very crooked teeth that resulted in a lot of dental procedures. I also developed poor eyesight and needed glasses by the end of middle school. My skin was also very itchy and dry and I had a skin fungus overgrowth by the end of my twenties.
In 2019, I gave birth to my oldest son. As an infant, he had a lot of digestive distress and the doctor surmised that he had GERD. At the pediatrician's recommendation, I gave up eating most dairy. The only dairy I still regularly consumed was cheese. I remember thinking "I could definitely become vegetarian, but I could NEVER give up eating cheese". (See my blog The Cheese Curd Curse) I reverted back to eating dairy after he finished breastfeeding at around 9 months old.
Then in September of 2021, my youngest son was born. He also had many digestive issues. This time I was very strict in my dairy elimination, even foregoing cheese, successfully breaking the curse! I could instantly feel and see the results, not only for my baby, but for myself as well! I was way less congested, I lost my excess pregnancy weight very quickly, and I had less bloating and stomach pain. My runny nose was also gone as well as most of my digestive issues. I was feeling great!
At first my health journey started with only my children in my mind, but now the personal benefits from making SIMPLE dietary changes has been innumerable!
In 2021, I also made a transition to being a stay-at-home mom for my two little boys. I had been an elementary educator for 10 years, with most of my career being spent in 1st grade.
I LOVE working with children! I love making them smile and laugh! I love being goofy with them.
However, my heart broke daily as I saw the food that children were consuming. It was especially difficult to witness when the government started providing free breakfasts and lunches after Covid.
From a basic nutritional standpoint, these meals were horrendous. They were all packaged, riddled with dyes, and highly processed with refined sugars and GMO ingredients. We were feeding the students poisons. LITERALLY.
They were being provided “foods” like: PopTarts, granola bars, sugary cereals served with chocolate milk, cheese sticks, mushy fruit in a corn syrup juice cup, highly processed desserts, and pasteurized juices. There was nothing raw. Nothing fresh. Nothing real.
We were asked to ENCOURAGE the children to eat these breakfasts. After all, they were FREE and the government would send more if our numbers stayed high. I refused to support this, whereas many of my colleagues had no problem pushing this junk food.
I was the only one questioning- Why are we feeding this garbage to our kids!? No one answered because no one knew.
And no one seemed to care.
A few months after quitting my job, I had an awesome idea come blasting through from God in a dream! I very clearly saw a giraffe made out of carrot sticks. I quickly took action & started making videos. My Youtube channel, Soul Power Snacks, was born!
My goal with these videos is simple-- to encourage and empower children to make healthy eating choices through providing active and enriching learning. These fun videos are now out in the world. I KNOW they are inspiring millions!
In 2022, I made a very strong move. I decided to continue on with my passion for health and education. I enrolled in HMI Wellness, formerly known as HMI Nutrition School. HMI is one of a kind and is strictly based on 50 years of solid research.
The health and nutritional changes I have been able to make in my children's lives and mine are more than I can count. I have healed all of my symptoms and feel better and more vibrant every day!
I am constantly sharing my knowledge with coworkers, friends, neighbors, family and even random strangers I meet!
I use the knowledge from this incredibly extensive nutrition school to guide my clients, young or old, to take easy and practical steps to improving their health.
One of my gifts is that I can break down knowledge into easily digestible information so you know the WHY behind all of the health changes you or your children will make.
I keep things FUN, AUTHENTIC, and OPTIMISTIC. I empower, and your children, so that you feel ready and strong in your decision making! If you're here, you are ready to make those changes and I'm here to show you how.
The difference I make with kids.
Because of HMI Wellness, and the changes I was willing to make, I was able to start the health journey for my children while they were very young.
In 2024, a family nurse practitioner said that both of my boys were some of the HEALTHIEST children she had EVER seen.
Neither of my boys (ages 5 & 3) have been treated for ear or lung infections. They have never been on antibiotics. They LOVE eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. They are unmedicated and take daily supplements. They are happy and well nourished children that are developing wonderfully. We are thriving as a family! You WILL also see the same effects in your children.
-I HAVE-
the passion for health & working with children
the vast experience of working as a genuine & caring elementary educator for over a decade
the incredible education from HMI Wellness
the magnificent LIFE PROOF of raising two healthy & vibrant boys.
My life and health journey has been a unique one! I have been blessed with an amazing system of support. I believe that a health journey does not need to be a solo one! And to have someone you can trust, and who truly cares about you, your kids, and your health journeys is invaluable.
I have relied on a variety of people for help during my own journey — from my biological sisters, to my HMI Wellness classmates, to other moms from my spiritual community — the support I had was critical in making healthier choices for me and my boys.
And I am continuing to connect, grow and further my education through HMI and with many other like-minded and successful women and moms. I feel that having a community of support and guidance is priceless!
I KNOW you'll feel the same way about working with me and connecting within this space.
Sending you Blessings! Thanks for being here.
-Celene