Meet Jen Paleracio of Lean Bellas Kitchen in West Dupage County – Glendale Heights

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Paleracio.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Since I was a little girl I’ve been passionate about food. My favorite toys were tea cups, pots, and pan. My grandma used to buy those toy kitchen utensil for me and I pretended I was cooking. I picked the flowers from her garden and pretended they were my ingredients. I acted as I was a cooking teacher, teaching a class on how to cut their vegetables.

Now that I’m a lot older – I still love to cook. I use this innate gift to create simple, quick, healthy but flavorful recipes. I fearlessly dream to be a cooking teacher – but too often, we stop dreaming especially when we become an adult and our responsibilities get in the way of our child-like free thinking mind.

Many years ago I used to own a specialty bakeshop. I created hundreds of wedding cakes and I enjoyed the creativity that went into decorating those cakes. However, I thought this was part of my dream – but I was wrong. My health took a toll on me, I was always tired and very stressed. At that the time my daughter was only 2 years old, she was a terrible 2 – but she’s a sweetheart now that she’s 14. I was constantly juggling to keep the business going and attending to my family’s need. I really let go of myself, I was 60 pounds overweight, had no energy and always at the emergency hospital almost every weekend. I couldn’t understand what’s going on – the emergency room became my relaxing place. So I thought to myself – this is not the way I would like to live my life.

So I decided it’s time for a change. My husband and I gave up the business and we seriously thought about improving our health. When I said giving up everything – I mean starting from the bottom again. We live in an apartment for a couple of years, my husband worked 2 jobs and I worked part-time at a local bakery store. Although we lost things we didn’t lose hope. We are still grateful for what we have and for the love and support of our family. My husband and I started exercising and we eat clean food – whole nutritious foods. We stop buying junks, we started drinking pure water instead of soda, and we stay away from refined sugar. I read tons of books about health and I participated in many clean eating challenges. I went deeper about health and wellness, I went back to school and studied Health Coaching. I lost 60 pounds – it’s been 7 years now and I kept the weight off.

I’m now a Certified Health and Wellness Coach and a Healthy Cooking Instructor, but I’m a mom first to 2 wonderful girls.

I started to Fearlessly Dream again. I received my Certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN). I studied under world-renowned thinkers and game changers in the holistic world such as Joshua Rosenthal, Dr. Andrew Weil, Joel Fuhrman MD, Walter Willett MD, Deepak Chopra, David Wolfe and Barry Seras Ph.D. – just to name the few. In comprehensive curriculum covers over 100 dietary theories and combines counseling techniques with real-world business training. Its unique nutrition philosophy takes a holistic approach to wellness and encourages scholars to consider relationships, study, practice, and spirituality as essential to building good health.

I’m excited to share with you that I will be teaching the Cooking Classes and Health and Wellness program in one of the local districts for their Community Education Program this Winter. I was a little teary the other day when I received the teacher’s list – so happy to see my name on their schedule list. I’m motivated to constantly develop my skills and grow professionally. I am confident in my ability to come up with interesting ideas for healthy cooking to help empower individuals with skills that will help them prepare delicious and healthy foods at home. I love to share some of what I’ve learned, both from my personal journey as well as from my education, experience, and numerous mentors in the field of health and wellness.

I also have an online Health and Wellness Coaching Business, you may visit my virtual home at www.leanbellaskitchen.com and check out my Free eCookbook and programs.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest challenge I had was waking up in the morning afraid to face the day. When I had my bakeshop – I didn’t have the stamina to conquer the day. The responsibilities back then felt like a big rock that crushed my mental focus and I felt so powerless. The chronic fatigue due to being overweight and the constant seeking for a way out by emotionally eating made the day so dreadful.

I learned the hard way….but I’m grateful for the lessons that it brought to my life now.

Please tell us about Lean Bellas Kitchen.
Lean Bellas Kitchen is an online Health Coaching business. I teach individuals the simple steps they can implement to Eat Well, Reduce Stress, and improve their health.

I strongly believe that “health starts in the kitchen”. Healthy Cooking is about simplicity and good flavors. It’s about learning simple cooking techniques that empower individuals to have confidence in working around the kitchen to create the most enjoyable foods that the whole family enjoys. Learn how to meal prep without the fuss that’s full of good health. Discover a healthier family!

There are specific goals that most people want in their life. Perhaps they want more energy and are tired of always being tired. Maybe they have those nagging sweet cravings that they can’t seem to get under control. Or, perhaps it’s time to finally figure out how to look and feel great in their own body.

As a Health Coach, my clients love that I support them to make step-by-step changes to their food and lifestyle so that they can achieve a sustainable long-lasting result.

My programs are for someone who’s ready to make some real changes in their lives and learn how to reach their goals. I provide a free initial consultation available in person or by phone that allows them to:
1. Identify their health goals and what they always imagined for their life.
2. Figure out what they truly want to accomplish long-term for themselves and maybe even their family.
3. Understand how they may be getting in their own way of reaching these goals.
4. They will have the opportunity to talk about their life, what they’ve always dreamed of and the goals they’d like to accomplish for their health. It’s an opportunity to be heard and to get a sense of what it feels like to have more support in their lives. They will also learn how to reach those goals by working with me in my health coaching programs.

I have received very detailed and careful instruction on how to counsel others. Being a Certified Health and Wellness Coach – gave me the opportunity to increase my skills and learn, in a formal training program, how to live a better life through eating well and taking care of myself. It’s an exciting time for me!

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I vividly remember playing with my toy pots and pan and pretending to be a healthy cooking teacher. My grandparents raised me, the love and support they gave me are so precious in my heart. I remember going to the market early in the morning with my grandma to get the freshest ingredients for our dinner. They were fresh string beans, squash, lots of greens, rice, and eggs.

Pricing:

• Private Cooking Classes $12/person
• Group Health Coaching Programs $10/person
• Online 4 Week Self Guided Program “What’s For Dinner” $27
• 3 Month Health Coaching Program $97/session
• For online cooking classes – email us at jenpaleracio@leanbellaskitchen.com

Contact Info:

• Website: www.leanbellaskitchen.com
• Phone: 630 777-0897
• Email: jenpaleracio@leanbellaskitchen.com
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/leanbellaskitchen/
• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/leanbellaskitchen/
• Other:https://www.pinterest.com/leanbellas/pins/

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