Healthy nutrition is more than what’s on our plates, it’s often a lifeline, a form of empowerment, and a source of hope for families navigating chronic health conditions.
My name is Maria and I’m currently serving as the ICN Parent/Family Advisory Council (PFAC) Connections co-lead. For me, this journey is deeply personal. I am the mother of two daughters who live with chronic conditions that are best managed through a careful balance of medication and nutrition. When my oldest daughter was diagnosed with type 1 juvenile diabetes, my world changed overnight. Suddenly, I wasn’t just learning how to calculate insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios, I was learning how to count carbohydrates, read food labels, and understand how different foods affected her blood sugar. Food quickly became medicine, and every meal mattered.
Years later, when my youngest daughter was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and primary sclerosing cholangitis, I found myself back at the beginning, learning all over again. Certain foods could trigger flares or exacerbate symptoms, and the celiac diagnosis introduced an added layer of fear and responsibility. Keeping her safe meant eliminating gluten entirely and ensuring there was no cross-contamination, even in our own kitchen.
I vividly remember my first grocery store trip after her diagnosis. I spent more than two hours reading labels, questioning ingredients, and second-guessing every decision. At one point, I stood in the aisle overwhelmed and in tears, afraid that I wouldn’t be able to safely feed my own child. Everything changed. Dining out was off the table for a while, and social events became stressful as we prepared food at home and brought it with us everywhere to keep her safe.
During this journey, my daughter’s GI physician introduced us to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, explaining that it might help her heal. Without hesitation, I immersed myself in learning all I could, and our journey with this diet began. It wasn’t easy, but over time, it became more manageable. Like many long journeys, there were moments when things became difficult again.
That’s when we sought additional guidance and contacted Kimberly Braly, whose expertise and support helped get my daughter back on track. Her guidance gave us clarity, confidence, and renewed hope. Today, my daughter is thriving in college, follows a gluten-free diet, and is doing incredibly well. The support and expertise Kim provided gave both my daughter and me the courage to let go, and the tools needed for her to become independent.
Along the way, I also had the privilege of meeting Ryan Van Voorhis, an individual whose story and passion for healthy eating deeply resonated with me. Ryan brings not only culinary expertise but also lived experience and a heartfelt commitment to food as a source of healing. His own journey has shaped how he approaches cooking, with compassion, intention, and a deep understanding of the real challenges families face when managing chronic conditions. His ability to create meals that are nutritious, safe, and enjoyable makes his voice an invaluable part of this event, and I am truly grateful he will be sharing his knowledge with our community.
In addition to learning from experts like Kim and Ryan, I am especially excited for members of our IBD community to become familiar with the IBD Navigation Navigator tool from the GI Nutrition Foundation. This resource is designed to help patients and families navigate nutrition, care pathways, and trusted support more confidently. Having access to reliable tools like this can make a meaningful difference, reducing overwhelm and helping individuals feel empowered to take an active role in their health journey.
To me, this moment feels like coming full circle, from feeling overwhelmed and alone in the kitchen, to gaining knowledge, support, and confidence, and now being able to help others navigate their own journeys by connecting them with experts and trusted resources.
I hope you will join us on May 31st for our Cooking Demonstration, where we will learn together, enjoy the company of our IBD community, and gain practical tools to make healthy eating feel possible and empowering. You don’t have to struggle in the kitchen alone like I once did.
Let’s cook, learn, and nourish our families together 💚💙 I look forward to seeing you there.
ℹ️ The ICN PFAC 🍴 Cooking Demo Series is coproduced and co-hosted by members of the ICN Parent/Family Advisory Council and the GI Nutrition Foundation. This series was created especially for the IBD community to learn about Nutrition Therapy together. Events are free and open to all members of the IBD community.
⬇️ Download this May 31 Cooking Demo flyer so you can easily share details about this event, our co-hosts & guest chef, as well as a QR code for quick access to the event page!
Everything we do in ImproveCareNow is magnified by the efforts of thousands of improvers! No action is too small; here are some ways to get started:
💚 Join the Patient Advisory Council (patients with IBD who are 14+)
💙 Join the Parent/Family Advisory Council (parents/caregivers of young people with IBD)
💚 Participate in our Current Research Opportunities (subject to eligibility)
💙 RSVP to join us at one of our upcoming ICN events
💚 Subscribe to blog updates to stay #InTheLOOP with our IBD stories
💙 Download, use & share our free, co-produced IBD resources
💚 Connect with our welcoming & supportive pediatric IBD community and receive IBD resources, community stories, and ICN updates & opportunities
💙 Donate to ImproveCareNow – we are proud to use every dollar donated to advance our mission!
Our mission is to transform the health, care and costs for all children and adolescents with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD) by building a sustainable collaborative chronic care network.
