Speaker Food Allergy Industry Consultant

You are here: Home / About the founder

About the founder

Let’s talk about real-life resources, fun things, and finding solutions for food allergies, anaphylaxis, and asthma.

Meet me…

I’m Caroline.  Below is the list of where I speak and the things that I did and still do.  But…I am the mother of two college students with asthma and food allergies. Those two lumps of love ignited my passion for advocating for all things related to food allergy, asthma, and lung health. Social justice for me translates into the need for state and federal legislation and school policy to support and protect students managing food allergies and lung health, including access to healthcare, medications, and community. Including the importance of the food industry understanding the needs of the food allergy community.

I never trust the first thing I hear and must research everything. I love people and laugh quite a bit. I sometimes talk too much. I bake better than I cook. I love a good garage sale and thrifting.  I  will dig in my heels when necessary, but hug openly and freely.

I am grateful for everything in my life.

Speaker/Panelist/Presentor

Media…

These make me proud and grateful for the opportunity…

  • Patient Advisory Panel-Institute of Medicine
  • Ignite Reno food allergy 101 presentation (in a night club!)
  • National Conference of State Legislators co-presenter, “Protecting People with Life Threatening Food Allergies”
  • Lead Advocate for AB158 Entity Epinephrine Law in Nevada
  • Lead Advocate for SB453 Epinephrine in Nevada Schools
  • Washoe County School District-Nevada co-wrote Management of Students with Food Anaphylaxis Guideliens
  • Circle of Moms Top 25 Food Allergy Mom Blogger
  • FAAN Kid’s Conference adult participant

Things  I do past and present…

  • Institute of Medicine – Patient Advisory Panel
  • Volunteer Washoe County School District Food Allergy Committee
  • Kyle Dine and Friends, Food Allergy Video Advisor
  • Food Allergy Research and Education Advocacy Committee
  • Love Remembers Day Planning Committee
  • Co-founder and co-group leader, Northern Nevada asthma and Food Allergy Parent Education Group
  • Marketing and Social Media Committee, American Lung Association, National
  • Past Chairs and Chair Elect Assembly, American Lung Association, National
  • Advocacy Work group, American Lung Association National
  • Past Secretary/Treasurer, American Lung Association Corporate Board of Directors, Southwest Region
  • Past Chair, American Lung Association in Northern Nevada
  • Past Trustee, Coral Academy of Science, Reno, NV Board of Directors
  • Past FANN Kid’s Congress on Capitol Hill participate and current FARE advocate
  • Key Informant Panel, Blue Shield Blue Cross Foundation
  • American Lung Association Advocate Nevada

Grateful foodie

I chose the name Grateful foodie after I asked a dear friend what I should name my blog.  She said, “of course, the gratefulfoodie”!  She explained, “you love food, you show your love with it and food is how you bridged the gap to normalcy for your food allergic kids.”  I am very grateful for the foods that my children can eat.

The Past

In my previous life before raising a family, I earned a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, worked in boutique hotels, have trained all over the world. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, am a city girl at heart, currently enjoying the outdoor beauty of Northern Nevada and the Sierras with my husband and children.

Please Note: As always, consult with your physician before you make changes to the management of any health condition. Gratefulfoodie does not endorse any of the businesses or organizations listed and has not received payment to list these resources.  My goal is to help you find tools that might make life easier.

Gratefulfoodie
Speaker | Food Allergy Industry Consultant

caroline@gratefulfoodie.com