Success is not immediate. We all want to find success but often success does not come right away. There is a lot of trial and error when it comes to finding a method that works out.The failures have always taught me an important lesson and that we can’t always get it right on the first try. Time and experience have helped me to be better for my clients each and every day.
Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Becca Romero.
Becca Romero is a dietitian and the founder of Little Life Nutrition, an online fertility nutrition practice. With a specialized focus on addressing infertility, she offers personalized dietary and lifestyle solutions for women aiming to enhance their conception potential and ensure the birth of a healthy baby. Driven by the philosophy that optimal preconception nutrition and lifestyle can shape the well-being of generations to come, Becca is committed to empowering mothers-to-be for a healthier tomorrow.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
Thank you for having me! I didn’t always know in what direction I wanted to take my career. After graduating college with a bachelors of arts, I was more confused than ever about what I wanted to do with my life and my career. Before my career in nutrition, I was not a healthy eater as a child and young adult. Let’s just say I lived on pizza and chicken nuggets and vegetables were not even a thought that crossed my mind. Once I was out on my own as a recent college graduate, I realized I needed to start making better food choices to support my health. After making some pretty drastic diet and lifestyle changes, I was astounded by how energized and vibrant I felt. I found myself researching nutrition in my spare time. I started to feel a very strong pull to make a career out of my interest in nutrition. I decided to go back to school to get a masters in nutrition. I graduated in 2020 with a masters of science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine with dreams of one day owning my own practice. I am now certified as a Certified Nutrition Specialist and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist. While in practice at a local Chicago clinic, I encountered clients facing the challenging issue of infertility. It was in these cases that I discovered a passion for assisting women in their dream of becoming mothers. It was this passion that sparked the creation of Little Life Nutrition. During a global pandemic, the idea of an online practice made the most sense. I now wake up every day, excited to help women tackle infertility, a health issue that is on the rise and in great need of attention.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
When I first began my journey as a nutrition business owner, I was very confident in my ability to assist my clients. Nevertheless, the one aspect where I felt utterly lost was in actually running my business. I adopted a trial-and-error approach when it came to establishing the business, developing a website, selecting the technology to use, and much more. I encountered numerous setbacks that consumed both my time and money. I came to the realization that my expertise lay in nutrition rather than in managing a business. Consequently, I made the decision to enlist the services of a business coach to help me in the areas where I was struggling. This move allowed me to acquire valuable insights from an expert on the business side of things, enabling me to streamline my operations and become more proficient in my work. The lesson I learned from this experience is that it’s impossible to be an expert in all areas, and you don’t know what you don’t know. I learned to seek assistance from other professionals and that it is advantageous to invest in experts who can help you in areas outside of your expertise.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I love this question because I truly believe that the only way we can learn is by hitting a few bumps in the road. I often tell my clients that I love when they make mistakes because there is always a lesson to be learned and mistakes are what helps us grow. The biggest mistake that I made when first starting out was having my clients pay by the hour for my time and not requiring a commitment to work with me. I soon realized that making changes to diet and lifestyle is an extremely difficult feat, especially if there is no commitment tied to it. I wasn’t seeing the results I wanted in my business and my clients were not as successful as I’d hope they would be. I then shifted my model to requiring my clients to commit to a package that included a set number of sessions. With my clients making a bigger upfront financial commitment to improve their health, they actually stuck with regular sessions.As a result, they were able to reach their goals more easily. Additionally, using this model, I witnessed greater success in my business as well. Win win! From this I learned making small tweaks in the way I operate my business can lead to more success for everyone involved.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
I have a very specific focus within health and wellness. I help women improve their diet and lifestyle in order to plan for a healthy pregnancy or improve their chances of conceiving if they are dealing with infertility. By providing diet and lifestyle guidance for mothers-to-be, I can help to play a role in shaping the health of future generations. By helping mothers optimize their diets before conception, they can enhance the chances of a healthy pregnancy and reduce the risk of complications. Empowering women to learn how to optimize their health empowers mothers to provide a nourishing environment for their developing babies, encouraging a positive foundation for the well-being of future generations. My goal is to foster generational health and empower families with the tools they need to thrive.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
Absolutely! My tips pertain to fertility but can apply to anyone looking to live a healthier lifestyle.
1 . Incorporate a colorful food in each and every meal.
Colorful foods contain powerful compounds called antioxidants. These compounds can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in our bodies. Oxidative stress and inflammation can take a toll on our reproductive cells and making sure antioxidants are included in abundance in our diets can help combat that. The color palette of our meals tends to be pretty bland. Spice it up by adding a side of berries, broccoli or even a red cabbage slaw!
2 . Don’t skip breakfast.
Intermittent fasting is so popular in the health and wellness space. However, when it comes to women trying to conceive and menstruating women in general, this practice can be detrimental to hormones. In order to conceive both stress hormones and sex hormones need to be in perfect harmony and skipping breakfast (or meals in general) can lead to an imbalance. Skipping breakfast can put you at risk of nutrient deficiencies and the perinatal period is the most nutrient requiring stage of life. Additionally, removing the breakfast meal may lead to inadequate overall energy intake which may lead the body to feel it does not have enough energy to grow a baby and sustain another life. Go ahead and enjoy your breakfast!
3. Filter your water and remineralize it with electrolytes. Filtering your water removes impurities and contaminants, ensuring that the water you drink is safe and free from harmful substances. However, the process of filtering your water also removes important electrolytes that help you stay hydrated and energized throughout the day. I recommend drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water and adding a zero sugar electrolyte supplement daily to your water to make sure you are getting adequate minerals.
4 . Increase your fiber intake.
Gut health is extremely important for our overall health and fertility. When it comes to fertility, a diet rich in fiber can have several positive effects: Foods high in fiber can help regulate blood sugar levels. This can, in turn, help stabilize hormonal fluctuations, which are crucial for regular menstrual cycles and optimal fertility. Additionally, fiber aids in regular bowel movements and prevents constipation or other digestive abnormalities. A healthy digestive system can help eliminate waste and excess hormones effectively, which is beneficial for reproductive health.
5 . Get sunlight in the morning and keep things dark at night.
Our bodies have a natural, internal clock called the circadian rhythm. It regulates our sleep-wake cycle, hormone production, and overall well-being. Getting sunlight in the morning is very important because it lets our internal clock know that it’s time to be awake and active. Exposure to natural light in the morning helps to regulate the body’s internal clock, improving sleep quality and overall health.
Tips to get sunlight in the morning include:
1. Start your day with a short walk or outdoor activity to absorb natural light and fresh air.
2. Keep curtains or blinds open to allow sunlight to enter your living space in the morning.
3. If possible, have your morning meal on the porch or in the garden to enjoy the benefits of morning sunlight.
Conversely, minimizing blue light exposure at night is just as important. Blue light, emitted by screens and artificial lighting, can disrupt our circadian rhythm by signaling to the brain that it’s daytime, making it harder to fall asleep.
Tips to reduce blue light exposure at night include:
1. Use blue light filters on electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, and computers.
2. Replace bright, white lights with warmer, dimmer options in the evening to signal to your body that it’s time to wind down.
3. Activate night mode on your devices, which reduces blue light emissions.
When we align our daily routines with our circadian rhythm by getting sunlight in the morning and keeping things dark at night, we can improve sleep, mood,overall health and fertility. This simple adjustment can have a positive impact by helping us feel more energized and restored on a daily basis.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
The movement I would love to start is the use of non-toxic cookware and food storage.. In our modern world, we are exposed to so many toxins. When it comes to reducing exposure, this can be done by how we cook our food and how we store our food. Non-stick cookware, such as Teflon-coated pots and pans, has been connected with cancer and reproductive issues. Additionally, storing and microwaving food in plastic, which is all too common, also poses a risk to our health. Cooking and storing materials such as cast iron, stainless steel, and glass are all safe alternatives. I believe a movement toward non-toxic cookware and food storage could drastically improve the health of the population.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
- Building a strong network is key. I have always valued relationships, however I discovered just how important having a strong network is in the fertility space. I wish I would have invested more time upfront learning from other professionals. My professional network has truly taught me so much!
- Having a work life balance is extraordinarily important. When running a business, the lines are blurred when it comes to business and personal time. When you are passionate about your business and what you do, this can lead to an extreme focus on business and not enough focus on recharging. I have learned that when you fill up your own cup first, it is easier to focus and be a better business owner and support system for my clients.
- There will never be a “right time” to start. Before starting a business, I was always thinking about the right time and the right stage of my life to start. After waiting longer than I wish I would have, I took a leap of faith and just went for it in the thick of a busy season of life. While it was chaotic, I look back on it as one of the best decisions I ever made,
- Success is not immediate. We all want to find success but often success does not come right away. There is a lot of trial and error when it comes to finding a method that works out.The failures have always taught me an important lesson and that we can’t always get it right on the first try. Time and experience have helped me to be better for my clients each and every day.
- Resourcefulness is key. Undoubtedly you will face great challenges in life, business, and health. Being resourceful enables you to adapt to changing circumstances, overcome challenges, and provide support to others.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
I believe mental health is so important, especially now in 2023 when mental health is becoming a huge problem and is on the rise. I see my clients day to day lives being impacted by poor mental health. Women who are dealing with infertility are facing an especially unique mental health challenge. When it comes to mental health issues brought on by the stress of infertility or maybe even dealing with a miscarriage, an immense amount of support is needed. I am a huge proponent of therapy. I always recommend my clients see a therapist specializing in fertility in order to get the best care for their unique situation. I am excited to see therapy and discussions around mental health becoming normalized. I would encourage anyone who is dealing with a mental challenge to seek support from a therapist or other mental health professional.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
If you would like to learn more about the service offer you can visit my website. Additionally check out my blog and follow me on Instagram @littlelifenutrition, where I share tips and tricks to improve fertility. I would love to connect with you!
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
