Projects
Nuture By Nature Inc.
Meet the Founder
Alana Hunnicutt-Carroll also known as Chef Alana, is
a Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) warrior of over 25 years and a proud Advocate of the chronic kidney disease Community.
Alana is a two time living donor kidney transplant recipient receiving her first kidney transplant from her brother and her second (current) kidney transplant from her husband, a former dialysis patient, a mom of two and a wife.
Alana has been chef for 19 years and counting, and owns her own catering business Klean Plate Catering, LLC since 2012.
As you can imagine launching Nurture by Nature inc. is near and dear to her heart and what she considers a “passion project”.
Alana over-stands the importance of diet, food consumption, and nurturing our bodies with clean eating. She not only relates to her fellow ckd warriors, but she also grew up in the underserved, disadvantaged communities she will serve. Alana learned the majority of people living in these communities chronic diseases stem from hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes. Both diseases can lead to potential kidney failure and dialysis. While there are many cases like her own who suffer from chronic kidney disease (ckd) without a history of diabetes or high blood pressure or poor diet she knows what we consume still plays a major role in how our bodies deal with chronic diseases.
There are several stages of kidney failure and kidney disease. Each stage as well as dialysis and kidney transplant requires its own food therapy in order to support dietary needs. Alana has experienced every stage and understands the importance of closely following ones diet therapy.
Meet the founder continued
While on dialysis, Alana witnessed so many patients struggle with their health and maintaining stable labs due to poor eating choices. Alana stated “I couldn’t help but notice most food choices were processed foods, and foods high in salt and sugar.” Alana also noticed at the two dialysis facilities where she received her dialysis treatments that the immediate food options right outside of the dialysis center and at-least 10-15 minutes out were nothing but fast food and Chinese carry outs. Alana said “Every time I was done with my dialysis treatment (it strips you of everything) I’d be very hungry and wanted to eat immediately after. If you don’t prepare your meals to bring along with you, it’s very easy to go with an unhealthy choice that seems to always be in reach. Once my health was stable, and being a Chef, I knew I was called to use my gift and share my passion to nurture and serve the underserved and disadvantaged through food dietary therapy.