Changes Are Coming!

If you have been following along in my Instagram stories over the past few days, you know that I have been scoping out all the gluten-free, dairy-free eats in Austin, Texas.

Here are the places I went:

• Casa de Luz (so nutritious and unique!)
• Picnik Austin (Rooibos Chai without maple or whey- perfect for my sensitive system!)
• Thai Fresh (gluten-free, plus meats raised without hormones or antibiotics- yes, please!)
• Wheatsville Co-Op (they put Portland co-ops to shame with their incredible selection of fresh ready-to-eat food)
• Perla’s (fancy seafood restaurant that was extremely accommodating in making certain dishes gluten-free and dairy-free for us- the Little Gem Lettuce Mint Salad is PHENOMENAL!)
• Wild Wood Bakehouse (100% gluten-free- was perfect for getting a grilled chicken salad to take to the airport)

But this trip wasn’t just about food. It was about apartment hunting. In early January, I will be moving from my beloved home city of Portland, OR.

Portland, Oregon

I never imagined I would leave Portland- it is HOME and always will be. It is where my most incredible family and best friends live.

It’s where I can eat out in every quadrant of the city despite lots of food sensitivities (here are some of my favorite spots in Portland!).

I love everything about Portland (well, other than the fact that I’m freezing cold from September through June!).

Why The Change?

A combination of factors aligned to make me reconsider. Primarily, career + health.

The honest truth is that the nutrition industry is pitiful when it comes to career opportunities (especially anything that pays a professional or even livable salary). And forget about anything in gut health (my passion) unless you want to start your own business (which I did!).

But there are so many people that desperately need help with personalized nutrition. Especially when it comes to digestive disorders and autoimmune diseases. I am so passionate about helping because I know firsthand how debilitating and frustrating it is to have these conditions.

I was willing to make many personal sacrifices because I wanted people to know that there was hope and I was there to guide them- to be that person I wished had been there to help me through my toughest years of health struggles.

I gained the respect of experts in the SIBO & IBS community and was honored that they felt comfortable referring their patients to me for nutrition consulting and personal chef services.

I went above and beyond for every client who came through my (mostly virtual) door. And the warm and fuzzy feelings I got from making a difference in their lives kept me going for more than two years.

If you were a client and want to show your appreciation, please write about your experience working together on Yelp or Google.

I kept my prices as low as possible because I know costs add up quickly with chronic illness. I was also not willing to sacrifice my moral integrity by spamming you with every new online summit to make commissions.

But at the end of the day, it was my health and pocket book that suffered. I developed chronic fatigue syndrome (I am currently on the mend and will share how I turned it around in the future!) and had days where I had to drink 4 cups of green tea to BARELY make it through a 5 hour work day. It was debilitating.

During this time, I was also doing work outside my business (for a food blog) to help provide financial stability and learn new skills. Although I intended for it to be a temporary gig to compliment my business, it became more.

And now even more.

In my new role in Austin, I will be utilizing both my business and nutrition backgrounds. I’m excited for sunshine️, learning, and all of the growth that will come from getting outside my comfort zone.

The Future of Bridgetown Nutrition

I’ll continue creating recipes for my own website and sharing helpful discoveries along my personal health journey.

You may see advertisements on my site in the future to help cover the costs of keeping my website alive and well!

I hope to continue offering solutions for chronic illness, but at a pace that allows me to take care of myself as well.

I’m a firm believer in the saying “take care of yourself so that you are better equipped to help others.”

Now it’s time to pack up all my belongings and get settled in my new home!

The Next Three Weeks!

But first, I am off to spend 3 very much needed weeks relaxing in the Caribbean.

You can bet that I’ll be sharing all about the delicious foods I find there!