We had the good fortune of connecting with Timaree Hagenburger and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Timaree, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After teaching college for more than 2 decades, and speaking around the country, I discovered an opportunity when our world was turned upside down. Although I had been teaching at least one online class each semester, up until the shift to remote learning, the instructional format had been asynchronous. When I abruptly transitioned my in-person classes to Zoom, I quickly realized the mountain of untapped potential. Now, instead of my students being restricted to a specific geographic area and limited by schedule conflicts, I could make meaningful connections and be able to “see” my students in their homes (or cars), from my home with a few clicks! I knew that I could reach more people by creating an interactive community utilizing an online platform, and one that would persist well beyond the end of a traditional semester. I also do individual Dietitian Nutrition Coaching online, and through that work, I see the need for a community of support with many voices, variety life experience and diverse perspectives. I didn’t want to be limited by the confines of an educational institution juggling multiple priorities. Just like when I wrote my book, The Foodie Bar Way, I chose to self publish it because I wanted to ensure that the decisions about what to include were not influenced by a publisher or editor. The results have been something I stand behind. I saw the impact bringing that book into people’s kitchen had made and had to take it to the next level and beyond… and truly bring The Foodie Bar Way to LIFE! The community that I created, The Foodie Bar Way of Life, aligns with everything that I have ever done up until this point – my education, work experience, hobbies, family life, everything. I truly believe that this is what I am here for, and it will be my legacy. Our members are making loving the food and living a life that loves them back their “new normal” and having fun doing it!
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I grew up as a little Italian girl, in the kitchen with my parents and grandparents. We showed love with food, but didn’t realize at the time that the food we loved, didn’t love us back. Our family members suffered with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, gastrointestinal issues, diabetes and dementia. We thought all of this was simply part of the aging process, and even though my mom and I were both dietitians, we hadn’t fully appreciated the link between the food choices we were making and the negative health outcomes. We thought we were eating “well” as we were eating a lot of chicken and ground turkey, baking instead of frying and consuming low-fat/non-fat dairy products. We had no idea that we were missing out on the benefits offered by a plant-based whole food eating pattern. Once I began diving into the research and transitioned my own eating habits, and began to share it with my college students, I was astonished by the results. Now, twelve years later, I still “walk the talk” and have been able to create a way to share my heart and knowledge, both scientific and practical, to help others improve the quality of their lives through simple daily decisions around food and wellness. The Foodie Bar Way of Life is about being part of a group of individuals that makes having a healthy lifestyle so enjoyable, doable and normal, that the thought of turning back never even crosses our minds!
Being in business for myself is far from easy! The “back of the house” business tasks/responsibilities are challenging. I keep Marie Forleo’s quote in my mind “Everything is Figure-Out-Able” as long as I keep moving. I have also found support through online business mentors and masterminds, as these solopreneur adventures can be quite lonely at times! It is fun and productive to share resources and brainstorm possible solutions when we face challenges.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely take my friend to Melbourne to the beach and a bite to eat at the Paisley Vegan! Then, we’d head up to St. Augustine’s Amphitheater for a concert! I’d make sure that we’d catch a live performer next to the water in Disney Springs and have fun walking and window shopping. Visiting Leu’s Gardens would a wonderful way to spend a few hours, as the shade provided by the foliage and tropical landscapes transport you to a place far away from the city. Then, we’d either grab an Acai bowl at Create Your Nature in Winter Park or some amazing Ethiopian food from the Yene Romay Ethiopian Kitchen food truck! If she was here on a Wednesday night, we’d head up to The Veranda for the Vegan Market, and if the timing was just right, we may be able to visit Lake Eola on a Saturday for one of Orlando Bearded Vegan’s events next to Persimmon Brewing Company.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my parents. My mom was a fellow registered dietitian in the early part of her work life and fostered my curiosity when it came to nutrition and human physiology, as well as my caring approach to others. My father’s work ethic and investigative nature, especially when he discovers a new area of interest, set the tone for my own commitment to fully showing up to fulfill my responsibilities and drive to keep learning. Together, their steadfast support for all that I do and the way they exemplify persistence and resilience in their own lives serves as a great reservoir of strength for me.
Website: thenutritionprofessor.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_thenutritionprofessor/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timaree-hagenburger/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNutritionProfessor/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hagenbt/videos
Other: https://tinyurl.com/FoodieBarWayofLife