In Focus | Krista Goncalves of Re:Fresh Nutrition & Making Lemonade

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
Krista Goncalves

What do you always find yourself saying?
To clients (and sometimes my family) ”Eat like your life depends on it, because it does. Eat more real food.”

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
Tosca Reno, because I want to find out the secret to how a woman in her late 50’s looks like an incredibly fit 40 year old!

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
Well, something that’s actually attainable…perhaps The Homies 2016 – blogging award

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
The French/Polish scientist Marie Curie – because she was the first female to win the Nobel Prize, twice! You go girl!

Who inspires you?
I am so inspired by other Nutrition professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit. Some Canadian supernovas that stand out are Tosca Reno, Melissa Ramos, and Joy McCarthy.

What are three things on your bucket list?
Just three? Ok, my top three would be:
To take my whole family to Australia and New Zealand for at least three months so we could be fully immersed in life down under.
To publish my first book and see it on store shelves.
To publish my second book and see it on store shelves.

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
Bet Ur Sweet Bippy

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
The day my youngest child goes to Kindergarten (September 2016). That means both kids will be in school full time and having their own adventures. Very exciting!

What are you passionate about?
Besides whipping up yummy whole foods recipes, I enjoy sharing my personal experiences about health so my clients and readers know they’re not alone and that I genuinely understand their struggles. I aim to empower them to be their own health advocate and that in turn is empowering to me to see someone take an active role in optimizing their own health. It just revs me up!

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
I know most people would give answers like “the day I married my sweetheart” and “the day my kids were born”, which those moments certainly are favourites, but another day of note in my life is the day I got my Nutritionist diploma. It was like graduating all over again, but with the correct designation! Unlike the first time I graduated from post-secondary (UBC Vancouver) with a degree in Marine Biology. I remember thinking: wow, what a waste of five years…and I didn’t even get to swim with dolphins!

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Raising two very bright, interesting little people, thus far! It was quite a thrill for me the other day when my seven-year-old said, “Mommy, can you please teach me how to make your healthy junk food?” Melted my raw-chocolate-treat-making heart!

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
Smack Dab at Manteo – I just love the cool, casual vibe and the food’s great too.

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
Hiking with the family. Kelowna has so many natural, green spaces and awe-inspiring viewpoints, so it’s nice to take it all in whenever possible. I think our favourite is Knox Mountain – it’s so accessible, even with small children.

What is the name of your business/organization?
Re:Fresh Nutrition & Making Lemonade ~ health blog

What does your business/organization do?
Offers virtual nutritional counselling (100 per cent online consultations), delivers educational seminars on various health topics, and provides health resources like meal plans, and educational articles

Where can people find you or your business online?
www.MakingLemonade.ca

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
Lemonade.Nutrition

What is your Twitter account?
@lifelemons15

How do people connect with you on Linkedin?
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/lemonadenutrition

What is your mission?
It’s two-fold: To empower my nutrition clients and blog readers to become their own health advocates. To enlighten people about not only the benefits of incorporating more whole foods into their diets, but the need to do so.

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
If it came down to accomplishing one key thing, kind of like a “legacy piece”, it would be to write a book that speaks to women 35 plus so they can understand that they’re not alone in their health struggles. From digestive issues to poor sleep to hormonal imbalances – there are better, more holistic approaches to optimizing health than being given prescriptions for anti-depressants! I would love to share all of my personal experiences and offer tangible solutions to help other women who feel like they’re in the same boat. It would be so cool to record all of this in a big, fat, shiny book! However, blogging has been a great way for me to start getting some of my health adventures and practical tips out there.

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
I hope to have created a number of practical health resources like e-books, webinars, and e-courses with “staying power” that people will continue to enjoy and find value in for years. In the few years that I’ve been consulting with Re:Fresh Nutrition and just the nine months that I’ve been blogging with Making Lemonade, I’ve observed the distinct flip-flopping nature of health trends. So I hope to tap into topics and concepts that span the years, rather than what’s simply trending this month. For example, can we expect to still be chasing recipe books on the “superfood du jour” such as kale & coconuts in the next five years? Not likely, so it would be wiser to focus on creating something like a downloadable e-course on how to “eat for your hormonal health”. Stay tuned!

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
Dr. Andrew Weil not only inspired me to personally transition toward a more holistic “whole foods” lifestyle but also to make a career shift from the fitness industry into holistic nutrition. Yes, I used to be a Fitness Trainer, Bootcamp Company Owner, and a Marine Biologist!

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Honest, trustworthy, solution-oriented

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
Well, if I had any that would mean that my business had grown! However, if I did get to the point of having some talented minds working for me, I would say: “I appreciate you.” I think that actually goes a long way in many situations.

How does your business/organization impact the community?
I try to highlight local businesses and connect with other local health practitioners because an allied health network is a beautiful thing!

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
Well, once we got over the awkwardness of being trapped in a cramped space, and got the small talk out of the way, I would hope to discover that I was in the company of wealthy health-minded forward thinkers. Then I might be so brazen as to pitch them on backing me for a world speaking tour (I love travelling!) geared to the same women who would be reading my bucket list/legacy piece book. It would be amazing to have the opportunity to actually speak to all of these amazing women in person.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
When we moved from Vancouver five years ago, we felt almost instantly at home here. It was such a noticeably different sense of community (than Vancouver). I love all of the natural beauty we get to experience right here in Kelowna as well as throughout the Okanagan, and it’s been such a great place to raise children.

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
The road repair and construction schedule. I understand and appreciate that multiple and sometimes extensive upgrades on sections of our major routes are needed, but at the same time?! It takes me nearly 20 minutes to get across town! Wait a minute; didn’t I used to live in Vancouver? Never mind. No real complaints!

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Jennifer Groen, Photographer/Artist/Ogopogo Artist

Some general comments I would like to share are:
I would like to thank KelownaNow for introducing us to interesting local talent and creative entrepreneurs who we may not otherwise get to meet. I feel so fortunate to be part of such a cool community!

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!