Hi, I'm Jess!
I’m a nutrition educator, mom, and the creator of Teacha Jess! I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Nutrition Sciences and more than 10 years of experience working in corporate nutrition and wellness. Along the way, I’ve also worked in a preschool and spent several months working with children and adults in Africa, which is actually where the name “Teacha Jess” began.
Through all of those experiences, I’ve found that what I love most is taking nutrition science and making it something people can actually understand and use. Now, with Teacha Jess, I get to bring that same approach to kids by helping them learn about food and their bodies in a way that feels positive, curious, and fun.
Why Teacha Jess?
I grew up as the bigger kid in my family, and from a young age, my weight was a constant conversation. I was put on diets and learned pretty early that my body was something that needed to be changed.
That experience affected more than my relationship with food and my body. Sometimes, real health concerns were viewed through the lens of my weight. Being an active kid who struggled with my breathing, I wasn't diagnosed with asthma until I was 29, after spending much of my childhood being told that losing weight was the answer.
Now, as a mom and a nutrition educator, I think a lot about the messages we give our kids about food, health, and their bodies. I know parents want their children to be healthy. I do too. But I believe we can teach healthy behaviors without making a child's body or weight the focus.
That's a huge part of why I created Teacha Jess. I want kids to learn about nutrition through curiosity and education. What does food do for my body? Why do I need different kinds of foods? How does movement help me? What makes my body feel good?
Weight can change. Their relationship with food can last a lifetime.
My goal with Teacha Jess is to help kids build that relationship through curiosity, confident, and a whole lot of fun.