Kristine Valenzuela
Organically Yours!Who I Am: Hi Bargain Mamas! I am Kristine Valenzuela. Born a California girl, I grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia for most of my life until relocating to sunny San Diego almost 15 years ago. I waited until later in life to finish my business management degree at University of Phoenix while working full time and having a small child to care for. Crazy? Yes. Rewarding? Completely! I'm a mom to two insanely cute girls: Stephanie, 13, and Sophie, nearly 3. My husband, Eddie, completes our family picture. We don't have any pets yet unless you include dust bunnies! For as long as I can remember, food has always been a big part of my life, from our big family celebrations to being involved in the local catering scene for many years. I knew I had found my calling when the first meal I ever cooked at age 10 was stuffed Cornish game hen with wild rice (it turned out good)! After my girls came along, food took on a different meaning, and the importance of watching what we eat became a bigger priority. While I do believe occasional indulgence should never be frowned upon, I owe it to my kids to teach them a better way of eating and, ultimately, a better way of living. That's why I became so interested in all-things-organic. On a personal level, I believe organics are free of a lot of unnecessary components that are part of conventionally-grown produce and meats making them "cleaner". Based on what I have come to know, organics are just one small part of leading a healthier existence and it's what I have chosen for myself and my family whenever possible. Today's kids are tomorrow's leaders, so it's important to teach them how to get the most from their life so they can enjoy it as much and for as long as possible. My love of food and dream of owning my own business came together recently and I started Green Kernel, an organic gourmet popcorn business. Considering that everyone loves popcorn, I created unique, savory and sweet flavors that are both tasty and healthful! You can find me touting the goodness of Green Kernel at the Little Italy Mercato every Saturday from 9 am to 1:30 pm. My Goal: While I do not claim to be an expert on the subject, I love participating in discussions about food (especially popcorn), organics, and healthful foods. I love sharing what I have learned and what I have still yet to learn, with the hope that everyone I talk to can research their ideas on the subject and draw their own conclusions about the organic debate. In general, I would love to have a hand in spreading enough knowledge and ideas to help fight off the rise of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, all in the name of keeping kids and their parents healthy. Have questions or comments? Email me at Columnists@SanDiegoBargainMama.com and reference the "Organically Yours" column! Email: thegreenkernel@gmail.com |
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