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Interview with Julie O’Brien, NTP
Julie O’Brien is a Nutrition Therapy Practitioner and Small Business Owner based out of Seattle, Washington.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN NTP?
I wanted to be able to share the joy of being healthy with people.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHY YOU CHOSE NTA FOR YOUR HOLISTIC NUTRITION EDUCATION?
I LOVED the holistic and food centered approach to health and healing.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND WHY?
The instructors were amazing and ahead of their time with respect to sharing research. For example, people have just started to talk about studies that they shared with us in class 10 years ago. The connection between nutrition and health is so huge. So many doctors are still unaware of this very basic fact.
HOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY USING THE EDUCATION YOU RECEIVED THROUGH THE NTA?
The information, and product, we provide to our customers is grounded in my NTA education – with a focus on digestion.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.
For two years I worked with friends and family while I was fermenting at home and considering starting a business but for the last 7 years it’s been pretty much running and growing Firefly Kitchens.
IS THERE ANY ADVICE YOU CAN SHARE WITH NEW GRADUATES?
Go out into the world and share what you learned with everyone! You will find clients or the perfect job and if you don’t, then start your own business.
WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE CLIENT SUCCESSES THUS FAR?
When a mother learned that I was the owner of Firefly Kitchens, she gave me the biggest hug and told me that she got her 6 year old off of prescriptions laxatives by eating 1 tablespoon of our sauerkraut a day. This type of story makes my heart sing.
WERE THERE ANY HEALTH CHALLENGES YOU WERE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCING PRIOR TO ENROLLING IN THE PROGRAM?
Not really, just some basic digestion challenges.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH JOURNEY IN APPLYING THE PROGRAM’S CONCEPTS TO YOUR OWN SITUATION AS YOU WERE GOING THROUGH THE CURRICULUM?
I think most people have experience with digestion issues and if they don’t, they are just likely unaware of it. Its seems like throughout my NTA course, I learned a little nutritional nugget each week that added to my expanding knowledge. When I applied it to my life, I just felt better. For example, learning that salivary amylase is present in saliva to begin the breakdown of carbohydrates and flooding them with water (ie drinking during a meal) is not a smart decision. Now I rarely ever drink liquids during a meal.
WHAT ARE A FEW OF YOUR GO-TO SNACKS?
I love coconut oil roasted yams/sweet potatoes with cinnamon. They are a great snack when I want something slightly sweet and chewy. I’ll make a bunch at a time and have them to nibble on during the week cold. I also love apples with almond butter and of course the amazing avocado.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE TREAT OR INDULGENCE?
Coconut Manna or good quality coconut butter.
WHAT’S THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?
Gut, by Giulia Enders
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO IS THINKING ABOUT BECOMING AN NTP/NTC?
Just do it! You will have such a solid understanding of digestion that will serve you, and hopefully so many more, for the rest of your life.
You can find out more about Julie and her company, Firefly Kitchens, by visiting www.fireflykitchens.com.
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