Kaila Feves, CHHC
Functional Nutritionist | Chef | Certified Holistic Health Coach
My journey towards health has evolved over the years – and it continues even today. I’ve struggled with food sensitivities, debilitating SIBO, candida, unexplained hives, hormone imbalance, struggles getting pregnant and more. Through all of the struggles I have been misdiagnosed, misunderstood, misinformed, misled and stuck in a system that couldn’t help me feel better. There is nothing more frustrating than feeling like you are trapped in your body and nobody can hear you, help you feel better or understand what is going on. My own experiences struggling with our modern healthcare system is what powers me to help others find health and healing for themselves using a more functional and holistic approach. If you are feeling trapped, there is another way!
In 2008, I left a blossoming career in advertising to pursue my passion of becoming a chef. Shortly after starting on this new path, my constant struggle to feel healthy was undeniable. I began to feel awful. Sudden weight gain was coupled with stomach pains, digestive, issues, brain fog and several other new and strange symptoms. My body became a prison I didn’t recognize or know how to escape. I began scouring the internet for answers, only finding myself even more confused. I felt lost, misunderstood and unsure about where to turn next.
After ‘the system’ failed me over and over again, I finally set to work with a health coach who helped me recognize that, like countless Americans, I was suffering from sensitivities to food. For me, it was gluten, dairy and soy.
While the diagnosis of various food sensitivities initially felt daunting, I was delighted that my culinary training assisted me in developing new and better versions of tradition family recipes. These “safe” recipes brought joy back to our family meals.
This is what ultimately in 2010 led to the opening of Eena Kadeena, Portland’s popular gluten, dairy, corn and soy-free bakery. After years owning a successful business which included recipe development, creating baking mixes, catering, daily fresh baked deliveries to local grocery store, weekly farmers markets, International online sales and more …. I found myself shifting focus. While I was grateful to provide delicious treats to the customers I had grown to love, something was missing.
It was time to return to my roots. I was raised by two holistically minded parents (a chiropractor and a holistic health educator) in a home where food was treated as nourishment and medicine. From a young age I was taught how to “check in with my tummy” and consider the outcome my food choices would create. Our specialized bakery was a good start, but I knew there was more important work for me to do beyond providing allergy friendly cakes and cookies.
I expanded my services, teaching healthy cooking classes that covered a wide variety of nutritional topics including Cancer Fighting Nutrition Workshops sponsored by Kaiser.
I found my true calling of teaching and helping others discover their way to better health.
I made the decision to continue my education, attending the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and The Functional Nutrition Lab. These advanced programs in nutrition opened my eyes wide to a few important realizations:
- Receiving a diagnosis of an autoimmune disease or learning that you have allergies or sensitivities to food can be devastating and overwhelming.
- Most medical professionals simply don’t have the time or specialized training to help their patients understand and navigate the intricacies of their diagnosis.
- Patients are left to sort through complicated food labels and contradictory online guidance, all while trying to manage debilitating symptoms.
It’s no wonder so many of us are left frustrated, fed up and stuck in a cycle of sickness.
