Chef Laura Rodriguez 2024: Holistic Chef and Autoimmune Warrior

DeliveryRank chats with Chef Laura Rodriguez is a holistic chef and autoimmune warrior who transformed her health after being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2015. Through an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle, she reversed her symptoms and now helps others with autoimmune conditions heal from within by adopting a root-cause approach to wellness. 

Laura, your story of reversing autoimmune symptoms through diet is inspiring! What was the biggest mindset shift you had to make when transitioning to using food as medicine, and how can others stay motivated when starting this journey?

There were several different mindset shifts I had to embrace in order to get to where I am today, but I would say the most important one, the one that I keep telling myself over the years is that nothing tastes as good as Flare Free feels. To me, there's just simply not a single food in the world that is worth eating if I know it will send me into a food-driven autoimmune flare-up. I've hit rock bottom twice in my life and I don't want to ever go back there again. And this mindset shift has definitely helped me stay consistent. 

For folks struggling to stay motivated along their autoimmune wellness journey, I suggest surrounding yourself with others going through the same thing you are. Whether that's online or in person, seeing others work on their healing journey, and having a safe space to vent and get your questions answered can really help you stay on track! It's nearly impossible to go on this journey alone. I know when I hit rock bottom the second time, the first thing I did was build a community of other foodies with autoimmunity going through the same thing I was going though. It's so helpful to have others to lean on when you need it the most!

Many people associate anti-inflammatory diets with restriction and deprivation. How do you approach creating meals that not only reduce inflammation but also provide comfort and enjoyment for the whole family?

Honestly, I first just think about what's in season. Then I think of delicIous, comforting dishes my clients and family would like to eat utilizing those in-season ingredients. When it comes time to cook, I create these dishes utilizing the best-tasting anti-inflammatory ingredients on the market so it tastes as close to the real thing as possible. The less healthy something tastes, the less restrictive it feels. So that's always my number one goal. Sneaking in as many nutrients as possible without stripping away the rich, decadent feel you normally get from comfort food. Everyone likes comfort food. So it's an easy sell for the whole family.

Managing an autoimmune condition can feel overwhelming for those trying to balance work, family, and health. What are some practical, time-saving strategies you teach to make cooking anti-inflammatory meals easier and less stressful?

It really is overwhelming and sometimes feels impossible to use food as medicine to manage or reverse autoimmunity on top of all the other daily responsibilities we have as parents, spouses, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, etc. The number one time-saving strategy I have for ultra-busy foodies with autoimmunity working to use food as medicine, is to batch cook 2-3 meals you already know by heart on your day off. It only takes a couple hours if you don't have to stop to look down at a recipe and measure a bunch of stuff. That will ensure you always have something to eat on your busiest days and you'll be so excited to eat a freshly cooked meal that that will be the motivation to cook on nights when you have a little more time and energy.

In your experience, what are the most common mistakes people make when trying to adopt an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, and how can they avoid falling into these pitfalls?

I see a lot of folks falling into the trap of eating overly simplified and dare I say, boring meals because that's what they think healthy food is supposed to be. So they eat roasted salmon with brown rice and steamed broccoli and grilled chicken with sweet potatoes and asparagus for a couple weeks until they can't look at another piece of salmon or grilled chicken and then they give up. 

All the while, the folks who are successful at eating Flare Free are over here eating lasagna, tacos, enchiladas, chicken noodle soup, mashed potatoes and gravy, pot pie, spaghetti and meatballs, meatloaf, etc. 

There's a whole world of delicious, craveable, and satisfying anti-inflammatory healing food out there! Once you learn how to make them for yourself at home, you're able to stick to this diet longer, which allows you to feel the physical benefits of eating this way. Those physical benefits become the driving force behind staying consistent, and then, you get to feel the emotional benefits of eating Flare Free too: less deprivation; more indulgence. You literally get to have your cake and eat it too. It's such a beautiful thing. And something I want all foodies with autoimmunity to experience.

Healing autoimmunity naturally is often a long-term commitment. How do you help people maintain consistency with their wellness routines, especially during busy or challenging times?

I have a couple different online courses that both help with consistency and motivation, but ultimately, each foodie with autoimmunity has to learn how to hold themselves accountable in order to truly be successful. Each person has to do the mindset work required to successfully handle the many trials and tribulations that will come their way along this healing journey. If they need more help, we have an online community as well where they can reach out for personalized individual support.

If you would like to find out more about Chef Laura Rodriguez, please visit https://www.cheflaurarodriguez.com/