Find Your Place in the World ...Again

written by Julie Kauffman Strong Writer/Editor Cooks Who Care

You are more than what you do!

That's why it's so important to take care of yourself.

For most of her adult life, Karen Nicolas has worked as a chef, putting in long hours and pouring herself into her work in an industry where "Self Care just doesn't exist" - the food industry. Over the course of her career, Karen worked at notable restaurants around the country, including Charlie Palmer’s Aureole in Las Vegas, Gramercy Tavern in New York, and Equinox in Washington, D.C. (where she was named a 2012 Best New Chef by Food & Wine), Citron and Rose and Harp & Crown in the Philadelphia area. After facing some serious medical diagnoses, and still finding herself unable to slow down, Karen decided that the only option was to step away and leave the business.

What followed was a journey of discovery, with Karen learning to care for herself, both physically and spiritually, while also struggling with finding her true identity ... if she wasn't a chef, the career she had worked so hard to achieve, then who was she?

In episode 68 of Beyond the Table, (https://bit.ly/YouTube_episode68_Karen_Nicolas) Karen sits down for an exclusive interview with Cooks Who Care Founder Chef Maria Campbell to talk about her journey and about embracing the changes she has made. She believes that many people in our industry need to make drastic lifestyle changes, and that most don't know where to start. The challenge is that we aren’t encouraged to talk proactively about the tolls this business takes on our bodies and our minds, even though everyone knows that it happens.

These days, Karen has come back to her passion for food, but she's approaching it from a different perspective. Instead of returning to the food industry norm of pushing herself (and the people who work for her) to the extreme in order to make food for others, Karen now uses her cooking skills to help people. She has taught herself how to create dishes that taste delicious and also align with the elimination diets and Ayurvedic healing principles that she follows to maintain her own health.

She's also directing her focus to helping others realize how much change is needed, before they get to the breaking point like she did. We’re excited to announce that Karen Nicolas is joining Cooks Who Care as one of our new CWC Self Care Ambassadors - industry professionals who are dedicated to being champions for personal wellness by encouraging good health and improved quality of life for others in the food business.

We believe that the food industry needs to have more conversations about breaking the norms that prevent us from taking care of ourselves. Helping people like Karen Nicolas share their stories is an important first step. Watch what Karen has to say, and then share your perspectives with us by connecting on Facebook & Instagram.

Haven't subscribed to our CWC YouTube Channel yet? Join 159 subscribers who see videos as soon as they release.  Be on the lookout as we launch more initiatives to help you find your happiness by taking care of you.

Want to share your story with Cooks Who Care? Have ideas you want to see through in the food industry but no one to share with? Contact Founder, Maria Campbell, CEC MBA [email protected] today. Take Care!