Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Wenker.
Hi Karina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I spent most of my adult life working in global marketing and advertising. In mid-2019, my husband and I moved from New Zealand to Denver. I was working for an advertising agency when the pandemic hit and suddenly gave me an unexpected opportunity to slow down and reevaluate what I wanted my life and work to look like.
I had been passionate about nutrition and holistic health for years, so I started diving much deeper into those areas. Then, a couple of months into the pandemic, I found out I was pregnant. I threw myself into learning everything I could about nutrition, pregnancy, and birth.
What I didn’t anticipate was just how challenging postpartum and the transition into motherhood would be.
My son was born during the pandemic, when we were living far from family and, because of visa restrictions, our families weren’t able to come visit. I was navigating motherhood for the first time without my usual support system, and I quickly realized how much mothers need to be supported, too. It’s so easy for all of the focus to be on the baby while the mother is expected to simply figure things out.
About a year into motherhood, I made the decision to leave my marketing career so I could be more present with my toddler. At the same time, I started my nutrition studies and became a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner.
That experience ultimately shaped the work I do today. I support women through pregnancy, postpartum, and early motherhood with a practical, whole-food approach to nutrition. I’m passionate about helping mothers understand what their bodies need, rebuild their foundations, and feel nourished and supported during a season of life when it’s so easy to put yourself last.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Following my passion and building my own business has been one of the biggest lessons in humility and self-growth.
One of the hardest parts for me has been constantly pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. I spent years working behind the scenes in marketing, and now I have to put myself and my work out there and talk about what I do. It’s something I’ve had to get much more comfortable with, even though it still doesn’t always come naturally.
There’s also the uncertainty that comes with being self-employed and not having a consistent paycheck. I’m incredibly grateful for my husband, who has believed in me and supported both me and my business from day one.
And then there’s the constant balancing act of being a mom while also being someone who genuinely loves working, learning, creating, and coming up with new ideas. I want to be as present as I can for my children, while also making space for the part of me that is excited about growing my business, evolving my offerings, and doing meaningful work with my clients.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Through my business, Real Food Roots, I provide nutritional therapy for clients during pregnancy, postpartum, and early motherhood.
I know that motherhood can be a season where it’s easy to lose touch with your own needs. You may be doing your best to eat well and take care of yourself, but still feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or simply not quite like yourself. My role is to help women better understand what their bodies need in the season they’re in and give them practical, personalized support to feel their best.
I do that through a combination of functional testing, comprehensive symptom assessments, and, just as importantly, listening to each client’s story, concerns, goals, and day-to-day reality. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. I’m interested in understanding the whole picture and helping my clients make small, consistent changes that actually fit into their lives.
I’m incredibly proud of the successes I’ve helped my clients achieve. That might look like a mom having a wonderful second pregnancy after suffering through a difficult first one. It might be a mother of three who feels more nourished and supported during her third postpartum than she ever did after her previous births. Or it might be a mom of young children who finally feels like she isn’t constantly governed by sugar cravings and food noise.
What sets Real Food Roots apart is that I don’t believe nutrition has to be complicated or perfect to make a meaningful difference. My work is rooted in helping women build strong foundations through nourishing, real food while also meeting them where they are. Motherhood is busy, messy, and constantly changing, and I want the support I provide to feel realistic, practical, and sustainable.
Real Food Roots is grounded in three words: Nourishing, Empowering, and Grounded. I want every woman I work with to walk away feeling more connected to her body, more confident in how she cares for herself, and more rooted in her own wisdom.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I work with clients virtually from my office in Louisville, Colorado. For anyone curious about working together, the first step is a free 30-minute consultation where we can chat, get to know each other, and see if I’m the right fit for what they’re looking for.
I also love collaborating with other practitioners and professionals who support women and families through pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. That includes birth and postpartum doulas, physical therapists, lactation consultants, chiropractors, and other providers who understand how important it is for mothers to have a team around them. I’m always open to connecting, learning from one another, and finding ways we can better support the families we serve.
I also love bringing nutrition education into community spaces, whether that’s through a workshop, talk, local event, or podcast conversation. If you have a community of women or families who would benefit from learning more about nutrition during pregnancy, postpartum, or early motherhood, I’d love to hear from you.
And of course, there are lots of simple ways to support a small business like mine. Referring a friend or client, sharing my work with someone who might benefit, leaving a Google review, or even liking and sharing something on Instagram all make a difference. I’m incredibly grateful for every person who helps spread the word about Real Food Roots and the work I’m doing to help mothers feel more nourished and supported.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.realfoodroots.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodroots
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinawenker/
- Other: https://calendly.com/realfoodroots/discovery-call
