Exploring Life & Business with Jenna Santorelli Markl of Jenna Knows Food

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Santorelli Markl.

Hi Jenna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My food story began in earnest in my teenage years when I pursued new sports. I didn’t understand how to appropriately fuel my body with these added forms of exercise, and instead then spent years trying to overcome the caloric deficit I put my body in.

Throughout that time, as my scope of food was opening, I began working in restaurants and decided to pursue culinary school. I still to this day, firmly believe that food should taste good AND provide benefits to our bodies and overall health. The word diet is rooted in Greek, meaning “way of life” and food certainly paved the way for mine. Exploring cooking techniques, flavor combinations, and the industry itself helped me to feel empowered in my evolving relationship with food. When I moved on to the nutrition degree, I learned how to apply that culinary knowledge in supporting the body effectively, instead of depriving it like I did as an uninformed teenager.

Since then, I’ve varied my work experiences to see the impact of food in/for others. I spent the majority of a decade in clinics, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. I’ve been fortunate to cater to athletes and teach today’s teens about the value of nutrition. Within my business Jenna Knows Food, I’m able to give back and relate to others in a personal way because our diets are just that. It’s incredibly rewarding now to save people the time, money, and struggle to reach their balance and I hope to offer that to anyone also willing to make the effort.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Besides the immediate challenge of weight stability and food understanding as a young person, I’d like to be grateful for what’s brought me to where I am today.

To say it was easy or smooth, however, would be dishonest. Being a female in professional kitchens had hurdles like harassment and proving your durability. Working in healthcare required around-the-clock availability which took more of a mental toll. Having my own business can feel lonely and scary. All the while, the food industry can be financially tough to survive because it isn’t known for its due compensation. That fact provided the opportunity (and stress) of moving across the country at various times to gain exposure and experience.

I’m fortunate to have dined and learned in so many places, and I don’t regret the path taken. There’s no other subject that holds my interest and dedication, nor has my drive to help others through food wavered. It took the strength, lessons, and moments along the way to be here.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I started my business as an outlet to work with others and food in a way that had significance to me. Typically, I work with clients consistently as they broaden their food horizons and develop changes around their food understanding. I prefer to collaborate over several sessions to provide a complete holistic picture. Services include a complimentary introduction call, 60-minute consult sessions, a 7-day meal plan, food macronutrient review, recipe ideas and reconstruction, food label breakdown, and support system involvement.

Again, I think food and our diets can be a very personal subject. It requires an understanding of each individual’s needs and goals, and then thoughtfully applying that to some foundational principles about the body’s usage of food. Once that’s established, and it’s no small hurdle to create or adapt new habits, there are several ways to get more specific with your diet should that be of interest.

Because I have culinary degrees, we can renovate recipes and get in the kitchen together if that’s a barrier. My background in fitness allows me to support athletes in fueling their workouts efficiently. The healthcare settings taught me about preserving dignity when other factors are out of your control; having choices around your diet may bring a sense of joy and autonomy in a time of struggle.

If that’s how I’m remembered, as a supportive and relatable food champion who encourages donuts as much as avocados, I’d be more than satisfied!

What does success mean to you?
Success is objective and just like food, can mean something if you let it. I think there are elements of courage, tenacity, and genuine desire in an achievement to be considered successful. Making it through the day can sometimes feel like a win; it doesn’t have to be on the same level as scaling a mountain for it to be important.

The ability to adapt and find new perspectives can offer a variety of successes you’d not previously realized. That outlook has helped me to shift my expectations of success based on my environment. Maybe I tried a new recipe and it didn’t come out as anticipated. Did it taste good and provide nourishment to my family? I’d argue it was still a success then.

Pricing:

• 60-minute Consultation session $130
• 7-day Meal Plan $150 – requires additional cost of 2 sessions to construct
• 2-hour Consultation session $250
• 6 session plan (in full) $850
• 6-session plan (3 installments) $895

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jennaknowsfood.com
• Instagram: @jennaknowsfoodLLC

Image Credits
Markl