A full plate, a full life.

Recipes and ramblings to help conquer PKU as an adult

 
 
 

 

I spent over a decade ‘off diet’ and had to completely relearn how to live with PKU. Now well into that recovery, I know that creative cooking and community have ushered my success. I hope this blog helps others find the inspiration, resilience, and support to thrive with our rare disorder.

 
 
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RECIPES

 

STORIES

Blog
‘Pre-Con’ is like PKU boot camp: painful, but necessary
‘Pre-Con’ is like PKU boot camp: painful, but necessary

The ‘Preconception Diet’ (or Pre-Con) is the first step toward a healthy PKU pregnancy. I was clueless about how difficult it would be and how much it would change my life. But if i can do it, so can you. One tip? Go in with eyes wide open...

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Evaluating regret: 5 things that may have helped me stay on diet
Evaluating regret: 5 things that may have helped me stay on diet

When I attended my first PKU conference, I was hit hard by regret and emotion. I asked myself hard questions: why did I spend so long off diet? And more importantly, was there anything that might have helped me stay on track? Here’s what I came up with…

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People always ask: ‘What happens when you eat protein?’
People always ask: ‘What happens when you eat protein?’

Unfortunately, i have too much experience in this area. But the real answer is scary and difficult to explain: I don’t know. Mental fog, memory issues, and anxiety are common, but it’s the unanswered questions that are hardest to swallow...

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Every PKU story is different. This is mine.
Every PKU story is different. This is mine.

PKU was easy as a kid, but social pressures in high school and college got the best of me. I was ‘off diet’ for over a decade and getting back on track was extremely difficult. Protein was my addiction, and even now l don’t claim to be an expert. I’m “in recovery” and always learning…

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Let's swap stories (and recipes)

Please reach out with any questions or simply to say hi. I’d love your feedback and or a chance to collaborate with others in the PKU community. Thanks for reading!

 
 
 
 
 
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Let's connect!

Sharing my PKU story on Instagram changed my life. I’ve found real friendships, lessons from others in the community, and a little support from every corner of the world.

Follow me! @jendellarosa

 
This month, we traded screams for smiles (hooray!). Naps are still a struggle, but Ady found her hands, gave us her first giggles, and sometimes even slept through the night (🤞🤞🤞). She went up a size, started playing with toys, and met more family
Don’t let the gummy grins fool you, this girl gave us a tough month! 🤪 …with lots of gas, tummy pain and bellowing cries, most days we could barely put her down. (poor babes!) But there were also a lot of firsts. First smiles, first sw
D’s first day of preschool. Can’t believe it! She gave us a tight hug at the door, and nervously took her teacher’s hand. No tears, or even a pouty lip. We’ve been reminding her “it’s ok to be scared” for w
One month already?! Adynn is loud, extra hungry, and equal parts cuddles and chaos. We’ve loved these first weeks, watching her come alive a bit more every day 💕 She definitely challenges mommy with her appetite, and ALWAYS wants to be held,
She’s finally here!!! 💗 Adynn Rae was born July 18 @ 1:10pm …almost exactly 24 hours before my scheduled c-section. It was a whirlwind but as my doctor said, “she’s just telling mama, there’s no point putting off until
Today was a different kind of 4th…we kept it simple and yummy. Celebrating family, pregnancy milestones, and cravings fulfilled! 🤤 …I even managed to get fully dressed and off the couch long enough to cook half the meal! 🎉 so thankfu
Mothers Day #flashback - i didn’t know it then, but this would be my last really good day of this pregnancy—feeling active, healthy, and adventurous! I was in my happy place: hiking local mountains and soaking up the view with my loves.⛰?
SPRING HIGHLIGHTS ✨ SHAMELESS MOM EDITION …because let’s face it, my favorite pics are always of D.