Today we’d like to introduce you to Debra Tendrich.
Debra, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was obese as a child and became an obese adult. Weighing almost 200 pounds and only standing only 5’1, I was diagnosed with high cholesterol and decided to make a shift into a healthy lifestyle. I dedicated 30 days to working out daily and to learn to eat healthy. During those 30 days, I fell in love with health and fitness, thus began my journey.
Even though I lost 70 pounds and dropped her cholesterol by almost 100 points, I still believe the biggest transformation I made was the impact I made by influencing my daughter, Amira. My new healthy lifestyle directly impacted her and that inspired me to continue my journey. Amira was borderline ADHD, had sinus problems, skin rashes, headaches and stomach aches, and by changing our nutritional habits, all her symptoms disappeared.
Since 2014, I have dedicated my time volunteering at schools and providing a tremendous amount of community outreach and service, donated over 600 backpacks and school supplies throughout the Palm Beach County Schools, volunteers for Career Day helps organize anti-bullying pep-rallies and speaks to students and teachers about fitness and nutrition. I developed a program that transitions children, families and communities into a healthy lifestyle. My organization is called Eat Better Live Better.
Eat Better Live Better was founded in 2016. Since it’s inception, EBLB has worked with approximately 7,000 youth, parents and teachers. Due to the exponential growth of EBLB, I even designed a certification course that will allow schools and other community-based organizations to teach her effective and hands-on curriculum to the youth that they serve on a national level.
Not only am I implementing her program throughout Palm Beach County, but I am also involved with several other organizations and always help when help is needed. I am on several boards and committees, host numerous community events and mentor youth and entrepreneurs. I am fully dedicated to making a huge impact on the community and thrives to create a positive and permanent change in the overall health of the community.
As a result of my commitment to the community, I became 2017 Miss Florida Woman of Achievement, received many nominations and awards and recently received the Shining Star Award for Healthcare Advocate Of The Year. I am on a continuous journey to help more people, create healthier communities and create unified neighborhoods and cities.
“I am a believer that “change inspires change, and the more chance we create, the more change we inspire”.
Has it been a smooth road?
Starting a non-profit organization was a huge learning curve. Managing time and creating effective, inexpensive and strategic marketing and outreach efforts were challenging, yet fun. Fundraising for programs has also been a huge challenge. Newer non-profit organizations do not qualify for many grants. The initial years felt like I was nickel-and-diming people to death, however looking back, people didn’t seem to mind.
Time management was also a struggle. As a single mother, I had to find a way to build my business and raise my daughter, simultaneously. Exponential growth was also a challenge. My organization grew extremely fast. Growth is great, yet, growth can also be a big downfall for many businesses. I had to find many creative ways to accommodate the growth for Eat Better Live Better. I had to learn to say no. Saying no was always a challenge for me. I go out of my way to help or accommodate everyone. Unfortunately, saying yes to everyone will take your focus away from the growth of your business. So learning how to say no was a huge challenge.
I had to learn to delegate. Pride in ownership is something that all business owners struggle with. There will be a point in your business when you will not be able to wear every hat anymore. Learning how to delegate your responsibilities to adequately trained or qualified people will take away a lot of pressure and free up your time to focus on building more profit!
Tell us more about your orgaization.
Eat Better Live Better was founded in 2016 and has currently served approximately 7,000 kids, parents and teachers throughout Palm Beach County and surrounding areas. Programs Summary:
Eat Better Live Better is improving nutrition for children and fighting childhood obesity and diet related health conditions. In conjunction with online content, EBLB provides age appropriate and game-changing curricula that are interactive, effective, and that kids of all ages love! Youth retain the nutrition information that we provide, and they look forward to learning. K-5 – Young children build nutritional knowledge and a strong desire to eat healthy. Teen – Youth learn leadership skills and how to eat healthy. Healthy Advocacy Workshops. Participants build expertise and learn to eliminate unhealthy habits for themselves and others. Anticipated Outcome and Impact. Understanding nutrition is critical to be able to eat better and live better. A major portion of the EBLB offering is focused on enabling children to make healthy food choices by empowering them with key facts and knowledge.
We are passionate about providing the skills and tools that children need to create and maintain a lifelong habit of healthy eating. K-5th Grade. The eight week learning process employs a fun and interactive approach that helps foster a strong desire to eat healthy. Kids truly enjoy learning our nutritional content at your site. Via art, games, and a healthy curriculum, we learn:
Healthy/unhealthy proteins, carbohydrates and fats
How to read, understand, and explain a nutritional label
Positive associations with healthy foods
A desire to eat healthy and share healthy habits with the famil
Teen Program
The 8-week learning process employs a team oriented and fun approach that fosters leadership in association with healthy eating. Teens truly enjoy learning our nutritional content at your site via discussion, collaboration, and leadership activities, we learn:
About food deserts and how to solve for a lack of nutritious options in the area
How costs, refrigeration, and logistics can impact healthy habits
How teamwork can build a healthy community
How to read, understand, and explain a nutritional label
Positive associations with healthy foods
A desire to eat healthy and share healthy habits with the family
Social responsibility
Dining Etiquette and Nutrition
We provide the full teen program followed by a dining etiquette course. We cater in a full meal and bring in a certified etiquette coach and teach the teens how to make proper introductions, set the table, proper dining etiquette and how to properly receive an award.
All of our kids receive a certificate of completion
Parents, We provide parent workshops including “Shopping Healthy on a Budget”, “Family Cooking Classes”, “Farmers Market Tours” and many more. We are funded through local business sponsorships, people/businesses hosting a fundraiser, private/individual donors, grants and event fundraising. Plus, we are always looking for volunteers.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In five to ten years, I hope to have my Eat Better Live Better program adopted by elementary schools all over the country and implemented during the health class curriculum.
Pricing:
- It is $26 to sponsor (1) child to go through our 8-week program.
- It is $125 to sponsor (1) to go through our 8-week program with the dining etiquette course.
- It is $800 for a school to certify (4) to be trained to teach our curriculum to their students annually.
Contact Info:
- Address: 301 W Atlantic Ave
Suite O6
Delray Beach, FL, 33444 - Website: www.EBLB.org
- Phone: 561-344-1022
- Email: info@EBLB.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatbetterlivebetterinc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EatBetterLiveBetterInc/
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