Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Vucinich.
Hi Kristen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the founder of Heartfed. Originally from the LA area and now supporting women virtually, I am a former educator who has always loved working with little ones and families. However, becoming a know-how for pregnancy and postpartum nutrition was not something I had planned.
My love for food and its relationship to our physical and mental health didn’t come until my postpartum experience with my second child. After a traumatic birth and recovery that took me out of my previous career as an in-person educator, I dove deep into how food and supplements can support overall wellness, including both physical and mental health.
With a Master’s Degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition already, I decided to go back to school again to specialize in pregnancy, postpartum and baby nutrition.
I was entranced with the knowledge I learned and how our food intake not only affects our general health but also the chances of experiencing pregnancy symptoms, our postpartum recovery and risk of depression, as well as the development and growth of our little ones.
I started to reach out to local moms and friends to do free consults and decided there were more moms that needed this support and didn’t even know to ask. That is why I started Heartfed, a one stop shop know-how for pregnancy and postpartum nutrition that can be accessible and doable for moms anywhere.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Although the road getting here has had many bright moments, and many goals have been hit, it has also been quite a rollercoaster (one of which I continue to ride). Coming from a background with little tech skills around websites, automations, and CRM, I have spent a lot of my time watching tutorials and late nights trying to integrate plugins (which I didn’t know was a thing before this company).
Finding a way to balance this learning curve while also prioritizing my own recovery and raising two beautiful (and energetic) little ones has been something I come back to frequently.
Luckily I have the support of my husband, my family, and many friends who have lended a hand along the way and I know that has made a HUGE impact on keeping the progress going. My close friend, Liam Humble took time to work with me to create a company name, Monique Saar has supported me through business development and Monica Schrock has helped guide me through my branding. All of which is a small part to the time I have put into developing the company along with social media, consultations, and course offerings. All to be said, it has been a whirlwind filled with so much learning and excitement as well as overwhelm and tears. However, hearing a client successfully ease her symptoms, feel empowered and knowledgeable about her food choices, or cry happy tears from feeling support is really what keeps me going. We all need a little extra support in life, especially mamas.
We’ve been impressed with Heartfed, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Heartfed is nutritional know-how for pregnancy and postpartum nutrition. We specialize in supporting women through each stage of motherhood with a focus on their food and supplement intake, symptoms, and lifestyle. Our vision is to fill the gap between standard medical care and the actual pregnancy and postpartum experience for thousands of women pursuing a healthy journey for themselves and their baby, rooted in nutritional science, practical changes, and thoughtful support.
What sets us apart from others is that we look at both the maternal health and baby development when giving recommendations and we find what resonates with each individual client. We believe that support truly meets people where they are and doesn’t judge where that may be. Support is at the heart of what we do and can be emotional, practical, or educational.
I am most proud of our brand for being a voice for the support moms deserve and acknowledging that our health should be more focused on our nutrient stores and mental health rather than our clothing size.
We offer 1:1 consultation packages as well as self-paced courses for both pregnancy and postpartum. In these consultations and courses, there is support regarding prenatal vitamins, each trimester, common symptoms, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, and more. We include recipes and checklists to prepare and empower you for your next journey in motherhood.
What’s next?
We are looking to reformat our offerings and will be including a membership option giving moms access to courses, freebies, guest speakers, and community support anytime they need it. We will also be launching a VIP client option to help support a select amount of women 1:1 through their entire pregnancy. I am also looking forward to continue to guest speak on podcasts for local mom groups and other birth-workers groups and courses.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: heart-fed.com
- Instagram: @heart.fed
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeartfedFB
