Jill Brack, Owner GLOW Gluten-Free Baked Goods

Posted: June 4th, 2010 | 2 Comments »

Please meet our sweetest V-Inspiring woman to date! Jill Brack, is the founder and owner, of GLOW Gluten-Free baked goods. Jill is a Mom, who like many Moms, will do anything to help her children feel better. When Jill’s daughter was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, Jill got baking. People with Celiac need to adhere to a gluten-free diet for life. Wanting her daughter to live La Doce Vita, GLOW Gluten-Free Baked Goods was born.

We love that Jill used her love, her advocacy, and her Mama Bear-ness, to create a company she loves (and WE LOVE), while educating people on celiac and gluten-free diets. Jill really took those lemons and made lemonade. Of course, she did, lemons are gluten-free!

If you haven’t done so already, please go to your local Health Nuts or Whole Foods and buy a box of GLOW, you will be so happy you did. They are yummy, healthy, and no bloat. Go get your GLOW ON! Check out GLOW yourself!

Gluten is wheat gum, it is the insoluble component of grains, like wheat, barley, and rye. It is a mixture of gliadin, glutenin, and other proteins. Gluten causes allergy-like reactions in certain people.

Job (aka, Career/Calling/Inspiration): Gluten free baker and founder of Glow Gluten Free, an allergy friendly food brand.

Age: 44

Family situation: I’ve been married to my best friend for 14 years and we have a very cool teenage daughter.

How do you make sure you feel good everyday? In addition to eating right and exercising I always try to do one fun thing just for me everyday. Whether it’s a walk in the park, a manicure or meeting a friend for an afternoon tea.

What inspires you to do the work that you do? My daughter Stella is the inspiration behind my work. When she was diagnosed with celiac disease I wanted her to have fun and delicious treats she could enjoy and share with her friends. Now that our Glow Gluten Free cookies are in mainstream markets like Whole Foods, I am grateful for the opportunity to spread awareness about celiac disease. Every one of our gluten free customers has a story on how celiac disease has changed their lives. It’s inspirational to be a part of this community.

How did you muster up the courage/confidence/stamina to create the life you have? When I was diagnosed with celiac disease I didn’t care if I ever ate another cupcake or slice of pizza. When my daughter was diagnosed, everything changed. She wanted to feel normal and eat the same foods as her friends. I had been baking my entire life and switching gears to baking gluten free was just the next step. I am lucky and grateful to get to do what I love.

What’s your approach to nutrition? I’ve learned the cliché is true: everything in moderation. I eat what and when I want, but not too much.

How do you stay inspired when difficult challenges arise? Running a start up business has its challenges and rewards. I am lucky to work with my husband who is also my business partner. He inspires me with new ideas and makes me better every day.

What do you do to stay in balance – in other words, how do you balance things like your career, your well-being, your happiness, your friends, your children, your spouse, dating, your fitness, your nutrition, your hobbies, etc.? It’s all about prioritizing at the moment. I’m not proud to say that balance for me these days is a juggling act. What’s more important: helping my daughter with her homework or taking a call from a retailer, working out or working on my marketing plan, baking for my family or baking for my brand? Somehow it all works out.

What’s your ultimate indulgence – just for you? OK, I’ll be honest, it’s shoes.

What advice do you have for women/men aiming to have it all? I think every woman struggles with the idea of having it all. How can you be the caring mother, the sexy wife, the supportive best friend and successful entrepreneur all the while looking fabulous 24/7? The answer is you can’t. Once I accepted that I felt whole lot better. These days I just take it one day at a time (actually one hour at a time) and do my very best.

Thank you for speaking with Venus in Balance and inspiring so many.