"Food has nothing to do with it," is a phrase I hear over and over again from my mother, whom suffers from severe neuropathy of the feet, limiting her ability to walk. It pains me each time she says this because if she only knew how food has everything to do with it, her life would be very different. The swelling in her feet would go down. The visceral fat that she carries around her abdomen would reduce. She could go back to doing all of the things she loves such as driving and walking her dog, without the fear of losing her balance and falling (again). The people of this country have become so disassociated from the food they put in their bodies. It is exacerbated by the medical community, who also believes in the power of pharmaceuticals over nutrition and exercise intervention. Due to the lack of nutrition education in our day-to-day lives, people opt for the sugar-laden, nutritionally devoid product that has gone viral on TikTok or choose something from a company with a strong marketing team. All of these hyper-palatable foods are designed for one reason and one reason only: to get your money. There is so much conflicting nutrition information, how is someone supposed to know what the proper choice even is? Fat is bad for you, but add butter to your coffee. Red meat will give you cancer, but you can get your protein from plants. Watch out for chemicals in your water, but drink this liquid filled with artificial sweeteners, colors, and loads of preservatives. Currently, I work at a small private practice where I coach financially able clients to reclaim their health, and their autonomy and regain confidence in themselves. If awarded this scholarship, I plan to continue my work with clients. Educating them on the food that fuels our bodies, reset their palates, and teach them how to make smarter choices when grocery shopping. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have this job, but I need to take it further. I need to go deeper. I need to extend the knowledge on how to eat properly to as many people as I can. This re-education is vital now and for all generations to come. Nutrition education is something I am fervently passionate about. I feel like it is my mission here on this planet. This is my fight to make the world a better place. I believe everyone should have access to the information that can set them free from the ailments that accompany a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle. No demographic should be left out because nutrition goes beyond the color of one's skin and social status. It is our fundamental right as humans to know how to eat properly to ensure our health and longevity. Winning this scholarship would help me get there. It would help me educate the larger population, my mother included, and show this country just how much food dictates nearly everything we experience in this lifetime. P.S. My deepest condolences to the Hudson family and all those affected by the loss of Ms. Amber. Thank you very much for creating a scholarship like this and believing in the healing power of nutrition.