A Piece of Haley's Story
Meet Haley Biggs; a student from Kentucky loving all things healthy food! She has gained some incredible strength through the obstacles she's faced, like Type 1 Diabetes. Read more about her love for cookies, nutrition classes, and encouraging others! Haley's strong body and mind is truly an inspiration!
WHAT ARE YOU UP TO RIGHT NOW?
At this moment I have been working on a recipe for some bomb pumpkin scones made with coconut flour! ‘Tis the season!
WHAT'S YOUR DAILY ROUTINE TYPICALLY LOOK LIKE ON A WEEKDAY?
I am an early bird/morning person, so I get up as the sun does and head out on some trail walks and get in some circuit training exercises. I head off to my morning classes then you’ll find me studying in the library or some local coffee shops. I’ll usually end my days with recipe planning/testing and some stress relieving yoga.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT STUDYING NUTRITION?
I believe that food is medicine so when I study about the foods we are eating and what nutrients they provide, I find it most interesting. I love learning about gut health as well. Especially since 70% of your immune system lives in your gut and since I have an autoimmune disease I love learning about the immune system. I kind of like to use myself as a Guinea pig.
WHAT INITIALLY INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO SHARING YOUR FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY?
I love food! Especially delicious healthy food! I want to inspire people that eating delicious healthy food is possible! It doesn’t have to be boring. I also wanted to become part of a community that is battling the same struggles I am with food. Through that, I developed a love with food photography and furthered my desire to inspire and create more fun recipes!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEAL TO MAKE AND WHY?
I honestly think my favorite thing to make are cookies, of course using REAL healthy ingredients. I love taking something that isn’t so healthy and changing it into something that is healthy without someone even realizing it. I often wait to tell the people who are eating them what they are really made of until after they eat it to see their reactions. They never would have assumed! You won’t find any of these cookie recipes on my Instagram though. They are being saved for my soon to come blog!
WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE LIVING WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES?
It has been both a blessing and the biggest struggle I have overcome and still am overcoming. I take it day by day trying to defeat this disease that doesn’t leave my side. It gets to be exhausting. I have to check my blood sugar multiple times a day, have to be my own pancreas, and deal with the emotions of low and high blood sugars. Through all the daily struggles and work, I wouldn't be the person I am today without it. That is where the blessing comes from. It has taught me independence, patience, and hope. It also has led me to meeting AMAZING people that I would have never met if I never was diabetic.
HOW DO YOU REPRESENT THE TRAIT STRONG? HOW DO YOU FEEL THIS RUBS OFF ON OTHERS?
I think I represent the trait strong because of the things I have had to face that are due to my diabetes. In 2012 I went though a really bad depression. 1 out of every 2 diabetics will develop depression. I had to overcome that and learn to love myself and type 1 diabetes again. It was a really, really hard time. Some people will look at that as a weakness. I think differently. I think STRONG. I think to overcome that just made me a stronger person. It proved to me that if I can overcome diabetes and depression, I can overcome anything. It made me grateful for my strength as well. If I wasn’t so strong, I wouldn’t be in the place I am now- which is happy, strong, and full of life! I hope I can pass on this strength to others who are dealing with the same type of struggles.
ASIDE FROM BEING STRONG, WHAT ARE THREE OTHER PERSONALITY TRAITS THAT DESCRIBE YOURSELF AND HOW SO?
Independent: I like doing things myself. I don’t really care what people think of me either. I have never been a crowd follower. I don’t really drink alcohol and have been victimized for it, yet I stick to my principles.
Creative: I guess this is where my food comes from. I like to think outside of the box and recreate recipes.
Encouraging: I at least hope I could be thought of as encouraging. I would think I am because of the things I have been through, and because of that I try to support others with what they are going through. No matter what the cause is!
WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION AND WHY?
Honestly, it is my mom. She is such an empowering woman. She will help others and has been there for me through everything I have ever had to go through, which is a lot. I honestly don’t know how she does it! I never have met someone so humane, so loving, so accepting, and so INSPIRATIONAL!
WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND GOALS? WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?
Career wise, I am still figuring this out. I just know I want to make a difference in the world. I hope in 5 years I will be able to change people's lives for the better by adapting healthy lifestyles and I would like to see myself as a spokesperson for the Type 1 Diabetes Community battling with depression and dia-bulimia.
WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE TO ANOTHER YOUNG WOMAN ABOUT HAVING A STRONG BODY AND MIND?
To always follow your instinct. To not listen to other negativity. You are you and you are beautiful, strong, and independent, no matter what anyone says. To have a strong body and mind is to take care of yourself and to stick with your beliefs and no one else's.
Check out more from Haley below!
Instagram | Blog soon to come!
Email: pleaseandcarrotsticks@yahoo.com