Teen health issues lead to career in nutrition
Rebecca works as a dietetic supervisor for Spring Branch ISD.
“I got pretty sick when I was 17. I lost a bunch of weight, like 23 pounds, within a span of seven to 10 days. Nobody could figure out what was going on. I saw multiple doctors and I got multiple opinions. It ended up being something that is totally controllable. I had a pretty severe case of irritable bowel syndrome.
“So I decided to take things into my own hands and manage it myself. I decided I would self-control it through nutrition. Before anybody really knew about gluten, I went gluten free. And I went to FODMAP, a type of diet where you stay away from certain acidic foods. I slowly learned what my triggers were, and I got myself to a healthy state without needing too much doctor intervention. I can’t drink beer. I have to stay away from some acidic foods. And wheat is a trigger, too.
“I was drinking a lot of beer at 17. That was my senior year in high school. At the time, it was just my dad and me. My brother was in college, and I had other step-siblings who also were off at Texas A&M. Nobody was really around because my dad traveled a lot. It was really just me in the house most of the time.
“But my dad is a real self-sufficient person, and he raised five very self-sufficient kids. So I decided I would get myself under control, and that’s exactly what I did. That’s what led me into the field of nutrition. When I began managing my situation, it became a lifestyle. Then I started to really dive into the science of nutrition. It’s a fascinating field, and it’s so important.”
— Rebecca Kenefic
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