Feature Friday: Amber Approved

I met Amber at a YYC Pizza Week meeting in January, and over the months we got to know each other. I love her no nonsense, sassy approach to life. She tells it like it is and works incredibly hard to help her clients take control of their health and live their best life. Read on to find out a little bit more about my friend, and amazing boss babe, Amber Romaniuk. 

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your work. Where are you from? What do you do?

Hello! I am Amber Romaniuk, CEO of Amber Approved Inc., leading health food expert, Holistic Nutritionist, Host of Fresh Health on Shaw TV Calgary and the Author of Amber Approved Cookbooks.

I specialize in supporting my clients locally in Calgary and around the world with their struggles with food addiction, emotional eating, body image and physical imbalances like hormones, metabolism, digestive struggles and food allergies. I also help my clients to identify what blocks may be in the way of them losing weight and reaching their optimal health. I feel kind of like a health detective, but it’s important for me to investigate someone’s current state of health, and then use foods, supplements and lifestyle recommendations to make the changes they desire.

I also host “Fresh Health” on Shaw TV and we go to great local restaurants that serve healthy food and can cater to allergies, as well as recipe tutorials in the kitchen and much more.

There’s also the No Sugarcoating Podcast which is all about female health and really there is NO sugar coating around our topics and what we have to share. I have a lot of fun with my work.

What inspires you to do what you do? How did you start doing this work?

I specialize in the above because I personally struggled with a food addiction as well as tons of physical imbalances, weight ups and downs, and a real disconnect from my body image, loving and taking care of myself. So once I started to take action on my own health, and recovered from my food addiction and started to balance my body, I was inspired to start my own business and help as many people as possible to overcome their own struggles.

They say 90% of women and lots of men struggle with body image issues and are constantly dieting and hate their body. I really strive to help people to fall in love with themselves, and accept themselves as they are knowing they can always take steps to take better care of themselves and live a more healthy lifestyle.

Also educating people on the quality of our food, and why supporting the local farmer’s markets and food is so important. Big business food, lots of sugar, processed foods and articifial sweeteners are contributing to lots of health imbalances, both emotionally and physically and I truly believe that everyone has the right to be educated to they can make better choices for themselves.

I never used to understand what an impact what I ate had on my health, so it’s been so fascinating to learn all about the food industry and how it can impact our health.

I don’t like to see people suffer, so it inspires me to see them want to take action for their health. Or know that they aren’t the only one struggling and that there is hope to overcome it all, and people like me and others who are here to guide them and help them along.

What inspires you most about your community (city, group of friends, etc.)?

What I love about Calgary is in the business world, people WANT to collaborate and work together. And I think that is one of the most important parts about local business. I am all for supporting people who are growing great food, which supports mine and other’s health, and then that supports their business and livelihood.

I love that more and more the health food movement is growing in Calgary. We have great farmer’s markets, restaurants focusing on farm to table and local food and chefs that are super knowledgeable in that area and want to create delicious healthy food for their customers.

I love seeing so many great people creating healthy food product as well, it’s so nice to be able to enjoy and have such variety in the local community, and again be supporting the local business owners and economy.

I also love the drive I see here, I love the fact that people create such amazing things, and don’t take no for an answer.

I also lastly, love being so close to the mountains, which really is my backyard!

If you could give anyone who is starting out in your field (business, non-profit, etc.) one piece of advice, what would it be?

Be ready to work your ass off. Seriously, it takes consistent hard work, dedication, motivation and a I won’t take no for an answer attitude. When I got started, so many people told me there was no way I would be able to create a full time business with what I do, or that it was going to take 5 years until I could go full time. I like to challenge the odds and not go with the flow.

If you want, tell me three fun facts about yourself or your organization.

1. I have become fascinated with Nirvana, Kurt Cobain and the conspiracy surrounding his death.
2. I love visiting the zoo and watching the penguins. They happen to be my favorite!
3. I didn’t intend 11 years ago when I moved here to get into health but instead to be a sports anchor on TSN with my education from SAIT for Broadcast News. Well that definitely turned a 180!

Get in Touch

Website: www.amberapproved.ca

Twitter:  @AmberApproved

Facebook: Amber Approved

Instagram: @amberromaniuk

Do you know of a person, business, non-profit or other organization doing amazing work in Calgary? Tell me about it! Visit the Feature Friday page for more information!