We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karina Wenker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Karina below.

Alright, Karina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

In 2022, when my oldest son was a year and a half, I took a big risk and left a marketing career I had spent more than ten years building. I had worked in agency and corporate roles for large companies on three continents, so stepping away from that path was a major decision.
Instead of continuing in that direction, I chose to follow my passion for nutrition and wellness and became a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. That choice grew out of my pregnancy and postpartum experience during the pandemic. I became aware of how much a healthy lifestyle and nourishing food habits shape someone’s pregnancy experience, their overall well-being, and even their children’s long-term health.
My mission now is to support mothers during pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond, help them feel the best version of themselves, and to be part of the support network I wished I had.
Walking away from an established career and stable income felt risky, and I am not earning what I earned three years ago, but I feel genuinely happy with the work I do each day. The successes and wins of the women I work with make it worth it every single day, and this new career gives me the flexibility I need to be more present with my own children, too.

Karina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My business is called Real Food Roots, and I work as a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner supporting women through the many transitions of motherhood, whether that’s preparing for pregnancy, navigating postpartum recovery, balancing hormones, or simply trying to feel more energized and nourished while caring for their family.
Real Food Roots is grounded in three words: Nourishing, Empowering, and Grounded. I want every woman I work with to walk away feeling more connected to her body, more confident in how she cares for herself, and more rooted in her own wisdom.
What sets my approach apart is that it’s personalized and meets you where you are. I work with clients one-on-one and don’t believe in one-size-fits-all protocols or restrictive diets. Instead, I take time to understand each client’s unique story, symptoms, and goals, and we collaborate on realistic nutrition and lifestyle habits that they can implement in their already busy lives.
I offer all my services online, so while I am based in Louisville, Colorado, and many of my clients are local, they can work with me from anywhere from the comfort of their own home.
If you are interested in nutritional therapy and would like to explore working with me, I offer free 30-minute discovery calls so we can get to know each other.
If you’re looking for support but aren’t quite ready to work with someone 1:1, I also have a growing resource section on my website. You’ll find free guides, practical tips, and supportive tools on everything from choosing a quality prenatal vitamin to meal planning made easy.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Consistency, taking “massive” action, and patience. Over the last few years, I have realized that as an entrepreneur in the wellness space, I need to consistently put myself out there and push myself to be visible in my community by openly talking about what I do. My professional background in marketing has helped, but marketing my own personal brand and services feels much more vulnerable than creating campaigns for large companies. I have also learned that patience is essential when building a business, since it often takes many months, and sometimes years, to see real growth.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Networking with other providers who serve a similar clientele has been the most effective way for me to grow my practice. Early on in my business journey, I began attending networking events and collaborating with other professionals in the health and wellness space. It has been a great way to build relationships, learn from others, and refer clients back and forth. I believe it works so well because of the personal connection and trust that develops through those partnerships.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.realfoodroots.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodroots
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinawenker/

Image Credits

Kelly Contreras