We were lucky to catch up with Alana Hunnicutt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alana , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

My name is Alana, also known as Chef Alana. I am a Washington DC native and a chronic disease warrior.

I am the owner of Klean Plate Catering, LLC and the founder of the non-profit Nurture by Nature Inc.

In my catering business, I serve what my clients request which can be both healthy and not so healthy dishes.

The part of my business that I am most passionate about is my meal prep services, and collaborating with other organizations in my community like the DC government to provide healthy meals and education that supports health and wellness.

Here’s why I’m passionate about health and wellness in my community. You see, I’ve lived with chronic kidney disease (ckd) for almost 30 years. I’ve had two kidney transplants and spent one year on dialysis.

What I’ve found in my ckd journey is that blacks has the highest rate of kidney disease and the two leading causes are high blood pressure and diabetes all of which is prevalent in black communities.

I’ve also learned (which many people do not know) that Washington, DC is the highest in the nation for kidney disease. That’s why you’ll find dialysis facilities popping up in concerning numbers everywhere in the DMV area.

After being a warrior and learning how we are the highest in the nation for ckd, Specifically in wards 7 & 8 who are underserved and disadvantaged, I birthed my non-profit Nurture by Nature inc.

Nurture by Nature inc collaborated with Kindness for Kidneys International non profit in 2022 to serve dialysis patients in our community. My company prepared close to 800 meals to dialysis patients for the holidays and the other non-profit passed out stuffed gift bags. That was the most soul fulfilling thing I’ve ever done and I knew that was my calling to merge my for profit and non-profit businesses.

I am now devoting most of my time to serve the chronic kidney disease community more specifically wards 7&8 as well as dialysis patients by providing resources, support groups, health and wellness education, cooking demonstrations, meals, advocacy, and health and wellness education/workshops so they can learn to support themselves in maintaining a quality of health and life.

Alana , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Here’s why I’m passionate about health and wellness in my community. You see, I’ve lived with chronic kidney disease (ckd) for almost 30 years. I’ve had two kidney transplants and spent one year on dialysis.

What I’ve found in my ckd journey is that blacks has the highest rate of kidney disease and the two leading causes are high blood pressure and diabetes all of which is prevalent in black communities.

I’ve also learned (which many people do not know) Washington, DC is the highest in the nation for kidney disease. That’s why you’ll find dialysis facilities popping up in concerning numbers everywhere in the DMV area.

After being a warrior and learning how we are the highest in the nation for ckd, Specifically in wards 7 & 8 who are underserved and disadvantaged, I’ve birthed my non-profit Nurture by Nature inc.

Nurture by Nature inc collaborated with another Kindness for Kidneys International’s non profit in 2022 to serve dialysis patients in our community. My company prepared close to 800 dialysis friendly meals for the holidays and the other non-profit passed out stuffed gifts. That was the most soul fulfilling thing I’ve ever done and I knew that was my calling to align my passion with my purpose.

My goal Is educating my community to get as much quality of life they can. Many don’t know they have a say so in their treatments, they have a voice in the care they receive, and they can advocate for themselves. They can take actions to get medications lowered by diet and lifestyle changes, they can shorten their time on dialysis and even prepare them selves to be on the transplant wait list to get a kidney, all of which can improve your quality of life. Not only am I a fellow warrior who knows exactly what they are going through, I am trained to be a key note speaker who has traveled all over the nation sharing my story of triumph, and I’m certified to educate my ckd warriors.

I am now devoting most of my time to serve the chronic kidney disease community more specifically wards 7&8 as well as dialysis patients by providing resources, support groups, health and wellness education, cooking demonstrations, meals, advocacy education, health and wellness education/workshops so they can learn to support themselves in maintaining a their quality of health and life.

I am looking to land my own facility, seek grants, donations, collaborate with other organizations with similar missions, as well as launch my cookbook, products and other things in spring of 2024.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Living with a chronic kidney disease and being a business owner and non-profit founder, I can give you a plethora of instances of resilience.

One that comes in mind is my disastrous holiday season. It’s where my health and business clashed.

I had a busy holiday schedule. My thanksgiving packages were sold out, I had corporate clients booked, and I was preparing for the big undertaking of making close to 800 meals to dialysis patients and my whole household came down with the flu with me being hospitalized.

I’m have ptsd just thinking about it. While it was against my doctors order (don’t do what I did) and against my better judgement, I begged my doctor to discharge me so I could prepare everyone’s meals and complete my corporate catering events.

I had to push myself life no other. While I fell short of a few thanksgiving packages, thank goodness for loyal understand customers, the majority had no clue what I was pushing through.

This may sound cliche’ but it was only by the grace of god that I made it through that grueling holiday season with no additional health issues.

My heart and intentions was in the right place and I was given so much grace.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’ve owned my catering business since 2012. I was working for the federal government when I started my catering business. Food was always my passion. Whatever non food positions I’ve held, I always ended up being best know for my food. I was great at my jobs but always better with food.

I was hired by the higher ups to cook for retirement parties, holiday events and more while working my hired position.

Being the 9-5 girl was never my thing but I did it because my elders ingrained it into me.

You can only go against your spirit and calling for so long without it taking a toll on you. I live with a chronic illness which means I have to live with this for the rest of my life. A career brings benefits and stability but my soul was tormented.

It wasn’t until 2019 that I decided to walk away from my federal governments Position and fully step into my catering business.

Being a full time entrepreneur is not for the weak as many know and navigating an illness with it is just that much more challenging as you can imagine.

Even with all the challenges, I could never see me doing the 9-5 again. I respect everyone in that position, it just does not align with my mission and purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.Nurturebynatureinc.com ; www.Kleanplatefoods.com
• Instagram: K.p.foods
• Facebook: Klean Plate Catering
• Linkedin: Nuturebynatureinc