Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Troderman.
Hi Jill, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Why I do what I do. My driving experience was to heal myself first and then focus on the outer world.
I became empowered by firing my doctor, who offered me no solutions to heal my health imbalance except for the use of pharmaceuticals, which I knew would not address the underlying problem but only mask my symptoms. I wanted to get to the root of my problem. I decided to go to nutrition school to figure out how to heal myself naturally, using foods, herbs and supplementation. I did.
After I had my children, two awesome boys, now 28 and 31, Max and Dylan respectively, I observed and realized how little control I had over what they were eating, especially the older they got. I am sure many parents can relate.
For instance, after sports games, it is common to offer snacks, and mostly just junk foods; now we call them ultra-processed foods, or UPFs. They are not good for anyone, especially kids just finishing a game right before dinner. The sheer amount really started to bother me. But what was I supposed to do? I didn’t want to fight with my kids every time so I changed my approach.
My motivation was to educate, empower, and inspire my kids by teaching them about foods and ingredients so they would grow up knowing how to make good educated decisions. I gave them the freedom to choose, and most often they wanted to eat well. Of course we occasionally would eat cake, ice cream and other treats, yet I’d make sure they were made with good, wholesome ingredients.
When they were young, they did say they just wanted to be “normal”, but thankfully now as grown adults they are thrilled by the way we raised them. We strove to be balanced, trusting, with fun yet realistic expectations. I was not going to be a short-order cook, yet always made sure there was food everyone would like. Except maybe on Tempeh night – hahah, my younger son, Max, still prefers not to eat it.
These experiences shaped how I think and how I teach families about holistic nutrition. These real-world situations shaped how I thought about food and eating in America and were one of the main reasons I studied nutrition.
I was led to develop my own eating program The Food Tree Holistic Nutrition and Wellness Guide/Curriculum, taught to thousands of kids and families. I have a poster and have built The Food Tree Magnetic Board educational tool featuring over 100 magnets. During COVID, I released my first book The Food Tree Holistic Nutrition and Wellness Curriculum: A Mind, Body, Soul Approach to Teaching Kids How to Eat Well and Be Healthy (2020).
I am a Certified Nutrition Consultant and Wellness Educator with over 30 years of experience in holistic nutrition and mental health, specializing in child and family wellness. I have proven expertise in creating individualized nutrition protocols and educational programs, demonstrated by the successful development of The Food Tree Holistic Nutrition and Wellness Curriculum. Achievements include educating thousands of people on healthy living and organizing classes, community events, markets, and festivals. Committed to empowering clients with personalized strategies for optimal health while contributing impactful wellness solutions.
My education includes Bauman College — Santa Cruz, CA, receiving my certificate as a Certified Nutrition Consultant and Certified Nutrition Educator
and a degree from Arizona State University — Tempe, AZ with a Bachelor of Arts, Psychology with a Sociology Minor.
Certifications and Awards
• Mindful Life Project Certification — Mindful Life Project (2026)
• Santa Cruz Good Time Best Nutritionist, Bronze (2024)
• Going Up Award — National Association of Nutritional Professionals (2013)
• Amino Acid Therapy Training — Julia Ross, M.A. (2013)
• Detox 360 Program — Apex Energetics (2012)
• First Line Therapy Lifestyle Educator Certification — Metagenics (2010)
In my past, I have created the business Blue Lotus Goods, a line of Outdoor Blankets using fleece on one side and water-resistant pack cloth on the other, making them ideal for all kinds of outdoor use. Through Blue Lotus, I created a line of Reusable Organic Cotton Produce and Bulk Food Bags – motivated by cleaning up the world’s oceans from plastic waste and creating massive human health issues. We were thrilled to have sold over 100,000 units, considering we were early in the game – dare I say influencers – of reusable kitchen green goods. I opened and ran the Pleasure Point Apothecary in Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz selling medicinal herbs and handcrafted herbal tea blends.
I’ve been a teacher to all ages of kids from infants working at Lucas Ranch – yes, that movie producer George Lucas in Marin County- to the supervisors of drug- and Alcohol Addicted juvenile delinquents and severely emotionally disturbed pregnant girls in San Francisco.
Most recently, I was the creator and producer of The Community Harvest Festivals and Soquel Homesteaders Markets in Santa Cruz, CA
01/2022 – 10/2024 with live music, vendors, food trucks, and speakers. Those were really fun community events! I sure do miss those days.
I also recently explored the world of being a Podcaster on the Feeding the Family Podcast – check out my shows on YouTube!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being an entrepreneur, which I realized I am after I developed a third business, can come with its own set of issues. I have so many ideas, often it is hard to focus and prioritize my goals. I need to be very disciplined to stay in my lane and get things done. I also love to garden, so my yard is always beckoning me to come outside and play!
As you know, we’re big fans of Holistic Family Nutrition . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I continue to promote The Food Tree Curriculum and offer counseling as a Nutrition Consultant, Holistic Family Nutrition from my base in Soquel, CA. My unique approach includes:
• Counseling clients as a holistic nutrition consultant operating a private practice focused on child and family wellness.
• Crafts tailored nutrition protocols, meal plans, professional-grade nutraceutical supplements, herbal remedies, and lifestyle strategies.
• Specializes in gut health, hormone regulation, emotional wellness, and optimal weight achievement.
• Conducts gardening and cooking classes, corporate food demos, wellness seminars, and green-living initiatives throughout the Bay Area.
• Provides mindfulness SEL classes
• Implement trauma-informed best practices for youth.
• Utilize the Brain House theory of amygdala and PFC awareness to foster emotional health.
• Help students learn, understand, and accept emotions by developing key interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, such as mindfulness, self-awareness, and self-confidence.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
One of the most important lessons I have learned on my journey is that not everyone will be a fan or advocate for your work. In that abyss, you must stop looking for validation from others; instead, you need to turn to yourself, trust your intuition, and keep forging ahead, regardless of naysayers. In that trust and discomfort, I found my business and products were exactly in the right place at the right time, usually a bit ahead of the curve.
What is next for me? I always want to be of service to the community! One of my mottos is Create the World You Want to Live In!
I look forward to hearing from you all, so please join my socials and reach out for support, guidance, and tasty food ideas!
Pricing:
- Counseling
- Restaurant Recipe Consultations
- Food Tree Holistic Nutrition Classes and Teaching
- Food Tree Holistic Nutrition and Wellness Curriculum
Contact Info:
- Website: https://santacruzholisticnutrition.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jill__troderman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063510553463
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-troderman-481bb458/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JillTroderman
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/@JillTroderman
