Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Goetz.
Hi Stephanie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When our oldest was about 6 weeks old, we discovered that he was highly sensitive to dairy. As a new mom, I was going to do everything possible to help to keep him healthy and safe. Living in a small town, there really weren’t a lot of options to substitute dairy from our diet. But with a lot of time, research and trial and error, I was able to start to feel comfortable with my new twist on eating. A few years later, after our second child was born, my husband started to experience some health issues. After going to a Functional Medicine Doctor, we discovered that he was also experiencing food sensitivities with gluten and dairy. My family’s food journey is what pushed me to making everything gluten and dairy free. I opened Mama G’s Kitchen in 2021, to be a resource for other families who were also expereincing food restrictions.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
To be honest, when we found out my son’s food restrictions and then my husband’s, I was okay with it. But as the years went on, many outside challenges started to weigh on me. I had a new baby, I resigned from my job to be full time mom and wife, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, and we lost him just 3 short months later.
My life felt surreal. I had expereinced so much change in such a short time. I trusted that God’s plan was good and pure and that He would give me the strength, knowledge, and community to help me through this. It was a blessing that God gave me the fore site to step back from my job to be able to spend extra time with my dad. It was such a blessing to be able to focus on him and focus on my family! Through this time of loss and grieving, my drive to care for my family was renewed. I strived to show them how much I cared for them by going above and beyond to make food my family loved and made them feel good. So, I started to make virtually everything from scratch because I began to see how the quality of what you put in your body will impact your physical and mental state.
As a few years passed, I started to meet more and more families who were struggling with food allergies and sensitivities. It was hard enough to cook and bake with one food allergy, but then when they started to stack up, it seemed nearly impossible to have a good-tasting meal or treat. Ready-made snacks and treats that were easy for busy families to grab and go were either impossible to find, disgusting or too expensive. I realized that I was given the gift of time, resources and the ability to mix the right ingredients together to make wonderfully tasting meals, snacks and treats that were gluten and dairy free. I heard about the Cottage Food Producer certification through the state of Minnesota that would allow me to bake and sell items made in my own kitchen and not be subject to state inspection. So, In November 2021, I opened Mama G’s Kitchen, an at-home bakery where I made homemade gluten and dairy-free snacks and treats that everyone could enjoy.
I had an amazing first month of business! By baking for other people, I started to hear their stories. People would tell me they hadn’t eaten a donut in years or couldn’t find a dessert that would cater to their exact diet. They said that my creations not only tasted good, but they didn’t have an allergic reaction when eating them! But in December, I had to shut down. Our family got sick with the flu and COVID (at the same time). We were out for a solid couple of weeks. Just as we were set to get back to normal life, our oldest developed hives all over his body. Thankfully, we had an appointment with our Family Doctor and Functional Medicine Doctor all set up for that week already. There was a consensus of him having an overload of virus just trying to escape his body and it was supposed to clear up in a few more weeks. Little did we know, this was the beginning of a 9-month journey that virtually led us in circles.
I was called to my son’s school almost every day to help him through his symptoms. Whether it was hives, headache, stomachache, confusion, dizziness, quick to emotion, lack of concentration…you name it, he seemed to feel it or experience it. We charted his food and activities to see if something was contributing. It was a slow process. Once we thought we were on the right path, his symptoms would come back or change.
Mama G’s gave me the drive and confidence to experiment with his diet. When we thought our son was allergic to sugar, we eliminated sugar (natural and artificial) from his diet. So, I said to myself, “I can do this! I can make him the food he needs.” I started to gain confidence in cooking and baking the way that we thought his body needed.
We began to see what diet change, supplements and other remedies didn’t seem to completely resolve all of his symptoms. Finally, months in, an allergy test showed us he was allergic to gluten, dairy, egg, soy and peanut. We celebrated and once again thought, “Alright! I can do this! I can make him the food he needs.” We cleaned up his diet from these allergens and thought his symptoms would all vanish. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Things changed and some symptoms resolved, but then he started to pass out.
At this point, I felt defeated. I had trusted so much in God’s plan for my young son-I thought that he would be okay! But I was feeling defeated. I was questioning why these nagging, somewhat invisible health problems? Why him? Why can’t I help him? Why won’t someone just solve it? Why won’t God just take it away? I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my son anywhere without me or my husband close by just in case he would react to something.
So, we continued to search for answers. His symptoms were showing possible pre-diabetes. We monitored his blood sugar, but those numbers were normal. We were turned away by clinic after clinic because there wasn’t a clear test that showed anything was wrong with him besides his allergies. Then, in a last ditch effort, we tried to test him for hyperinsulinism. As we waited for this blood test, his symptoms started to disappear. It took a week or so for the tests to come back and he started to act like the son I once knew. Once we got every blood panel back, his symptoms all but disappeared.
The only explanation we received is that he had long Covid, but there wasn’t a test that could show that. Slowly, the days turned into weeks without him experiencing any symptoms. His ability to focus slowly started to return and he started to regain confidence in himself. To this day, almost all of his symptoms are cleared except for his food allergies and some brain fog.
I am convinced that God brought our family through this for many reasons – 1. To trust God completely with everything. He is in control. Not me (or any other person for that matter). 2. To give me a heart and a passion to serve Him by meeting my family’s needs. I love to cook and bake for them. (Which is great because there really is only one restaurant my son can eat at without having a reaction). 3. To have a heart for families who are battling food allergies and sensitivities. I know firsthand how lonely this road can feel. Even when I was surrounded by a community who loved our family, prayed for us, and encouraged us, it still was hard to walk through life not knowing if the food I was about to give my son would make him sick or not. It was tiring. This season of my left really burned me out! I have learned to trust God in more ways this year. I am so grateful that He lead me to the idea of Mama G’s. It has brought passion that is my own and given me a hobby for me to love that is outside of my amazing family.
I am more passionate about Mama G’s now than when I opened over a year ago. When an order comes in, I can hardly wait to bake for that family! I want to be able to walk alongside individuals and families and bless them. I want to bless them by baking a really delicious treat or snack for them that is affordable and will be healthy for their body. I strive to use the best quality and the most natural ingredients that I can find, yes, even with a dessert. I always welcome a custom request, because I have walked through the no sugar, low histamine, and some of the most challenging diets I have ever encountered.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mama G’s Kitchen?
Mama G’s Kitchen an in-home bakery. I am a licensed Cottage Food Producer through the state of Minnesota and am licensed to bake and sell food items from my home and they are not subject to state inspection. Mama G’s sells hand-made gluten and dairy-free snacks and treats that everyone in your family will love. I also am able to accommodate most other major food allergens. I bake donuts, cookies, cakes, bars, brownies, granola bars and a variety of specialty items.
The thing that sets me apart from others is my passion for baking a really good-tasting treat or snack that everyone can enjoy. My goal is to bless families and individuals with food that is tasty!
How do you think about happiness?
God has blessed me in so many ways. Even through through life’s challenges of loss, hardship and times of the unknown. I have discovered happiness in serving my family by cooking and baking food that tastes amazing! It makes me happy to bless customers with a tasty treat that many of them haven’t had in years. I love to be able to share my gifts and talents to encourage others…even if that is through a cookie!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mama-g-kitchen.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamagkitchen00/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamagkitchen00
Image Credits
Food pictures taken by Stephanie Goetz
Logo by Amy Vincelli of Vincelli Designs
Decor/Personal Photo taken by Joe Goetz
