My Story

Hello! I'm Lana. I am a wife of an amazing and godly husband, and mom of four lovely daughters. This is why one of my charities that I am passionate about supporting is: Kiva.org (oddly enough my niece's name!). Kiva is a micro-lending organization that allows often women to get loans for entrepreneurship around the world and to be successful and self-sustaining! I love learning, teaching, mentoring and helping others. I am a Certified Biblical Health Coach, Montessori & Christian School Teacher, Social Services Worker, Published Author, and a University Graduate of Sociology & English Honours Program.

Some of the people in my family and extended family have had related autoimmune, digestive, gut health and emotional health issues, which has led me down a path of desperately trying to find any and all resources to help speed the healing process. From Nutritionists, Therapeutic Approaches (including Pet Therapy) , homeschooling, to Naturopaths, Allergists, doctor's offices, alternate educational approaches, as well as social services, counselling and mentoring - I have done it all!

Throughout all of my years of experience with children, families, low-income, families with food insecurity, and with, of course, my own family, I have come to know that a nutrient-dense diet, good nutritional and environmental awareness, education, training, and meeting the S.A.F.E. Hierarchy of Needs requirements will ensure that individuals and families are in optimal health, self-sustaining, and are being proactive for future generations for families who 'shall not be in want'.

The coaching, educating, and guiding (AKA 'Shepherding') individuals towards a more sustainable future (services provided by myself, local volunteers, and community partners, are based on my Biblical Health Coaching Certificate, my Culinary Nutrition Program & community partner services and programs developed for vulnerable populations, which all aim to help individuals, families, and community members live healthier, safer, preventative, restorative, and a life of empowerment and fulfillment. After all, it is better to be S.A.F.E. than sorry!

Trials and valleys that I have journeyed through......

This is why I have such a strong desire to help others (low-income families, single moms, vulnerable population, malnourished, homeless, mental health issues, food insecurity) to be proactive and to learn more about how we can educate and help ourselves, help the environment, remove toxins, and develop good nutritional habits, be SAFE, and be empowered for your families and your children, then you can have a better chance at a healthy quality of life, and maybe even prevent future illness!

1981 - My dad dies of esophageal cancer. I was 10 years old, and suffered some anxiety.
1990 - My mom, now a single mom, suffers from panic attacks, and has psoriasis
2001 - Our first daughter is born with severe colic and later a severe anxiety disorder which involved: school refusal, fear of choking, she stops eating, and the naturopath says she has more food sensitivities than she has ever seen before!
2003 - I attend Muskoka Bible Campground and become a Christian
2010 - I decide to write and publish a book and parent's manual to help other families with emotional challenges and to be an advocate for their children (The Sheepish Lamb, based on Psalm 23).
2012 - Our 2nd daughter, who is 9 years old, has severe anxiety and school refusal, as well as cannot self-regulate, and, later suffers with migraines where she loses half vision
2015 - I begin to notice that I, too, have psoriasis on scalp, which later leads to psoriasis on other parts of the body (ie. legs)
2017 - Our 3rd daughter is diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, has panic attacks, joint pain.
2020 - I receive my Biblical Health Coaching Certificate and begin work on my S.A.F.E Family Health Coaching Program & Business!
2021 - Our 4th daughter has an acute pancreatic attack, and is hospitalized for a night; the diagnosis is 'viral'.
2021 - I get a severe outer ear infection that spreads to my lymph nodes, and across my face and I have to have IV antibiotics for 3 days, and take antibiotics for 3 weeks!
2021 - I have a vaccine reaction, and am diagnosed with psoriasis (my diet greatly affects it!) I get more serious about my Health Coaching Business & take the Culinary Nutrition Program.

2023 - My daughter and I take a trip to Costa Rica and do some missions and outreach there. I am inspired to do more to help families in need, to access S.A.F.E. needs and to give empowerment (employment, housing, good nutrition, healthy food, provision for spiritual, emotional, mental, physical health needs in the vulnerable population. I also discover the idea of social enterprise, and my daughter graduates with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing. The Ministry in Costa Rica inspires us to use our gifts in order to shepherd those in need. Lastly, I discover 'Pura Vida' and that the best life is a simple, yet abundant, and fulfilling life with purpose! Live it! There is a BlueZone in Nicoya, Costa Rica where centurians (people with the most longevity in the world) live! Why? Simple, abundant, faithful, peaceful life, full of 'everything Costa Rica', and full of S.A.F.E. Healthy things (nutritious, fresh wholesome food, sunlight, sea water, less stress,..). My psoriasis totally cleared in Costa Rica, so I intend to add 'all things Costa Rica' to my S.A.F.E. Refill Pantry too! I was also inspired to prevent waste, and add Upcycled Health Food to my refillery and offered in conjunction with information and training provided by a 'S.A.F.E. Health Coach' and social service worker:)

Weaved throughout the last few years is my work in the social services, helping low-income families, single moms, residents in shelters, to be aware of resources, and to access needs, food security, as well as aiding in the prevention of food waste, and to help the environment (upcycling really helps!) in order to promote social change and health awareness in priority communities throughout my local area and beyond.

Through this, I continue to research good and safe health and more preventative measures to help myself and my family. After trying so many different medications and therapies, I figure out the importance of healing the gut and overall body with dietary therapy. supplements, food sensitivity awareness testing, and elimination diets, and other ideas as learned in the SAFE Program, and have recently watched our daughters and myself heal, and go into remission!

I have made it my mission to help others, and families, to become aware of the importance of journeying into the future following eco-safe practices which helps overall health, and what you can do to take preventative measures in order to avoid digestive issues, chronic illness, emotional disorders, and so many more health problems in the future! Also, to prevent medical visits for our families and children and to empower them in order for them to break the generational cycle of poverty and malnutrition, live self-sustaining lives, and to STAY HEALTHY & STAY SAFE!!

S.A.F.E. REFILL PANTRY.....

GIVE YOUR WALLET A BREAK!

When you refill, you save an average of 20% vs buying 500ml or 1L bottles!

REDUCE WASTE!

Refill after refill, you save dozens of plastic bottles. Less plastic to recycle, less plastic pollution.

MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER!

Buying bulk or refilling means less trips to the store.