We had the good fortune of connecting with Tori Kornhaas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tori, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

I like to joke that I’m a recovering corporate ladder climber. Starting my career in finance for a large energy company in Tulsa, OK, I dreamed of working my way up from Analyst to Director to Vice President. I romanticized a pencil skirt, crisp shirt and power pumps. Then somewhere along the way I realized I wasn’t meant to be told what to do or when to do it. I saw Tom Bilyeu speak at a conference and he said something to the effect of, “The only person who controls my time is me.” I wrote it in bold letters in my notebook. I underlined and circled it. I knew right then that it would be my motto moving forward. Creating The Everyday Yum didn’t come to me immediately. I knew first that I wanted to be an entrepreneur, then I needed to figure out what the hell I would be good at. What did I spend my free time doing? What was I reading or constantly nerding out on? The answer was a combination of nutrition, wellness, fitness, food and cooking. I wanted to share a life that can be healthy, balanced and still full of YUM! I knew I needed a business that I could do as a side hustle at first, as I wasn’t ready to leave my corporate job, and something that could be done remotely, giving me the freedom to work from wherever in the world I wanted to be. I found an incredible Nutritional Therapy program and dove in head first. The more I learned, the more my passion for sharing healthy foods, lifestyle and targeted supplementation grew. Now that I run my business full time, I’m constantly reminded of how important and valuable this work is. I’ve since ditched the pencil skirts and high heels.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I strive to bring my clients’ bodies back into balance by supporting their foundations—digestion, blood sugar, fatty acids, minerals, and hydration. I guide them with nutrient-dense diets, functional lab testing, lifestyle adjustments, and therapeutic supplements. Everyone deserves to live a healthy, vibrant life.

One of my core values–personally and professionally–is the freedom to live life on my terms. I chose to pursue a path where I’m in charge, and I want that for my clients too. The work I do with my clients leaves them free to live life without the burden of digestive issues, fatigue, pain, hormonal imbalances, extra weight, etc. My goal is to leave them feeling invigorated and empowered so they can tackle the things in life that are most important to them–careers, relationships, family, friends, travel, or even everyday tasks.

I love seeing incredible client results like improved energy, healthy digestion, weight loss, and so on, but I truly get lit up when I hear about the small, everyday changes they make–drinking more water, cooking for the first time, trying new foods, eating three meals a day, going to bed early. One of the things I’ve learned from my clients, as well as in business ownership, is it’s the little changes that add up to big results. And change takes time! I’ve really had to learn how to be patient, which does not come naturally to me. Let’s just say I’m still learning.

In addition to my nutrition coaching, I’m also a wellness retreat chef! This was sort of a fluke. It was never part of the plan, but my friends, Kelsey Brown and Preston Slaughter of Awaken Retreats, were planning their first retreat and asked if I could cook for them. We were hoping 10 people would sign up and we ended up just shy of 30. It was a wild ride, but we pulled it off. They keep asking me back, and I keep saying yes! Working as a retreat chef is a ton of work, but we have a great time, and I’m always so honored to nourish our guests. It doesn’t get much better than sitting around the table enjoying an incredible meal, connecting with new friends.

The journey to business ownership has been filled with high-highs and low-lows. I still struggle with fear of failure, imposter syndrome, and self doubt. I’m not sure if that ever really goes away. One thing I’m very confident about is that I always go for what I want. I always have. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t, but when I look at my life today–my relationship, home, career, friends–everything I have is a result of going for it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The options are endless here in Denver, but a trip to Colorado would be remiss without a hike in the Rocky Mountains. One of my favorite areas to hike is Brainard Lake Recreation Area–the stunning alpine lakes, wildflowers and dense forrest can’t be beat. After a strenuous hike, drive over to Crosscut Pizzeria in Nederland for delicious wood-fired pies and local beers. In the summer, I love spending Sunday mornings shopping for local produce at South Pearl Street Farmers Market. Grab some fresh sourdough from Rebel Bakery, juicy Palisade peaches, plenty of berries, tomatoes and greens. Whip up a little picnic and head to Wash Park for the afternoon. There are so many great restaurants for dinner, but a few of my go-to’s include Potager in Cap Hill, Fruition on 6th street and Wildflower in LoHi is one of my newest favorites! If you’re looking to indulge, head over to Parlor Doughnuts for breakfast. Their doughnuts are to die for. They even have a gluten-free option which is this nutritionist’s dream.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My journey has been impacted by so many people–from growing up with entrepreneurial parents to a failed relationship that forced growth, yoga teacher training, business coaching groups, incredible colleagues from every company I’ve worked for. I have been very blessed to be surrounded by inspiring, strong, smart, ambitious women throughout my entire career, many of whom have become my dearest friends today. I also have to give a huge shoutout to my incredible fiancé who is my biggest cheerleader and talks me off the ledge almost daily (life of starting a business!).

Website: https://theeverydayyum.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeverydayyum

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tori-kornhaas-27940759/

Image Credits
Tayler Carlisle Photography and Preston Slaughter Photography

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