Mentors

Ashley Ojeda Porter

I have had the honor of serving as a mentor for the past two years, and I enjoy it so much that I’m back! My healthy journey started in 2020 after being diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (auto immune disease). You can hear all about my story on our clean eating YouTube vlogs or listen to my interview on the Fresh CrEd podcast episode 18. I talk about the diagnosis, initial struggles along with the improvements in my bloodwork and decrease in medication prescriptions.

To date this is the most confident I have ever felt in my life. I’m most thankful for my support system and the encouragement that was given to me when first joining the Clean Eating Challenge. I applaud everyone who is finally putting their health first.  Making the decision is simple, but if this was easy everyone would be doing it.

Document your journey and share your story. You never know who you will inspire.

Serving you from Pflugerville, Texas your Friendly Produce Partner from H-E-B.

Beth Keeton

Hi y’all! Beth here, and I’m a fresh produce PR gal and the owner of Elephant House PR in Fort Worth, TX. As someone who tells compelling stories about the food we eat and the people who grow it, I knew I wanted to put my money where my mouth is a couple years ago and increase my own consumption of fresh produce. What started as a group “weight loss program” for me became a form of therapy and unraveling of unhealthy beliefs I had around food and health.

Thanks to a “world flipped upside down” experience amidst the challenge, I realized how important exercise, mental health, emotional health, and spiritual health are alongside healthier food choices. I’m thrilled to see so many participants in this year’s challenge with unique goals pertaining to feeling better overall, making healthier choices, and getting stronger – for themselves and the people they love. I can’t wait to support this group on their own individual journeys and keep the momentum going for myself in the process!

Ed Bertaud

I’m 50 and I feel better than I did in my 30s. I wanted to prove my commitment to the industry and to my profession, and since then it’s become so much more. At the beginning of the challenge, my main motivator was essentially not to fail and to be a good example both for the industry and for Viva Fresh. I knew I needed to do this, and I knew the accountability associated with everybody knowing about this challenge would keep me on the straight and narrow.

I started where I didn’t want to fail, and I didn’t want to be the guy that didn’t make any gains or didn’t get any better. In passing one day, Craig Slate said to me, “I know one day it’s going to be the end for me, but how I choose that end to be I can affect now,” and that really stood out to me. Am I going to be actually living my life all the way to end? With this perspective shift, I took to the self-discipline necessary to successfully carry out the challenge. I didn’t expect to have the way I think about food change so much. When I really thought about food as a way to fuel my body, my life, and my lifestyle, it changed everything. I know it sounds corny, but I dare say it changed my life. When I began this challenge, I was on the borderline for needing medication for blood sugar and cholesterol, among other things. Since then, I dropped 45 pounds—and feel better than I have in years.

James Bassetti

I was born and raised in the Valley of South Texas.  I am a father of two young girls, and they are a big reason for my “why” when it comes to living an active and healthy lifestyle. Growing up in a produce family, fruits and especially vegetables were staples on our plates.  This is something that my wife and I have incorporated into our own children’s lives to ensure healthy development. Having two young children has kept me accountable in terms of setting the right example when it comes to remaining physically active and feeding my body with proper nutrition.

When the opportunity to become a mentor for the Clean Eating Challenge came up I was very excited to be involved and share the insight I have accrued over the years to assist people looking for how to lead a more healthy lifestyle.  So far the journey has been insightful for me and I have really enjoyed working with the folks on the team.  Everyone faces a different set of circumstances or challenges and I think its great that we’ve put together something that can help support someone’s aspirations to improve their way of life.

Mattie Fisher

My name is Mattie Fisher, I am 34 years old and live in Florida. I am honored to join this amazing Clean Eating Challenge that focuses on eating more fresh produce as mentor and past participant My BIG WHY for wanting to be a part of this challenge is to live a healthier lifestyle, but to also enhance my type one diabetes management by eating more produce. Having type one diabetes is an everyday challenge. There are no breaks or vacations, it demands my attention 24/7. By joining this challenge, I know I will be able to keep my overall diabetes health where it needs to be and will gain more understanding of how produce can benefit my overall health. This challenge means so much more to me than just losing a few pounds, which I will be happy about 😊, but also taking care of my type one diabetes which effects every part of my life and body. My hopes are to be successful in this challenge, but to also share my experiences throughout the whole process and to encourage others to choose a healthier lifestyle.

Megan Jacobsen

Farming is truly a labor of love. As a fourth generation born and raised farm girl from Fresno County, California, it is safe say that agriculture is even woven into my DNA. Although my upbringing was in the fresh grape, raisin and wine grape industry, the place I now call home is fresh veg. Every day I get to share with customers my passion for healthy soil and how we grow our food. I truly believe there is a magic found within fresh produce and being connected more to your food.

Like the many layers found within an onion, holistic health and wellbeing has many layers too. For some of us, it is not as simple as cutting calories and/or exercising more. Genetics play a major role, however, it does not define an individual’s health on its own. Taking small steps to living healthier each and every day is choice we get to make. My personal journey through last year’s CEC is one that had many speed bumps – chronic back pain flare ups, blood glucose/A1C and fertility issues, to name a few. Choosing to eat fresh and continuing to move my body daily has helped mitigate these concerns. It is a privilege to pay it forward and co-mentor a team of four individuals in this year’s challenge. I hope I can only help encourage and inspire them as much as my CEC mentor did for me.

Susie Rea

As a native of San Diego, Ca being in the outdoors was a given. I have a strong background in sports, particularly tennis, which is my favorite sport. Having dedicated the last 26 years to a career in the fresh produce industry, I make it a point to live an active healthy lifestyle and I am passionate about cooking. I face the common challenge of staying on track with my routines when having to travel. My greatest satisfaction is achieved by assisting others become the best versions of themselves.

TJ Flowers

I’m 44 years old, married, and father of two.  When I was 38 years old I weighed 225 lbs.  My triglycerides were close to 400.  My good cholesterol was low, my bad cholesterol was high and my A1C numbers were tracking towards pre-diabetes.  I often felt like crap.  I was especially lethargic at the office after lunch.  I was also always complaining about sore joints, bad knees, bad back, poor sleep and general malaise that I often attributed to getting older. Worst of all, I THOUGHT that I was eating relatively healthy, and getting more exercise than most.  It turns out, that most all my problems had more to do with poor diet and lack of exercise than getting older.  I went to a cardiologist who told me that if I didn’t change what I was doing, I would be diabetic within a few years.  I started making changes, slow at first, but gradually I noticed the positive results.  With a little momentum from success and encouragement family/friends/doctor, I was able to begin making changes that I NEVER would have thought were possible.  Now, at 42, I weigh 195 lbs and I’m in the best shape that I have been in since college and I’m still making strides towards a healthier me.  My numbers are all within a healthy range.  Best of all, what I’m doing is sustainable and I do not feel deprived from foods that I like, nor do I feel like I’m “spinning my wheels” in the gym for no results. I try to exercise and be active throughout week but make no mistake, the best thing I did to achieve my current level of health was to eat cleaner, more natural foods, including lots of fruits and vegetables.