About

About Jen

Due to a life long struggle with allergy, asthma, digestive illness, and food sensitivity, taking an active role in managing my health has been key for me. While our advanced society allows us the benefits of modern medicine for which I am grateful, I found that too often conventional doctors were not taking an interest in a holistic approach to my health and well being. When they couldn’t figure out how to make me feel better or why a particular prescribed medicine was having unfavorable side effects, they often gave up or suggested it was all in my head.  That approach did not work for me. I started looking into alternative and complementary medicine, and looking at diet and lifestyle as factors affecting my well-being.

When my older son had a life threatening reaction to nuts at age two, I tried to find out as much information as possible on how to make his world safer. I found that while the allergists could explain to me the basics of his condition and offer a generic treatment plan, the “juicy” real life info came from other parents in the trenches. I spent many hours of many days scouring the food allergy message boards looking for recipes, tips, and warnings. I have a library filled with books on allergy, asthma, natural healing alternatives, detox diets, and more. This information on how to parent a child with food allergies and sensitivities was truly invaluable.

When my second son began having terrible gastrointestinal discomfort at six weeks old, suffering 10 or more mucousy stools a day, the specialist recommended switching him to an hypoallergenic, elemental formula. I was committed to breastfeeding him, so I did my own research before making a rash decision.  Instead of weaning him, I went on an elimination diet and discovered he was sensitive not just to dairy and soy, but a host of other foods from citrus to eggs. If I hadn’t done my own research, I might have quit breastfeeding, but instead I continued for 9 more months, carefully navigating my diet and his. His stools became normal as I eliminated the foods that irritated his belly. He thrived on my breast milk.

Incorporating holistic healing methods into our wellness regimen, and becoming more conscious of how diet and environment affect our health, has really improved our quality of life. Making connections between people in my community and holistic health and wellness providers has become my passion. Healing my community one person at a time...

Jen Maidenberg, founder and owner of Mindful Living NJ, is married to Avi and together they are raising three children in West Orange, NJ. Their journey has taken them from New Jersey to Tucson, Arizona and back to Jersey. Jen's professional background includes work in the publishing industry. Her previous employers include Scholastic Books for children, Parade Magazine, the Lisa Frank Company, and the Arizona Jewish Post. Jen was also the co-owner of 2 Jewish Cowgirls.