localbusiness
One Part Inspiration, Two Parts Dedication: The perfect recipe for success
BY FRANNIE BARNES PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE CRADDOCK
I
nspiration can come from many places. For Taria Ramos of Gainesville, it came from her heart – her daughters. When her three daughters were young, she learned that one had a food intolerance to dairy and another was allergic to eggs and also had Celiac disease, an autoimmune condition in which the body cannot properly digest gluten which can lead to damage to the small intestine. Learning to navigate not only a gluten-free diet, but also a dairy- and egg-free diet, wasn’t easy, but Taria doesn’t shy away from a challenge. She poured herself into learning how to feed her daughters healthy food while also providing them with treats that all kids love but are difficult to find for those with food intolerances. Around the same time, Taria became a vegan, as it allowed her to transition easily to a diet without dairy and eggs. She also began baking gluten-free treats. Her cupcakes quickly earned her a reputation as an “allergy baker.” She would bring them to work, where they would be scooped up by colleagues. A former government executive who worked with troubled youth, Taria would bring cupcakes to youth detention centers and use them as a tool to counsel teens on how to make better choices and build a toolbox to transcend their
26 Haymarket / Gainesville Lifestyle J A N U A R Y
2022