[ FOODIE & ENTREPRENEUR ]
Pat LeGrand
BY ROBYN WEBB, MS, LN
They say necessity is the mother
of invention. Pat LeGrand knows
this firsthand. When her parents
were diagnosed with type 2
diabetes in 2004, she took it
upon herself to transform their
diet of Southern comforts into
something healthy.
One day, in the midst of
preparing food for the entire
week, Pat had an aha moment.
“I was hot [and] tired and
realized that not everyone
was going to prepare healthy
food at home,” she says.
“A light bulb went off:
Somebody has to take care
of people with diabetes and
their food needs, and that
somebody would be me.”
In March 2006, she opened
A Touch of Sugar restaurant in Cleveland. The attention was almost
instant. Patrons flooded the establishment, many from the city but
others traveling far and wide for the combination of delicious food,
diabetes focus, and portion control.
Like any astute businesswoman, Pat wanted to reach even more
people with her much-needed service. While she was still running the
restaurant, she began teaching about healthful cooking and good
nutrition in her community. She provided free food for Tour de Cure® and
Step Out events and has worked on the Association’s faith-based Project
Power® initiative in the African American community.
In 2012, Pat closed the restaurant portion of A Touch of Sugar and
now focuses on A Touch of Sugar’s nationwide food delivery service,
worksite wellness programs, and cooking education. Her goal is simple:
deliver healthy food with a great taste. “While tofu and sprouts are
certainly nutritious, the reality is people want mashed potatoes and
fried chicken,” she says. With the food she creates, healthy eating has
down-home appeal.
Robyn Webb, MS, LN, is an award-winning cookbook author,
nutritionist, and food editor with Diabetes Forecast. Check
out her cooking videos and American Diabetes Association
cookbooks at shopdiabetes.org/robynwebb.aspx.
motivation behind his
new campaign is
something special. His
aunt passed away from
complications of type 2
diabetes, and other
friends and family
members live with the
disease. “Since there
are nearly 30 million
Americans living
with diabetes, I think
we all probably have
someone in our family
or circle of friends who
has been touched by
diabetes,” he says.
McGraw’s always
been an advocate for
healthy living; as a
former athlete and son
of pro baseball player
Tug McGraw, he’d have
to be. But now he’s
more than walking the
walk: He’s talking
about diabetes
awareness and
education with huge
audiences, including on
his summer 2015
Shotgun Rider tour.
And as the spokesman
for America’s Diabetes
Challenge, you might
see his face at other
major ADA events
across the country,
from Step Out®: Walk
to Stop Diabetes® to
Feria de Salud and
beyond.
He’s keen to talk
with people about the
importance of A1C—a
measure of blood
glucose control—and
teaches people about
the risks of low blood
glucose. While he
doesn’t live with
diabetes himself,
he’s ready to be an
ambassador for the
cause. “I’m a strong
believer in making
healthy choices and
taking a proactive role
in your health,” he says.
“I want to help others
do the same.”
Lindsey
Wahowiak
is a health
writer in Washington,
D.C. When she thinks
“Tim McGraw,” she
does indeed think of
her favorite song.
“SOMEBODY HAS
TO TAKE CARE
OF PEOPLE
WITH DIABETES
AND THEIR FOOD
NEEDS, AND
THAT SOMEBODY
WOULD BE ME.”
People
to Know
2015
