For a long time, a lot of my joy was tied to food. Special occasions meant special meals. Family traditions revolved around baking and sharing treats. And then, life threw me a curveball—I found out I was diabetic.

Suddenly, the very things that brought me comfort and connection—the cookies, the Christmas treats, the homemade dishes I tied to memories—were off-limits, or at least had to be drastically changed. My first holiday season after getting sick was rough. Every year, I had made my mother’s favorite Christmas desserts as a way to feel close to her and my dad. But now? That tradition, that little piece of joy, felt like it had been ripped away.