About the Owner

In 2005, Pat LeGrand never intended to open a restaurant of any type, much less, a special diets restaurant. Pat had worked at fortune 500 and fortune 100 companies most of her life and considers herself a "corporate woman".  She's also a computer professional and enjoys technology.  Necessity became the mother of invention and love the motivator when Pat had to learn to to cook healthier after her mother at the age of 80 was diagnosed with diabetes approximately 6 years ago.  Her father was diagnosed soon after.  All they knew was sourthern comfort foods, so that's what Pat learned to modify.

Pat says she reluctantly learned to cook for diabetics.  She was helped with recipe books and information from the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association.  She became best friends with "Mrs. Dash", the salt-free seasoning and found there was a blend to make anything cooked taste better.  Substituting Promise margarine for butter and egg substitutes instead of whole eggs made all the difference in fat and cholesterol and you can hardly detect the difference in taste. 

Pat says "I had to learn to cook this way, I ignored it as long as I could thinking my mother would "figure it out" and be okay, after all, they even sent her to diabetic cooking classes at the hospital, but, it wasn't happening.  I could see she was actually suffering. It's hard to have to change at 80, so, I changed for her.  I never knew it could be so hard on a person to change their eating habits until I watched my mother struggle emotionally and physicially, unable to stabilize her blood sugar levels. I had taken eating for granted.  I don't anymore, I understand it effects a person's entire life.  It's a big, big thing to eat and cook differently.  But, I have since learned it is not that hard however using our recipes.  Healthier foods do taste differently, but, different does not mean bad.

Eventually, I had quite a collection of great tasting comfort food recipes that I could use to prepare food for Mom and Dad.  As Mom started eating these new dishes, she realized this was evidently achievable and she could get used to the taste. It didn't taste bad,but, it did taste different - less salt, a lot less, no grease - fat has flavor, but her body felt better and her diabetes became manageable.  She began to see the good results that come just by changing a few ingredients in your favorite recipes, things you are already eating - nothing new.

In her Own Words

Pat, as well as her parents, her 2 daughters and new son-in-law Jonathan are devout Jehovah's Witnesses. Pat says " I thank my God, Jehovah for giving me the idea to open this business.  I had long wanted to be self-employed and I wanted to do something that was unique but good for people - there is no way I could have selected such a perfect fit without Jehovah's assistance. 

GOD knew the demand for this type of service was overwhelming.  So many people were out there suffering silently, waiting, needing. I went from "Someone should do" to "I Will."It was the only way I was sure it would get done. I want people to live as long and as healthy as possible. Who's to say how much more time you will enjoy tomorrow because you ate healthier today. 

The foundation of my business can be summed up in 2 Bible verses found in Deuteronomy and Acts.  They show how badly God wants people to not just live, but thrive and prosper, this motivates me. It says:

  "I do take the heavens and the earth as witnesses agasinst you today, that I have put life and death before you, the blessing and the malediction, and you MUST  choose LIFE in order that you may keep ALIVE, you and your offfspring. (Deuteronomy 30:19)

  "If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will PROSPER. Good HEALTH to You! "  (Acts15:29)

Our Business

A Touch of Sugar Healthy Lifestyle Center opened it's doors on March 13, 2006 as America's first diabetic restaurant.  Our goal is to educate everyday people with the knowledge that chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease can be prevented and controlled by eating healthier. 

 And eating healthier and wiser does not mean food is no longer tasty and enjoyable.  We follow a common sense, balanced approach to healthy eating.  Based on the culture, circumstances, background of the individual - we determine what eating habits can be modified to help the person live a healthier lifestyle.  It is not absolute.  One size does not fit all when it comes to food - it never will.  It's that uniqueness that makes us individuals. 

We have learned that when people say "they'd rather die" than give up a certain food - they mean it.  People die everyday from eating foods that they KNOW is no good for them.  Foods that medical professionals and concerned others repeatedly warned them against.  Why?  We find most get overwhelmed.  Most people WANT to eat healthier especially after getting diagnosed with some chronic disease such as diabetes or heart disease - but most just don't know how.

People are lost and don't know how to eat better and still enjoy the experience of eating.  That's where A Touch of Sugar comes in.  First, we're myth busters, we try to stop the myths and misconceptions such as poor people can't afford healthy food - well they're eating something  - just take that same money and buy something different- just exchange one unhealthy item for a healthier version, just one.  Maybe that's as good as it ever gets for that person - but it's a healthy lifestyle change just the same.

Second, we prepare healthful foods that taste good and people get all excited about healthy eating. They start seeing that they could get used to eating this way and they don't suffer doing it.  It can be extremely enjoyable.  People feel better about themselves knowing they are changing their lifestyle for the better.

We educate, we encourage, we empower. That's our business.  We show people this is possible and a healthy lifestyle is no longer just for a chosen few - actually it never was, it's just - we didn't know how to do it - until now. And, the food choices and options available to people, not just our products, are just going to keep on getting better and healthier and tastier. 

There's a whole world of healthy desserts and comfort foods just waiting for you to discover them. Restricted diets never looked so good. Welcome to our world.  

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