Hi!
Welcome to HerBalancedTable, a space where food, science, and self-care come together. I’m Jazlyn Alana Lancaster, a chemistry major on the pre-med track at Spelman College, with a passion for nutrition, neuroscience, and understanding how what we eat shapes how we feel, think, and live.
HerBalancedTable was born from something personal.
In the fall of my senior year of high school, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It felt like I had been handed a problem with no clear solution. This diagnosis left me both confused and relieved; I finally had an explanation of where my symptoms of irregular cycles and hormonal acne had erupted from. Unfortunately, the mental toll of insecurity and self-doubt put me in a cycle of overwhelm.
To manage my symptoms, I was prescribed spironolactone, a medication that targeted my hormonal acne and, if present, excess hair growth caused by PCOS. For a while, these pills settled my hormones, and I was a free bird scarfing down anything I laid my eyes on, but this medication became a dependency, and if I missed a few days of my scheduled two pills, my hormones would go back into a wacky state. I wanted to find a better, healthier way to go about this hormonal madness.
After experiencing PCOS, I started to question everything I was eating, how my body responded, and why so much health advice felt confusing, overwhelming, or just… incomplete. I scoured the internet for answers on diets, sleeping habits, and a simple explanation of how I could have developed this syndrome. I was always met with conflicting advice and quick fixes that were neither affordable nor sustainable. I kept thinking, Why is this so hard? What’s wrong with my body? Why me? This frustration planted the first seed for my table.
Throughout my journey, I realized that food can be more than fuel; if chosen wisely, it can be medicine. With consistent research, I learned how nutrition impacts hormones that can help manage PCOS symptoms. The more I read, the more I fell in love with the food on my plate. I began experimenting with how altering my favorite foods and making small changes could impact the way I felt. (Turns out, cauliflower really can do everything: pizza crust, rice, salad, etc.)
PCOS is often undiagnosed and misunderstood. Through conversations with friends, volunteers, and leaders of community gardens in my neighborhood, I realized how many women feel unsupported in managing their symptoms. This platform will be my area to amplify voices and share resources to advocate for change. Most importantly, raising awareness of how it disproportionately impacts Black women. Due to systemic biases in healthcare and a lack of targeted research, Black women are underdiagnosed. With earlier intervention, prolonged suffering and untreated symptoms can be reduced.
HerBalancedTable reflects my vision of balancing hormones, maintaining a healthy relationship with food, and the other challenges PCOS brings to the table. I want this to feel like a welcoming table where everyone has a seat. A source of hope and empowerment for those who have struggled with PCOS, new or for years, this is a place for you. Welcome and pull up a chair, and let’s navigate this journey as a community!
What This Space Is About
You’ll find:
- Nutrition insights & food science
- PCOS and hormone health education
- Lifestyle + wellness routines
- Recipes, reflections, and real-life balance
More Than Just Food
For me, food is more than fuel; it’s connection, culture, and care.
Through HerBalancedTable, I’m building toward something bigger:
a future where health education is accessible, and where women, especially those in underserved communities, feel empowered to understand and care for their bodies.
Fun Facts About Me
- My favorite colors are Pink and Yellow!
- I LOVE yoga and plan on getting my YTT someday! (currently perfecting my headstand)
- I am from the Big Apple. New York or Nowhere!!!
- I am a Drake and Jhene Aiko fanatic.