Food in the Making brings together 20+ years of lived experience, practical food guidance, and thoughtful approaches to help you explore a way forward.
When someone tells me they're struggling with digestive symptoms, I know there's often a much bigger story behind those words.
Gas might mean they're terrified of sitting through a meeting at work.
Uncontrollable diarrhea might mean they can't leave the house, get their kids ready for school, or make it through an ordinary morning without worrying about the bathroom.
Abdominal pain might mean canceling plans again. Nausea might mean being unable to make breakfast for the family. Bloating might mean another evening spent at home because they're too uncomfortable to go anywhere.
Life doesn't stop asking things of you just because you're sick.
I know that because I've lived it.
I stopped going to barbecues and parties because I couldn't eat what everyone else was eating. Eventually, I stopped being invited to some of those gatherings.
People don't always see the suffering. They see someone who's tired, someone who's missed work again, someone who cancels plans, or someone who doesn't seem interested in participating anymore.
They don't see what happens behind closed doors.
And sometimes, the hardest part is feeling like no one understands.
That's why I don't look at digestive problems as a list of symptoms to check off. I think about the person experiencing them and everything those symptoms may be taking away.
You don't need to have Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or any particular diagnosis to belong here.
You want to participate in your own life again.
And that's what Gut-Friendly Living means to me.
why i do it
After more than 20 years of navigating digestive disease, I know how overwhelming it can be to figure out what to do next.
That's why I created Food in the Making—to share the knowledge, food approaches, and practical tools I've developed through my own experiences.
Whether you're looking for answers, exploring changes to your diet, or simply hoping to feel better, I'm glad you're here.
I created Food in the Making to share my experience, but my OANNI emerged from that journey. It's the heart and strength that grow out of meaningful change for people navigating digestive issues.
There was a time when digestive disease had taken over nearly every part of my life.
My health was deteriorating, and I was struggling to imagine what my future would look like.
I was desperate for answers.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, someone handed me a piece of paper about a dietary approach I'd never heard of.
I didn't know whether it would work. I only knew I had to try.
So I made a commitment to myself. For more than five years, I followed that approach without a single cheat, even when people around me didn't understand.
Over time, my health changed, and I experienced more than 10 years of remission.
But something else happened along the way.
I discovered a strength within myself that I hadn't known was there.
That experience became the heart of OANNI™ and the reason I created Food in the Making.
After more than 20 years of navigating digestive disease, I want to share what I've learned, the practical guidance I wish I'd had, and the encouragement to help you take your own first step.
I found my strength when I needed it most. And I believe there's strength in you, too.
START HERE
Gut-friendly living should fit your life—not the other way around.
OANNI was born from more than 20 years of navigating digestive disease, learning about food, and discovering what it means to make choices that work for my body and my life.
Today, OANNI brings together the foundational foods, practical knowledge, and approaches I've developed to help you explore what works for yours.
And because everyone's starting point is different, there are two ways to begin.
A thoughtful, step-by-step approach.
For those navigating more challenging digestive issues, the OANNI Progression provides a structured way to begin with foundational foods and gradually explore additional foods as you discover what your body consistently tolerates.
A fresh start with a more direct approach.
The OANNI Reset offers a different way to explore the same food foundation, bringing together practical guidance, recipes, and everyday strategies to help you make meaningful changes.
When I first began changing the way I ate, I had a list of foods and a handful of recipes. Everything else, I had to figure out for myself.
What could I buy at the grocery store? How could I make cooking easier? What could I do when I was exhausted, traveling, or simply trying to get through an ordinary day?
Over the years, I've spent countless hours researching, experimenting, and finding practical solutions.
I don't want you to spend years searching for answers I've already spent years looking for.
Explore articles, symptom trackers, and helpful resources to better understand what you're experiencing and recognize patterns.
Discover foundational foods, ingredient guidance, shopping strategies, and practical tools to help you explore what works for your body.
Find approachable recipes, kitchen essentials, preparation tips, and convenient alternatives for the days when cooking feels like too much.
Discover everyday products, routines, and practical solutions for navigating digestive challenges at home, at work, and on the go.
Free Gut-Friendly Resources
Start with what you're experiencing today. Explore free tools to help you recognize patterns and navigate everyday digestive challenges.
Track bloating and digestive discomfort.
Record cramping and pain patterns.
Track nausea around meals and activities.
Observe patterns and possible triggers.
Explore bowel habits and routines.
Support hydration and daily preparation.
A practical food starter guide for anyone wondering where to begin.
FREE GUT-FRIENDLY GUIDE
Tired of feeling bloated, uncomfortable, or confused about what's triggering your symptoms?
Get my FREE 38-page guide with practical digestive wellness tips and interactive trackers to help you recognize patterns and better understand your body.
I know how isolating digestive problems can become, especially when the people around you don't understand what you're going through.
That's why I created Food in the Making.
I want this to be a place where you feel heard, where your experiences matter, and where you can find practical guidance, encouragement, and resources to help you move forward.
You don't need to have my diagnosis or follow the same path I did. Your starting point, your needs, and your goals are your own.
You just have to be willing to take that first step.
And wherever you're starting from, I hope what you find here helps you feel more confident about the possibilities ahead.
Feel Better. Eat With Confidence. Live More Fully.
Cheryl Cich
Founder of Food in the Making | OANNI