From Dessert Dreams to Wellness Cuisine: The Rise of Raghda Fakeeh
Raghda Fakeeh never imagined that her life would one day revolve around the art of food. As a young girl, growing up in a home filled with rich aromas and lovingly cooked meals, she admired her mother’s talent in the kitchen—but didn’t feel pulled to follow in her footsteps. While many children would eagerly assist in preparing dinner, Raghda preferred the freedom of making sandwiches and desserts. These moments felt creative, comforting, and just plain fun. For her, food was play, not purpose.
But sometimes, the seeds of passion are planted quietly, waiting for the right time to bloom.
Finding Purpose Through the Plate
As Raghda grew older, she began to experience moments of emotional isolation. And in those moments, she found herself returning to the kitchen—not just to eat, but to create. Cooking became a way to feel grounded, a way to express herself when words fell short. What once was just a casual pastime soon turned into a powerful outlet for healing and creativity.
She found herself drawn to cooking shows, fascinated by the chefs who could transform humble ingredients into works of art—meals that told stories, evoked memories, and brought people together. This spark became the fuel for a deeper passion. Cooking wasn’t just about technique; it was a way of connecting—with herself, with others, and with the world.
A Professional Journey Begins
Eager to turn this growing love into something more, Raghda began her culinary journey professionally at the renowned Park Hyatt Hotel in Jeddah. Starting in the pastry section, she found herself right at home with desserts—the very part of cooking she had loved since childhood. But Raghda wasn’t content to stay in one lane. Her hunger to learn led her through multiple areas of the kitchen, from pastries to the hot kitchen, and eventually to the spa restaurant, where she embraced the world of wellness cooking.
These diverse experiences shaped her not just as a chef, but as a holistic culinary artist. She learned to see food as more than just flavor—it became about balance, beauty, and wellbeing. It was here that her culinary philosophy truly took root.
Cooking for Health, Healing, and Heart
One of the most defining moments in Raghda’s career came when she started developing therapeutic menus for hospital patients. She didn’t just want to feed people—she wanted to comfort them, support their healing, and bring a sense of normalcy to their lives. Whether it was a patient recovering from surgery or someone managing a chronic illness, Raghda believed every person deserved to enjoy meals that felt both safe and satisfying.
She carefully crafted menus that balanced medical needs with emotional ones—incorporating familiar flavors, warm presentations, and ingredients that nurtured both body and soul. This wasn’t about bland diets or restricted eating; it was about reimagining health-focused food in a way that was joyful and full of love.
This work not only reinforced her culinary skills, but also deepened her empathy and understanding of how food truly impacts our lives on every level.
Empowering Working Women Through Food
With this foundation, Raghda has expanded her vision even further. Today, she is launching an empowering and much-needed cooking course specifically designed for working women. She understands firsthand the challenges of balancing a busy career with the responsibility of preparing healthy meals at home. Her goal? To make wellness accessible and realistic for the modern woman.
The course focuses on quick, healthy, and easy-to-make meals that don’t sacrifice taste or nutritional value. These are recipes that can fit into a tight schedule, yet still bring comfort and nourishment to the entire family. Through her teaching, Raghda is showing women that taking care of their families through food doesn’t have to be stressful—it can be joyful, efficient, and deeply rewarding.
This initiative isn’t just about cooking—it’s about giving women the confidence and tools to reclaim their kitchens and their health.
Turning Passion Into Purpose
Beyond her classes, Raghda now works as a culinary consultant, specializing in developing wellness-based menus and training programs. Her focus is on educating communities about the importance of nutrition, and how small changes in the kitchen can lead to big changes in health and happiness.
Through workshops, private consultations, and online content, she’s helping individuals, families, and organizations shift their approach to food. She’s passionate about breaking the stigma that healthy food is bland, expensive, or inaccessible.
“I want people to see that healthy cooking can be joyful, delicious, and even fun,” she says. “It’s not about restriction—it’s about discovering new ways to love what you eat.”
Cooking with Intention and Emotion
Over the years, one thing has become clear to Raghda: cooking is emotional. For her, every meal carries meaning. She believes in cooking with intention, passion, and genuine care, always considering the person on the other side of the plate. Whether she’s preparing a tray of comforting soup or a light, nourishing salad, she pours her heart into it.
That emotional connection is what sets her apart—and it’s what keeps people coming back for more. In a world that’s often fast-paced and disconnected, her food reminds us to slow down and savor.
Words of Wisdom to Her Younger Self
If she could go back in time, Raghda would tell her younger self one simple thing: “Enjoy the process.” She’d remind her that growth doesn’t happen overnight, and that the kitchen isn’t just a place of pressure—it’s a playground for curiosity. Mistakes are just steps toward mastery, and every experiment is an opportunity to learn.
She hopes to pass that mindset on to others, especially aspiring chefs and home cooks who feel intimidated by the culinary world. Through her platforms, especially Instagram, she’s building a community that values exploration, creativity, and confidence in the kitchen.
Building a Legacy of Wellness
Looking ahead, Raghda’s vision is crystal clear. She wants to leave a lasting mark—not just in kitchens, but in the hearts and homes of people across the region. She dreams of a world where healthy food is the norm, not the exception. Where people with special health conditions can enjoy delicious meals that support their wellbeing, without feeling like they’re missing out.
She’s committed to making healing food accessible—no matter someone’s background, income, or dietary needs. Her mission is about inclusion, education, and transformation. And through her courses, consultations, and community-building efforts, she’s already making that dream a reality.
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