I received my training to practice Health Counseling at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, which is the only nutrition school integrating all the different dietary theories—combining the knowledge of traditional philosophies of Ayurveda and macrobiotics with modern concepts like the USDA food pyramid, the glycemic index, the Zone and raw foods. I also received additional certification from Columbia University.  I am also a member of the American Association for Drugless Practitioners. I received my B.A. in Creative Writing and Popular Culture from Pennsylvania State University. For more information about my education, please go to www.integrativenutrition.com.
 
 I currently reside outside of Philadelphia.  In my free time, I love practicing yoga, being outdoors and hanging out with friends and family. I enjoy traveling, cooking, movies, reading and trying new restaurants. I am always up for an adventure! I am currently enrolled in a yoga teacher training program and am the founder of Local for Global, an organization with the mission to connect communities -- local events for a global cause. Visit www.localforglobal.org to learn more about my $20,000 fundraising goal.

 I  worked in the restaurant industry for many years until I sought out a position with an integrative wellness center to complement my studies. In addition to a Health Counselor, I am also head of marketing and special event planning for RYAH Yoga and Health in Conshohocken. And finally, I am also currently studying to become a yoga teacher.

 I am thoroughly intrigued by the ever-changing world of nutrition and am overwhelmed at the poor state of health in our country today. I firmly believe through proper diet and lifestyle choices everyone can achieve an optimal state of health and happiness...something we all deserve!  It is with great joy that I am able to share my knowledge with others and help them achieve their goals.

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Something a Little More Personal...

  Growing up, I was the pickiest kid around -- cheese sandwiches on white bread with mayo was my staple diet. I grew up celebrating holidays with the Italian side of the family and constantly ate "whites" (pasta with only butter) and bread. Can you imagine the great food I was missing out on?!?

  As a highly competitive gymnast for close to 10 years, my parents were always very concerned about my nutrition since I was constantly training. So, they started juicing for me...which didn't go over well  with the 12-year old girl I was. When I stopped gymnastics, I still was a year-round athlete -- playing soccer, basketball, and tennis. Yet my eating habits still didn't change for quite some time. It wasn't until I got to college did I force myself to have my first turkey sandwich because my ego was telling me cheese sandwiches weren't cool anymore!

  As I grew older and began to get a "taste" for traveling, I started to experience not only life a little differently but also food.  When I graduated college, I traveled to Italy for four months and indulged in some of the best foods on earth. I have traveled to many locations in the US and Mexico and thoroughly enjoy trying new foods in new locations. More importantly, it has made me start thinking differently about food and health, freshness and locality, pleasures and indulgences.

 I share this information because it is relatable to everyone to some degree -- we all have our own story around food. Food is a part of our life, in a big way! We celebrate, love, date, grieve and enjoy all different aspects of life over shared meals. When we start realizing its importance, we begin to taste a whole new life. When we eat better, we feel better. And when we feel better, we live better. To me, it just make sense. And I love sharing this with others!