Meet Deborah

In the Beginning, There Was Costco.

In the early 90’s, we were a typical Westchester County, New York family. My husband worked at a great job with a promising future, and we just had our second son Zac. I happily began my life as a full-time stay at home mother.

I thought I was doing a good job when it came to our family’s health. I didn’t cook out of pre-packaged boxes, frequented the popular grocery stores where everyone shopped and thought I was being economically conscious by stocking up on bulk produce and meats at Costco. I thought we were a healthy family. So you can imagine my surprise when at the young age of one, Zac became chronically ill.

My youngest and I were regulars at my doctor’s office with an ongoing series of mysterious symptoms: sinus congestion, skin rashes that kept him up at night and painful ear infections. In the revolving door of pediatrician visits, multiple testing for various diseases, prescription drug refills and daily nebulizer use, and yet still no relief, it took an assertive friend to suggest perhaps I experiment with an infant soy formula.

The Blessing in Disguise

Soy, then considered the miracle alternative for babies who couldn’t hold down food, became another nightmare. The big “aha moment” came when I saw my son become progressively worse over a course of several days just by adding soy into his diet. I had no idea food could have such an affect on our body. But it got me thinking. Could other foods he was eating, like soy, be affecting his health? And why hadn’t my doctors mentioned that?

Finally, Some Answers

After finding an allergist, a doctor who quickly tested my son for food allergies, I was elated and also overwhelmed to find out that he was allergic to nearly everything under the sun: milk, eggs, nuts, chicken, corn and all gluten products (the protein in wheat, oats, barley and rye). I was elated because I had answers to what was causing his discomfort and overwhelmed because I didn’t know what to feed him. All I knew for sure was that after a week of taking him off the offending foods, he was a completely new kid. Smiling, laughing and feeling great.

So This is What Happens to Your Body When You Eat the Wrong Foods!

I took matters into my own hands and started a journey of discovering what foods I could feed him and my family. I read everything I could get my hands on, investigated the few resources I could find, started reading food labels, checking out health food stores and became pro-active in my children’s health. While I felt empowered by my newfound knowledge, I also felt alone in my efforts and wondered if there were other mothers who were experiencing a health crisis that consequently turned into a life change. But I didn’t have time to wallow, as shortly thereafter my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer.

This Time I Was Prepared.

I was heartbroken by my sister’s sickness and worried over her struggle with chemotherapy, radiation and white blood cells gone awry. I spent time supporting her through her process of healing and once again had first hand experience on how food affected her well-being. When she ate the fresh, natural foods we cooked for her, her energy and outlook improved. When she ate junky comfort foods loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients that provided little nutrition, it seemed to work against her health. Her mood sunk and it was hard for her to feel hopeful.

During this difficult time, my sister and I had many conversations that left me thinking. We not only talked about how the foods she ate affected her but also why this was happening. Why had cancer shown up in her life? What could she have done to prevent it? How will it change her life? Are we at all in control of our health?

Taking Responsibility

I had heard about the mind-body connection, but only when faced with a life-threatening disease did I ever give it serious thought. Behind the worries and fears, there seemed to be a hidden opportunity in my sister’s condition. 1. My family and I were forced to consider who we were being in our life and it’s affect on our well-being and 2. With the nutrition education I had acquired over the years, I felt convinced that the best defense against illness was good quality food that boosts our immune system naturally.

Most of us are walking a fine line, wavering between mediocre health and chronic illness caused by poor dietary and lifestyle choices. Our health is within our control. It doesn’t require fancy diets, a hundred vitamins and pills, expensive regimes or mysterious nutritional cocktails. It’s all about good quality, natural foods eaten in the right combination and quantity for your body and lifestyle. True health, commonly called “holistic health,” also requires you to upgrade your lifestyle to be in alignment with your values and desires.

Taking Action

I wanted to prevent other families from going through what I did. I felt I needed qualifications beyond my life experience and self-education and I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City in 2001. There I studied for two years learning how to help people just like myself make the changes into healthy living without the traditional dieting, deprivation and confusing regimes. It changed my life. I’ve been supporting families as a professional Certified Holistic Health Counselor in diet and lifestyle ever since.

Outside of my private practice, I mentor future health counselors in navigating the ins-n-outs of being in private practice and teach in the Integrative Nutrition tele-seminar series for new students.

A Picture of Health

I still pay attention to my family’s health and it does require constant nurturing. It does get easier each year as my family gets more and more on board with this way of eating and living. My son Zac can eat just about anything without any allergic reaction and is a wiz in the kitchen creating his own special meals. (This came from my in-house initiative that each child help cook a meal once a week). His immune system was given a break from foods that weren’t working for him and his strength is growing each day. My eldest son Joshua assists in my cooking classes, loves to make healthy snacks for his friends (we think he might be a budding chef) and has developed a very entrepreneurial spirit. My youngest Leandra, who’s been raised on junk-free eating, has a shocking calmness and clarity of thinking that never ceases to amaze me. Even my husband Bob has been known to pick up green vegetables on his way home from work!

Now I’m not just trying to toot my own horn here. The greater truth is none of this happened over night. It has taken ongoing patience (and believe me that isn’t my strong suit!), teaching and taking a firm yet gentle stand for what I envisioned for my family. The bottom line is this: If I can do it, with all of my quirky imperfections, impatience and very full plate of to-dos, then trust me when I say so can you.

I know we are all busy, but we can’t afford to not pay attention. For some of us (like myself), it will take illness to wake you up and for others, you’ll learn from stories like mine and others.

To schedule your sample session, please click here. We’ll talk about what’s going on for you, your family and discuss solutions to get you where you want to go.

Testimonials

“About a year ago I was thinking about looking for someone to teach me how to cook healthier. Not only has Deborah taught me that I CAN cook, but she has helped me see my whole life more clearly by learning what foods create balance in my life. The name “Food and Balance” is absolutely perfect!

It’s also important to note that I’ve been in therapy with at least a half dozen people and been on medications for a long time. After working with Deborah health counseling for a short while I realized that I never walked out of a therapist’s office feeling better than when I walked in. The opposite is the case with Deborah. I always leave feeling better than I did when I arrived.

I now feel more centered and able to deal with things in my life in calmer way. I have stepped out of box a lot more than I could have imagined a year ago. I couldn’t have done this without Deborah’s support and guidance.”

Micki L.

Busy Mom

Westchester County, NY