It seems a bit odd to write a page about myself but here goes.  :)

From my hospital volunteer days as a "candy striper" in high school, I always knew I wanted to help people improve their health.  So I chose to become a nurse and off to the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing I went.  It was a great experience - living in Philadelphia, lots of great friends at Penn and student nursing rotations at top teaching hospitals.  One other important thing  happened at Penn.  By chance I ended up living in an apartment with vegetarian roommates and we often shared meals.  As the saying goes, "when in Rome....".  So by the time I graduated I was vegetarian as well. 

After college, I worked in critical care at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital.  Then homesickness brought me back to Boston where I worked in the cardiac ICU at Beth Israel Hospital.  Through these experiences, I got my first glimpse at the impact diet and lifestyle could have on health.  

Then another major thing happened.  My father was diagnosed with advanced cancer.  And despite all the great doctors and hospitals to which I had access, no one could help.  My sister began looking into "alternative therapies".  Given my traditional medical education and work experience I was at first very hesitant.  We lost my father very quickly before any alternative approach could even be tried.  But the door was opened for me.  Were there other approaches to health in addition to what Western Medicine had to offer?

I became a student again.  I began to study Oriental diagnosis, various types of energy healing and macrobiotics.   While cardiac nursing instilled within me the importance of healthy eating, I had no idea the power food could have on our physical, mental and spiritual health until I studied and lived macrobiotics.  Macrobiotics, to me, is an approach to eating and lifestyle based on nature and traditional diets - when societies were largely without degenerative disease. 

I never cooked much growing up.  I had a "stay at home" mom who was an excellent cook and a dad who loved to bake.  Even as a vegetarian, I lived on a very limited meal rotation that went something like this:  Stouffer French bread pizzas, stir-fry, spaghetti, salads.  

Macrobiotics introduced me to a whole new array of foods:  grains, beans, miso, and vegetables I never heard of like mustard greens, shiitake mushrooms, daikon, etc.   I immediately felt better.  My "adult-onset" acne cleared.  My ovarian cysts disappeared after I stopped dairy. 

So a new adventure has begun.  Isn't life great?  We get to keep re-inventing ourselves.  I now have the privilege to help others improve their health right in their own kitchen.  I used to avoid that room - now it's my favorite place in the house.  That's where I can create my life and health every day through what I choose to eat.  And it's always a wonderful choice.   

If you've read this far - thanks for letting me share my bio with you.  More as my great adventure continues!