Frequently Asked Questions:

What happens during the initial 30-minute phone conversation?

We will discuss your health concerns and what has happened or changed that you have taken this first step.  How do you think your life will change if could reach your goals?  What are the challenges that prevent you from improving your diet and health, and what kind of support you are looking for?  And more….

In-Office Trial Consultation

If you feel we may be a good match to work together, the next step would be to meet for a one hour trial consultation in my office inWestfield.  We would pick up where we left off from our first conversation, and begin to dig deeper by looking at what you are typically eating for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.

I will try to get a sense of what it’s like to be you, in your life, and to connect the dots between what you are eating and doing with how you are feeling and functioning.  My goal is to figure out how I would guide you to improving your health if we were to work together and how I could help you create your own recipe for a healthy life.

You are also there to imagine what it would be like to work together.   You must decide if you feel confident that I have the ability and resources to support you in your path to becoming a better version of you.

Based on your needs, I will describe the programs that I offer and how I could support you in reaching your goals. Would you be excited to invest in yourself and look forward to having some fun in the process of self-improving?  I will answer all of your questions, and if you are ready to commit to being open-minded and making slow, and steady changes, we can discuss a meeting schedule that meets your needs.

1.  What does your individual program consist of? How would it help me to improve my overall health and wellness goals?

My goal is to empower you with knowledge of food so that you understand appreciate food as fuel and the power it holds to heal and strengthen you. 

We will figure out what food works for you and what you like.  Whether you are stuck eating the same old foods everyday or are transitioning to a gluten-free or allergy-free diet, I’ll introduce you to new foods and new combinations that will add more nutritional variety, pleasure and value to your life.

I will provide you with practical skills of how to cook really healthy food, really fast food that tastes and looks good.  I will teach you how to prepare meals in advance and how to take short cut whenever you like.  You don’t need to be a chef to eat well; you just need a simple repertoire of easy combinations that anyone can learn.

I will also teach you how to read food labels, pick out the healthiest food at the grocery store, where to shop, and give you the opportunity to sample new food products at our sessions.

2.  What if I am eating on-the-go at work or at restaurants a lot?

We will devise a “stash” of food for you to maintain wherever you go: in the desk drawer and refrigerator at work; in the car or the bags you carry around.  You’ll be armed with you own supply and the knowledge for what to choose at restaurants, convenience stores or other people’s homes.  You will learn how to choose the best food possible in any situation.

3. How does it relate to my lifestyle choices?

When you are eating well, everything changes. When you look and feel better you see the world differently--with more confidence and optimism.  That creates a ripple effect from your internal satisfaction and renewed energy to every area of your life. 

We’ll look at what else is going on in your life that sets you up for unhealthy eating habits.  Any shifts you make in what you eat, how you eat, when you eat and where you eat can have an equally positive change in your health. Sometimes the issue is not really about food, but how to deal with stress, or lack of exercise or unhappiness in a career or relationship.  In short, we also have to look at the food that feeds your soul, and understand how that impacts the food that feeds your body, and vice versa.

4. Are your programs expensive?

Is your health not your greatest asset?  I know of no other investment better than improving you from the inside--out.  You may be someone who has spent a lot of her life taking care of other people or putting other peoples needs’ first. Or maybe you’ve invested your time in building your career or pursuing other goals and are ready to take care of that most precious piece: your health.

I would provide you with the compassion and support of a certified nutritionist, the training of a chef, the accountability from a coach and the guidance of a healer.

5. Is there anyone would not benefit from your programs?

Those who are looking for a quick fix, and are not open to change will not benefit from my programs.  If you are unhappy with one or more aspects of your health and well-being, then something is not working for you.  You have to be open to discussing what’s going on in your life and your habits, and you are willing to consider new ideas.  If you are ready to do this, I can help you discover the ingredients for a better you, and break the process down into incremental steps. We can incorporate changes at your pace, but you are the one doing the work.  If you try something new and you’re not comfortable, then we’ll try something else, but your intention has to be to make improvements.  We will not be counting calories or grams of fat, rather I will be holding you accountable to taking small action steps in-between our meetings as we create a diet that brings you to a new level of functioning, productivity and comfort.   It’s a process, of which I cannot fully predict because your own growth and evolution is unique to you.

6. Are there any additional resources that will be made available to me while I am enrolled in your program? 

My intention is to provide you with every opportunity to succeed.  At each session I give my clients something to take home with them that will support and motivate them as they take each new action step. It could be food samples, kitchen tools, self-care products, journals, books, to name a few. 

As a professionally trained chef, I have an in-depth understanding of how food can be a powerful tool in healing, as well as the ability to teach you how to prepare a lot of easy meals that look and taste good.  If you have limited time or interest in cooking, we can create a “menu” of prepared foods to purchase to store in your office or at home, and learn how to choose wisely at restaurants. 

In addition, I offer unlimited e-mail support in-between sessions that is useful when questions come up, when a little extra inspiration or motivation is needed, or to report small successes along the way.