How do consultations work?

The initial coaching consultation lasts 1.5 hours. After our initial meeting, we will determine how many sessions you will need. Subsequent sessions last 45 minutes-1 hour and can be bought individually or through prepaid packages at a discounted rate. Please contact me for session rates and scheduling.

How much do private group classes cost?

Pricing for private group classes varies based on the type of class desired, location, number of participants, cost of ingredients, and length of the course. For pricing and estimates, please contact me.

What is natural, whole-foods cooking?

Natural, whole-foods cooking is a style of cooking and also an approach to health, where you eat foods that are whole—eating foods with all their edible parts intact and just as it was produced in nature. Take beet roots for example, beets and many other root vegetables have green, leafy tops that are edible and delicious. Often, grocery stores chop off and discard these nutritious greens before they sell them. In whole foods cooking, we can eat the beets themselves and also these delicious greens. Likewise, processed, refined grains, such as white rice, are stripped of their fiber, and would not be considered “whole foods”, or eaten often. We can apply this approach to dairy and animal proteins if one chooses to consume them. We also include seasonality with ingredients and cooking methods to help us adapt with our changing environment.

Has food impacted your health?

Yes, food is always impacting my health. Each day I am discovering what my body needs. Early on I lived in the northern Adirondack mountains for several years where I learned how to grow food and adapt to the changing seasons. I felt a deep connection with nature and a love of being in the woods. During those years I had strong seasonal allergies that made it difficult to be outside. At the time I ate a lot of dairy. Once I removed dairy and began to eat a more balanced, whole-foods, plant based way, my allergies diminished and I no longer had to take antihistamines and could enjoy being outdoors, gardening and hiking. Since those days, paying attention to information my body provides me with has been an invaluable guide navigating my health.

Do you follow a particular "diet”?

I prefer not talking about food using the word diet, it sounds restrictive and potentially dogmatic, where you are either inside or outside a particular “food club” I have tried many different approaches to eating. I believe this is common for most of us to do. What I discovered was that the narrower I “practiced” a particular philosophy or way of eating, the less satisfied I was. I realized over time I didn’t need to belong to a food club to be accepted, what I needed was to trust and develop my own intuition around food, eating, and my own health needs.

If I work with you do I have to eat a natural, whole-foods diet that is restrictive ?

Absolutely not. Everyone’s body is different and everyone has different lifestyles. When we work together I will create a plan that works for your needs, lifestyle, and health, no matter what. There is no one way for everyone to eat, ever.

What does eating “healthy” mean?

There really isn’t a definition for what “eating healthy” means. We are each unique beings and what works for one person may be completely wrong for another. That being said, some people might thrive being mostly or completely plant eaters, while others do well eating dairy and animal proteins. This is where understanding ourselves, our bodies, and what helps us feel centered in our lives is important to discover. Of course, the quality of ingredients remains an essential component of healthy eating no matter what your dietary preferences are, as we are literally becoming what we consume on a biological and energetic level.

How “should” I eat?

Again, there really is no “should” around eating. Like the seasons, our bodies are constantly changing based on stress, the environments we’re living in, our moods, and so on. Eating is a dynamic phenomenon, not a static state. Because of this, our exploration together can integrate a wide-range of methodologies from across the world, from studies of face reading and characterology, to Yin-Yang, Ayurveda, and Macrobiotics. Through these systems, we’ll examine your life situation and assess your body’s unique needs, and create a doable and realistic plan.

What is intuitive eating?

No one knows your body better than you do, not even the “experts.” Intuitive eating harnesses the body’s natural intelligence by learning to turn inward and learning how to listen to, hear, and trust what your body conveying about its needs. In this framework there are no “good” or “bad” foods, only foods that are appropriate or not appropriate in a particular context. Intuitive eating honors the process of eating, and the enjoyment that comes from eating. recognizing hunger cues and satiation levels. It also helps us trust turning inward and listening regarding selecting and preparing foods

What is seasonal cooking?

We are all a part of and interact with the environment. Our local environment provides the best combination of nutrients ideally suited to support us through the specific challenges of each season. Seasonal food is fresh, nutrient dense food that is grown and/or harvested during a particular season in the immediate area that you live in. Non-seasonal food is non local, imported food. For example, winter provides us with hearty root vegetables and rich foods that create warmth and sustenance, while summer provides cooling foods such as leafy greens, cucumbers and melons. You already know this instinctively, for instance, during cold months, you may crave warm foods that have been cooked longer, and during hot months crave lighter, even raw foods.

Can I still take a class or book a session even if I have no cooking experience and/or no studies in holistic health?

We start our studies exactly from the place we are at. Everyone is welcome regardless of experience, as learning is ongoing and never ends. Over the years classes I’ve taught and attended, I’ve always had varying levels of experiences, so there’s nothing to worry about!