The Foodnotes writing team is composed of leading US-registered dietitians and other nutrition and culinary experts who are well versed on the preparation, uses, and nutritional value of hundreds of foods, the latest diet trends, and just about everything you ever wanted to know about food. Many of them have taught nutrition at universities, written cookbooks, and worked as professional chefs and cooking instructors. Bon appétit!
Virginia Messina, MPH, RD, Senior Dietitian
Ms. Messina specializes in vegetarian nutrition and is senior editor of a vegetarian nutrition
newsletter published by Loma Linda University. She is co-author of two popular books on
nutrition: The Vegetarian Way (Crown Books, 1996) and The Simple Soybean and Your
Health (Avery Publishers, 1994), and of the first textbook to address vegetarian
nutrition, The Dietitians’ Guide to Vegetarian Diets (Aspen Publishers, 1996).
Ms. Messina is also the co-author of three cookbooks and is a contributor to
Foodnotes.
Nancy Becker, MS, RD, LD, Contributor
Ms. Becker has worked as a research dietitian at Oregon Health Sciences University; a weight
management instructor at Providence Hospital Systems; a cookbook writer; and a co-producer of
a video tape entitled Lowfat & Fast!...Real Food for Busy People,™ which
features tasty, low-fat meals. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at Portland State
University, where she teaches nutrition. Ms. Becker, along with Sandy Miller, MS, RD, LD, has
created more then 150 recipes for Foodnotes.
Patty Andersen-Parrado, Contributor
Ms. Andersen-Parrado has worked in the health-communications field for 10 years. She served as
Sr. Associate Editor at Better Nutrition magazine. She is a graduate of Montclair
State University and resides in New Jersey. She has served as the managing editor for
Healthnotes and Foodnotes, and contributes to Foodnotes.
Nancy Faas, MSW, MPH, Contributor
A San Francisco-based writer and editor, Ms. Faas’ work includes Integrating
Complementary Medicine in Health Systems (Aspen, 2001), Optimal Digestion
(HarperCollins, 1999), and a forthcoming book on immunity (New World Library, 2001). She has
worked as a science editor at the University of California, San Francisco, as an archivist,
and in scholarly publishing. Ms. Faas has contributed to Foodnotes.
Lisa Fleige, RD, Contributor
Ms. Fleige has been a nutritionist and complementary healthcare specialist for the past 13
years. Her experience ranges from clinical nutrition and product design and formulation to
educator and author. She was the Founder and Director of New Dimensions in Nutrition, a
consulting firm specializing in research and product development services for the Natural
Products Industry. Ms. Fleige is currently Director of New Product Development at Phillips
International. She has contributed to Foodnotes.
Stephanie Gailing, MS, CN, Contributor
Ms. Gailing is a freelance writer and researcher specializing in natural health topics. She
holds a master’s degree in nutrition from Bastyr University, where she serves as adjunct
faculty; she has been involved in the natural products industry for more than ten years, with
experiences ranging from operating her own natural products retail store to serving as a
marketing consultant for dietary supplement companies. Ms. Gailing has contributed to
Foodnotes.
Elaine Gavalas, MA, MS, Doctoral candidate at Columbia
University, NY, Contributor
Ms. Gavalas is a nutritionist, exercise physiologist, and weight-management specialist. She is
the author of Secrets of Fat-Free Greek Cooking (Penguin Putnam Avery, 1998) and is
currently writing a four-book series on yoga (Simon & Schuster). Ms. Gavalas has
contributed to Foodnotes.
Carolyn Latteier MA, Contributor
Ms. Latteier is a journalist, editor, and author specializing in health, fitness, and
psychology. She is author of the book Breasts: The Women’s Perspective on an
American Obsession (Haworth, 1998), and her articles have appeared widely in newspapers,
such as the Los Angeles Times and the Portland Oregonian, as well as in
magazines, such as Medical Self Care and Healthy Answers. Ms. Latteier
earned a master’s degree in American studies from Washington State University and has
contributed to Foodnotes.
Sandy Miller, MS, RD, LD, Contributor
Ms. Miller has coordinated the community nutrition programs for Providence Health System for
the past 18 years. An innovative nutrition educator, she has conducted numerous classes and
workshops and recently authored the Smart CHOICES for Health™ book. She also
created and co-produced a cooking video entitled Lowfat & Fast!...Real Food for Busy
People™. Ms. Miller, along with Nancy Becker, MS, RD, LD, has created more than 150
recipes for Foodnotes.
Suzanne Munson, MS, RD, Contributor
Ms. Munson earned her master’s of science in nutrition at Bastyr University. She has
co-authored articles published in Natural Medicine Journal, Alternative Medicine
Review, and Health Products Business; is an adjunct faculty member at Bastyr
University; and is a member of the American Dietetics Association and the Nutrition in
Complementary Care Practice Group. Ms. Munson has contributed to Foodnotes.
Robin Robertson, Contributor
Ms. Robertson has worked with food for more than 20 years as a restaurant chef, cooking
teacher, and food writer. She is the author of eight vegetarian cookbooks and a weekly
newspaper column for The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Virginia. She has written
articles for Vegetarian Times, Better Nutrition, Health Naturally, Restaurant Business
Magazine, and The National Culinary Review. Ms. Robertson has contributed to
Foodnotes.
Lisa Turner, Contributor
Ms. Turner is a food and nutrition writer specializing in healthful gourmet cooking. She is a
monthly columnist and regular contributor to Better Nutrition, Great Life, Let’s
Live, Veggie Life, Vegetarian Times, and other magazines, and is the author of Mostly
Macro (Inner Traditions, 1995) and Meals That Heal (Inner Traditions, 1996). She
also works as a private chef and teaches cooking classes.
Jeff Lehr, Contributor
Mr. Lehr is a cooking instructor, recipe developer, and food stylist whose interest in
nutrition spans over 23 years. He apprenticed with Hiroshi Hayashi at Boston's Seventh Inn
restaurant in 1979, and helped create LaMontagne, a whole foods restaurant in Memphis,
Tennessee, where he was chef for eight years. He has developed nutrition and culinary
education for Squash Blossom Market, Wild Oats, Methodist Hospital's Patient Education
Program, U.T. Center for Health Sciences' Wellness Center, the Southern College of Optometry,
and the Hope and Healing Center. He has created recipes for Delicious! Magazine, and
is co-author of Feed Your Soul: A Cookbook That Nourishes Body, Mind, and Spirit
(Simon and Schuster, 1993). Mr. Lehr provides culinary support and coaching services at
Memphis' Healing Arts Medical Group, where he helps people achieve their nutritional goals.
(www.jefflehr.com)
Jeremy Appleton, ND, Science Editor Emeritus
Dr. Appleton is a licensed naturopathic physician, writer, and educator in the field of
evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine. He received his bachelor’s degree
from Reed College and his doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the National College of
Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM). Dr. Appleton completed a residency at Bastyr University of
Natural Health Sciences, where he was also on faculty as an adjunct professor of orthopedics
and clinical medicine. He has had private practices in Washington, Vermont, and Oregon, and
has also worked in the nutritional supplement industry as a director of scientific and
regulatory affairs. Dr. Appleton is currently Chair of the Nutrition department at NCNM. He
has been a regular contributor to several Healthnotes publications, including Healthnotes
Newswire, Healthnotes, Clinical Essentials, and Healthnotes Quick!Reference.
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