How did you get into nursing?

I've always wanted to be a nurse, for as long as I can remember. When my children started school, I went back also and got my LVN in 1972 and my RN in 1976.

How did you break into nutrition counseling?

I worked as a hospital nurse for 18 years before starting nutrition counseling full time.

While I was doing my public health internship, I worked part time advising clients in a nutrition counselor's office. When he retired 15 years ago, I continued his professional approach to nutrition counseling.

I strongly believe that when people eat healthy and subscribe to an exercise program that they enjoy, they will feel better about themselves and acquire a taste for healthy food. Professional consultants such as physicians and registered dietitians are part of the Healthy Lifestyles staff.

What is the greatest lifestyle challenge facing a person today?

The greatest challenge is in knowing what to eat and planning ahead for nutritious meals. A good diet should have proper balance with complex carbohydrates, protein and some healthy sources of fat. It's also important to increase fiber consumption and to have an ample intake of water to stay hydrated.

I pull people away from simple sugars and white flour and teach them how to put time aside for the important things, like exercise. I also teach people shortcuts that ensure good eating.

I'm a 100 percent organic person and believe a person should eat organically as much as possible. That means no added chemicals or preservatives. I encourage people to chew their food slowly and eat mindfully with awareness. This cuts down on acid reflux, among other things. I direct them toward a regimen of healthy vitamin supplements.

My clients develop an acquired taste for healthful, organic food and feel so much better.

What is the most important step people can take to improve their health?

We are what we eat. Food can be your medicine and your medicine, food. The food we eat strongly affects the way we feel, so eat healthfully.

The second-most important thing is exercise. Our body cries out for exercise. You can reverse the aging process with healthy eating and exercise. We can fill our lives by staying active.

What are some challenging cases you have worked with?

There have been a number of people who weighed more than 350 pounds. A couple of clients have come to me before having stomach bypass surgery. One client came in at more than 350 pounds and got down to 150 pounds by eating healthy and exercising. She looked like the daughter of the person who started my program.

I like to get people to a place where they value themselves.

Food is fuel for the body. You wouldn't put sand in your gas tank, so why put sugar in your body? Relaxation and meditation are ways to de-stress and reach deeper levels without poisoning one's body.

The average American woman is a size 10 to 14 with 25 percent to 32 percent body fat. That's a realistic goal weight. You need a certain amount of body fat to shape your face and maintain homeostasis.

What are your plans?

I'd like to train others to carry on my work. I also am expanding my Earthmeals program, working with two chefs and developing recipes. I want to get this healthy, organic line of food available to the public and a few health food stores. I've been providing meals to my clients for many years and this new endeavor is to build upon what I've been doing all along. I also have a Web site at www.earthmeals.com.

It is my mission to convince people that they must take good care of themselves through eating well and exercising.

Whatever your talents are, do something to develop those gifts. Love that person in the mirror.

If a person restricts their calories for an extended period, they are at risk for many things, including osteoporosis. Their body is not getting all the nutrients needed. It's important to keep our immune system strong.

We also need to eat something healthy every three hours, to keep our blood sugar levels stable. A sugar-rich cookie will only put insulin levels way out of line.