Joni’s purpose is to bring food, herbs, spices, drinks to the forefront to heal the body.
Joni's goal is to assist others to create new habits to get to an automatic pilot that works for them, healthfully, mindfully and spiritually.
Joni's passion is to teach people how to make their Best Meal Ever Everyday.
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2010 – present: Private practice, Therapeutic Chef, Cupertino, CA
2007 – 2010: Private practice, Therapeutic Chef, Lafayette, CA
2005 – 2010: Executive Director, Health Medicine Forum, nonprofit educational foundation, Walnut Creek, CA.
2007 – 2009: Publications Committee of NANP, designed its bi-annual trade journal and the annual conference syllabus
2007 – 2008: Nutrition and Culinary Arts teaching assistant positions at Bauman College(.org), Berkeley, CA.
2006 – 2008: Committee member/Organizer of local chapter for the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP), Berkeley, CA.
1989 – 2008: News Artist for the Contra Costa Times newspaper in Walnut Creek and received regional awards for graphic design in news art journalism. Designed the Times’ Weather Page, which is still printed daily in their Northern Californian publications and was the Weather Page Editor for 7 years.
2006 – 2007: Nutrition and Culinary Arts certifications at Bauman College(.org), Berkeley, CA.
2005 – present: Attended conferences, workshops with these organizations:
Joni became a Therapeutic Chef to help others make the necessary nutritional changes to provide for a healthy future for themselves, their families and their communities.
She believes once individuals benefit from self-nurturing and healthful nourishment, they are then capable of sharing those benefits with others, which will holistically benefit everyone. Joni’s goal is to ignite love and passion in food to allow people to choose their foods mindfully and wisely.
Like so many other nutritionists, Joni started her professional journey by healing herself. As a child, she had a severe case of what general medical physicians now call, Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The pain was daily, yet tolerable. Constipation, abdominal cramps, restless sleep, and brain fog were the norm. She kept her pain a secret, seeking relief did not occur to her. Joni was a self-confessed sugaraholic. Coming home from elementary school, she binged on ice cream, cereal, peanut butter & jelly toast, and sugary drinks. She had restless nights and often, her brain fog would not lift until noon.
As an adult, Joni started juicing and her journey as a therapeutic chef began. She focused on nourishing herself with food. Joni began to recognize the destructive nature of sugar, alcohol, and lack of sleep. A whole new world opened up with her introduction to Ayurvedic and Macrobiotic cuisines and herbal tonics. She felt empowered and, for the first time, real relief.
Joni quickly realized that she liked to talk about the information she was learning and about the effective changes she was making.
A few years later, as a personal experiment, she stopped eating wheat for three weeks. Joni had realized that she felt terrible within a couple of hours after eating pizza, pasta or breads. Severe cramps, that would put her on the floor for several minutes, came after eating these foods. Those weeks of being wheat-free were the start of the next leg of her journey
She began to feel normal. Joni was empowered and ready to take the next step. People noticed her changes, and she recognized their discomforts. They asked questions and for guidance. Joni could empathize with them; she happily shared her knowledge. Following Joni’s suggestions, they made changes and had successful results.
Joni decided to take her passion to the next level and become a certified therapeutic professional chef. She immersed herself in programs for nutrition, the culinary arts, mental and physical therapy, exercise and got involved with her community.
Living her passion has accelerated her personal and professional growth in many ways. Joni is excited to share her passion for the best meal ever everyday with her clients. She promises the same attention and support that she has received on her journey to becoming a therapeutic chef to you on your journey to a healthier you.