I’ve never actually met Alexandra Jamieson in person but I’ve admired her from afar. She is the epitome of an accomplished health coach and natural foods chef, one who walks her talk and has successfully spread her message about holistic health and wellness far and wide. You may know her as the author of Vegan Cooking For Dummies, Living Vegan For Dummies, and The Great American Detox Diet. Or perhaps you’re familiar with her appearance on the award-winning documentary, Supersize Me. After 30 days of eating fast food, Alexandra nursed Morgan Spurlock back to health with a vegan diet.
Ah, the power of food as medicine.
Q1. What is the #1 wellness practice you live by? That thing that you do every day without fail because it revs you up from the inside out.
A: The #1 wellness practice I live by is to be in the moment. No matter what is happening in my life, I can depend on a strong connection with my body and whole self to guide me in what I need to do next. Whether it’s choosing which food to eat to create the energy I need for the task at hand, or deciding to work more at night or go to bed early, or even what color dress I should wear to feel comfortable, pretty and express my own style, being in the moment is my best practice.
Q2. The premise of the blog is that wherever you are in life, is exactly where you need to be. How did you get to where you are today?
A: I see that everything that has happened in my life has brought me to where I am right now, and where I am now is a perfect, whole moment. Sometimes I forget and get caught up in the stress of modern living, parenthood, running my own business and being a New Yorker. But most of the time I can relax into the moment and disregard the thoughts that I did it wrong or something bad might happen in the future.
I got to where I am today by following my instincts. When I was sick in my mid-20s I followed my gut and sought out a holistic doctor who diagnosed my food sensitivities and candida. I then followed my instincts and started eating a non-toxic, plant-based diet to heal my body and was rewarded with a health and vitality I hadn’t known since childhood. After that I kept learning and following my nose to teachers, inspirational writers, the Natural Gourmet Institute, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and my current career. Even my romantic choices have been been a result of being present and going after what felt right at the time! I also enjoy attending workshops with Ariel & Shya Kane, authors of Working On Yourself Doesn’t Work. Their approach helps to keep me present and reminds me that we are all perfect in ourselves.
Q3. What was your biggest transformation along the way?
A: My biggest transformation was to follow a plant-based diet and become a natural foods chef and certified holistic health counselor. When I turned my passion for healthy, delicious food into a career, I finally felt I had found my calling.
Q4. If you could only own five items, what would they be?
A: My chef’s knife, my lap top (and charger), my cell phone (and charger), a stainless steel water bottle, and my library card.
Q5. What is the theme song for your life right now and why?
A: River Deep, Mountain High by Tina Turner
It’s such a powerful, rockin’ love song. Even after years of rotation on my ipod it still gets me moving, inspires me to speak my truth, and makes me want to dance! And my 4.5 year old son loves it too, so we like to listen to it together.
About Alexandra Jamieson
Alexandra Jamieson has been seen on Oprah, CNN, The Final Word, 30 Days and The National Health Test with Bryant Gumble. She was even featured in the award-winning documentary Super Size Me and is the author of three books — Vegan Cooking For Dummies, Living Vegan For Dummies, and The Great American Detox Diet.
Her knowledge of nutrition has been artfully developed through years of both professional and self-study. As the daughter of natural health advocates, Alex crafted a unique personal mission to spread the word about the power of healthy food and the astounding ways in which it can positively transform everyday life.
She is a professionally trained healthy gourmet chef, having studied at New York City’s Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts. She refined her techniques by cooking professionally in Milan, Italy, as well as at Paul Newman’s Hole In The Wall Gang Camp, and a variety of popular New York City restaurants.
In addition, Alex is a certified health and nutrition counselor. She studied with ground breaking pioneers in the field of nutrition at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, which is accredited by Columbia University’s Teacher’s College and by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.
As host and creator of the popular Week In A Weekend cooking series, Alex offers every- thing the home cook needs to prepare healthy meals over the weekend for the coming week.
Alex enjoys a busy, healthy life in New York City with her family and a lively boy cat named Sue. She is currently working on her next book and series of workshops, and proves that living a healthy life is most definitely far from boring.
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