Special Diets

Food & Diet Content Contributors

Our food and diet writers are leading 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 have taught nutrition at universities, written cookbooks, and worked as professional chefs and cooking instructors.

Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RD, Contributor

Suzanne Dixon, author, speaker, and internationally recognized expert in chronic disease prevention, epidemiology, and nutrition, has taught medical, nursing, public health, and alternative medicine coursework. She has delivered over 150 invited lectures to health professionals and consumers and created a nutrition website acclaimed by the New York Times and Time magazine. Suzanne received her training in epidemiology and nutrition at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health at Ann Arbor.

Virginia Messina, MPH, RD, Senior Dietitian

Ms. Messina specializes in vegetarian nutrition and has served as a senior editor of a vegetarian nutrition newsletter published by Loma Linda University. She coauthored two popular books on nutrition: The Vegetarian Way (Crown Books, 1996) and The Simple Soybean and Your Health (Avery Publishers, 1994); the first textbook on vegetarian nutrition, The Dietitians’ Guide to Vegetarian Diets (Aspen Publishers, 1996); and three cookbooks.

Heidi Thompson, MS, RD, LD, Contributor

Ms. Thompson holds a master's degree in nutrition from Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences and has been involved in the food service industry for many years. She has served as an instructor in the Dietetics and Nutrition Department, and as a supervisor in the Food and Nutrition Department at Oregon Health & Science University.

James Gerber, DC, MA, Contributor

Dr. Gerber has served as associate professor of clinical sciences at Western States Chiropractic College (WSCC) in Portland, OR, and taught postgraduate courses for several other colleges. He graduated from WSCC, received his master's degree in nutrition from the University of Bridgeport, and has been board certified in nutrition and orthopedics. Dr. Gerber authored the Handbook of Preventive and Therapeutic Nutrition ( Aspen, 1993) and has been a contributor to Conservative Management of Sports Injuries (Williams & Wilkins, 1997).

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 she coproduced the video Lowfat & Fast! Real Food for Busy People,™ which features tasty, low-fat meals. She has also taught nutrition as an adjunct professor at Portland State University.

Lisa Fleige, RD, Contributor

Ms. Fleige has been a nutritionist and complementary healthcare specialist for many years, with field experiences including clinical nutrition, product design, writing, and education. 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, and she has served as director of new product development at Phillips International.

Sandy Miller, MS, RD, LD, Contributor

An innovative nutrition educator, Ms. Miller has coordinated the community nutrition programs for Providence Health System for many years and has conducted numerous classes and workshops. She authored the book Smart CHOICES for Health™, and coproduced the cooking video Lowfat & Fast! Real Food for Busy People™.

John Matthews Kennedy, MA, Contributor

A wine merchant, educator, and consultant, Mr. Kennedy has worked in the wine industry since 1994. He has written regularly for retail publications, led trips to European wine-growing regions, and has contributed to regional and national media, including The Oregonian, Swirl Wine News, Portland Urban Pages, and Fox Television. He holds a master's degree from the University of Washington.

Suzanne Munson, MS, RD, Contributor

Ms. Munson earned her master’s in nutrition at Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences. She has coauthored articles published in Natural Medicine Journal, Alternative Medicine Review, and Health Products Business; and has been an adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University and a member of the American Dietetics Association and the Nutrition in Complementary Care Practice Group.

Nancy Faas, MSW, MPH, Contributor

As a writer and editor, Ms. Faas’ work includes Integrating Complementary Medicine in Health Systems ( Aspen, 2001), Optimal Digestion (HarperCollins, 1999), and a 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.

Stephanie Gailing, MS, CN, Contributor

Ms. Gailing is a writer and researcher specializing in natural health topics. She holds a master’s degree in nutrition from Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences, where she has served as adjunct faculty. She has been involved in the natural products industry for many years, with experiences ranging from operating her own natural products retail store to serving as a marketing consultant for dietary supplement companies.

Elaine Gavalas, MA, MS, Contributor

Ms. Gavalas is an acclaimed author and natural health expert who has been featured on the TODAY Show, Martha Stewart Living Today, PBS, CNN and numerous radio programs, podcasts, videos, magazines and newspapers worldwide. Elaine has practiced as an exercise physiologist, nutritionist, weight management specialist, healthy recipe developer and yoga therapist. She received her Master's degree and Certification from Columbia University, New York. She authored the book Secrets of Fat-Free Greek Cooking (Penguin Putnam Avery, 1998) and a four-book series on yoga (Simon & Schuster).

Carolyn Latteier MA, Contributor

Ms. Latteier has worked as a journalist, editor, and author specializing in health, fitness, and psychology. She authored 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 in magazines, such as Medical Self Care and Healthy Answers. Ms. Latteier holds a master’s degree from Washington State University.

Steven Petusevsky, Contributor

A pioneer in the marriage of good taste and sound nutrition, "Chef Steve" graduated from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, where he was awarded a fellowship and served as Chef Instructor. He has also been the National Director of Creative Food Development for Whole Foods Market, the largest natural food retail chain in the country. A widely published columnist in magazines and newspapers such as Natural Health, Fine Cooking, the Los Angeles Times, Food & Wine, and a nationally syndicated columnist for the Chicago Tribune, he also authored the Whole Foods Market Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to Natural Foods (2002, Random House).

Patty Andersen-Parrado, Contributor

Ms. Andersen-Parrado has worked in the health-communications field for many years, including serving as senior associate editor at Better Nutrition magazine. She is a graduate of Montclair State University.

Robin Robertson, Contributor

Ms. Robertson has worked with food for many years as a restaurant chef, cooking teacher, and food writer. She has authored eight vegetarian cookbooks, a weekly newspaper column, and has written articles for Vegetarian Times, Better Nutrition, Health Naturally, Restaurant Business Magazine, and The National Culinary Review.

Lisa Turner, Contributor

Ms. Turner, a food and nutrition writer specializing in healthful gourmet cooking, has been a monthly columnist and regular contributor to Better Nutrition, Great Life, Let’s Live, Veggie Life, Vegetarian Times, and other magazines. She authored Mostly Macro (Inner Traditions, 1995) and Meals That Heal (Inner Traditions, 1996) and has worked as a private chef and taught cooking classes.

Jeremy Appleton, ND, CNS, Contributor

Dr. Appleton has been licensed as a naturopathic physician and certified nutrition specialist. He was formerly Aisle7's Senior Science Editor and was a founding contributor to TraceGains Newswire. He received his bachelor's degree from Reed College and his doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine. Dr. Appleton was the Nutrition Department Chair at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine and has also been on faculty at Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences in Kenmore, WA. He has worked extensively in scientific and regulatory affairs in the dietary supplement industry and as a consultant to that industry through his company Praxis Natural Products Consulting and Wellness Services. Dr. Appleton coauthored MSM—The Definitive Guide (Topanga, Freedom Press, 2003).