A workshop with by Stefanie is like no other. She cranks up the music, and when we aren't cooking, we're dancing! She is probably the most "tuned-in" person I've ever shared a kitchen with. Everything is beautifully organized, and she meets each student where they're at, guiding beginners so they can safely shed their fears and trading treasured recipes with advanced students. A+.

I finished your book, in a way it's sad, I won't have any more information to read from you. To me, 'Fork' was written like two people in a kitchen with one being the trainer( you) and the rest of us the learners. Your way of teaching is ''soft'', you took your time to teach us by way of example, by way of nurturing, and showing us the current way of eating and why that should be changed. The first part of the book was what I call rigid, by giving us the list of bad chemicals, what the chemicals caused and how to change the eating habits to avoid those bad choices. The next part(s), a breakdown of what the food actually contains, I am still sick over the pink slime in hamburger, I am changing my eating preferences. Lastly, all those great 'Fork' recipes, the first one I am gonna try is ''Jack's banana ice cream''. Thank you Stefanie for all the emails, taking your time to write a teaching manual about food, and sharing your knowledge about eating, and how to be and get healthier.

This morning the Urban Zen Center was home to a wealth of healing wisdom and hands-on, experiential tools all designed to help patients and loved ones navigate cancer in a way that celebrates life and allows patients to "live beyond their diagnosis." Designed by Stefanie Sacks, M.S., CNS, the last Food Solutions of 2011 proved to be an invaluable, educational event. Pulling from their personal and professional experiences, Kathy Gurland, LCSW, Lisa Hoffman, M.A., and MaryBeth Augustine, R.D., pooled their wisdom to drive the conversation and engage guests in personal anecdotes, enthusiastic movement exercises and informative lectures; the results of which were eye-opening and inspiring. It's difficult to capture with words the profundity of these Food Solutions events - they are enormously empowering. Seeing the Urban Zen Center filled with people touched by cancer and bearing witness to their reactions as they absorbed the truth of how powerful their food choices are is truly astounding. The reality is: navigating cancer is intimidating; we live in a culture that fears the "c" word. Understanding that we have tools - like nutrition - that we can employ to change the way we experience cancer is not a small thing; it's monumental. We are leaving this morning's event feeling inspired, empowered and just a little bit more equipped to navigate cancer.

On Wednesday, May 11th, the Urban Zen Center was home to the first Food Solutions event of 2011, a workshop of integrative healthcare professionals dedicated to changing the palate of America's children with a focus on Diabesity. Lead by Culinary Nutritionist, Stefanie Sacks, M.S., and sponsored by The Palette Fund, the Stephan Weiss Studio at the Urban Zen Center was filled with a communal spirit committed to bridging the gap between nutrition and vibrant health. Ms. Sacks introduced the first presenter, integrative pediatrician, Stephen Cowan, M.D. Dr. Cowan spoke about the Diabesity epidemic in America and the importance of eating mindfully. He described how, although food was never a focus of his medical education, talking about nutrition is a major part of his practice. To promote healthy eating, Dr. Cowan encouraged participants to embrace a diverse diet and be mindful of portion-size. After a delicious snack and restorative stretching lead by exercise coach Marcus Eave, Stefanie took the stage to discuss shifting eating habits through creative, hands-on cooking. From personal experience with one of her own children, Stefanie discovered that if parents change their own eating habits, their children follow suit. With this is mind, she explained what she called the "dance of the day," a tour of culinary tables surrounding the Stephen Weiss Studio that served as nutrition education stations for the following two hours. Stefanie inspired and empowered attendees to take an active role in food lifestyle changes with stations dedicated to healthier packaged foods, an introduction to whole foods, getting kids involved in the kitchen, and coping with a picky eater.

Stefanie saved me from a prison of counting calories! I counted them for 10 years and I could never control y weight! Now, I eat amazingly healthy foods with a few cheat items here and there. I eat more than my husband. I don't remember the last time I counted a calorie and my weight is less than what I was in high school with no fluctuations. More importantly, my relationship with food is healthy! I enjoy food now! I do not run from it! I love making it, eating it and talking about it. Thank you for putting so much amazing information into a book about eating REAL food the RIGHT way! You are incredible and I will always be thankful for you!

This book is an excellent primer on what to eat - and what to avoid. Stefanie Sacks has an in-depth knowledge of all things nutrition, food, cooking, and savvy grocery shopping - and she breaks it down into chapters that are easy to find and quickly review. Perfect for professionals needing an update on what's happening in our broken food system and ideal for consumers who want to take their nutrition knowledge to the next level. Phenomenal read!

Stefanie (@stefaniesacks) is a Culinary Nutritionist, author, consultant, speaker, and food expert who has been studying food and healing for 30 years. When it comes to nutrition, Stefanie knows what she's talking about. She has her Masters of Science in nutrition from Columbia University, is a Certified Nutrition Specialist, Certified Dietitian Nutritionist, and a graduate of the National Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts. Her book, What the Fork Are You Eating? (Tarcher/Penguin Random House) provides an aisle-by-aisle rundown on how to shop and cook healthier. I could go on and on, but I think you get why I wanted to ask her some questions! Below our Q&A, Stefanie's edited my menu and inserted her genius into it, to help you balance your food and nutrition with your workouts with me—and be as prepared as possible to show up for yourself and your friend in the #GYBG challenge.

A must read for anyone who wants to understand what they are eating and how to move towards a healthy and nontoxic diet. Well written and a foundation book for anyone interested to their own health and their families.

So there you have it. Sacks has written the healthy food, self-help bible for those of us who care about health and sourcing. WTF substantiates our fears about how food is raised and produced. It answers our worries about sustainability with a desire for wholesome food that our families will love. It gives us not only hope that we can do better, but also provides an action plan for getting there and the resources to make sure our healthy eating habits stick. So when WTF comes out in early 2015, go pick it up. After you have read it, you'll be able to walk into any grocery store, flip those five yogurts around, and say proudly: "I will purchase this yogurt because it is the best of the yogurts" and feel surefooted in your decision. It's a lot better than not knowing what the fork you're eating. © 2014 GRACE Communications Foundation

I wanted to thank you, and the entire team, for the entire experience of this last weekends IFNA Cooking Immersion. It was truly transformational for me. I have struggled this winter with what direction I wanted to re-enter the health care field and utilize this incredible opportunity IFNA has provided. In a demonstration table discussion you said something that resonated with me and on my drive home it really felt right. I love the patient interaction, not the clinical. We are fortunate to have a medical center on the island and I have been trying to figure out how to work with them, but not get caught up in the "system" - I have repeatedly said the health care system today is not a healthy place to get healthy. I don't have to. I feel the true need is in the kitchen. I can support the medical center recommendations but work with the patient. I have challenged the few clients I'm currently working with by handing on the What The Fork produce bag and taking a picture of What to Fork is going on in their kitchens! (see att. picture). A seemingly general comment can be so transformational. I'm grateful for that opportunity, deepest heartfelt thanks. And if you ever make it back to Vinalhaven and don't look for me, well you could miss a FORKING good time!