What's Cookin'? - Smithtown - A Delicious Transformation to Health

What’s Cookin’ ? –Smithtown

By Nancy Vallarella

Smithtown’s Delicious Transformation to Health

Kelli DiGregorio & Barbara Ann GrovaThere is no greater muse than a mother’s passion. Barbara Ann Grova considered nutrition when her child was diagnosed with precocious puberty at age six. Not willing to medicate, Barbara made it her personal mission to research alternatives that took her on a journey exploring nutritional healing and environmental impact on the human body. Grova’s desire to improve her child’s health combined with the dissatisfaction in an unfulfilling corporate career transitioned into a new profession. In 2004, Barbara Grova became a Holistic Nutritionist CHHC, AADP (Certified Holistic Health Counselor, American Association of Drugless Practitioners). She then started her own corporation, Nutritional Healing.

During 2014, Barbara and her Shrink Your Body, the Holistic Way ™ program guided attendees in Saint James and Stony Brook to a healthy lifestyle. Her clients managed to tally up a bonus 6,000 pound weight loss! This program is scheduled to take place in two new locations: Calvary Church of God of Saint James - 210 Woodlawn Avenue, Saint James and Mary Kay Studio - 1727 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Islandia.

Calvary Church of God of Saint James is also host to the Saint James Emergency Food Pantry where there is a need for donations especially laundry and hygiene products.  Church administrator, Debbie Capaldo welcomed the opportunity to have Barbara Ann Grova hold the program at this location. It is a great example of community working together. The church has a large dining area with a kitchen perfect for Shrink Your Body, the Holistic Way ™ workshops. Barbara is helping the church fill the pantry with donations.

Sweet potato apple soupCarolyn Borella of Borella Wholesale Nursery, Inc. in Nesconset just finished attending a beginner Shrink Your Body the Holistic Way ™ workshop.  She states her ultimate goal is to, “die young at a very old healthy age.”  The SYB program is about disseminating information and educating people on how to live a healthy lifestyle. Borella explains, “You learn about what nutrients found in food impact our bodies in a positive healing way. I acquired label reading skills to determine things like the levels of sodium and identifying sugar in processed food that will have a negative impact on my health. Shopping techniques, recipes and cooking skills are taught and practiced.” Always a smoothie fan, Carolyn was amazed that the Shrink Your Body delicious smoothie recipes contained ingredients such as kale and spinach. She enthusiastically states, “If it weren’t for the green color, you would never know those vegetables were included. The smoothies tasted great, gave me energy and I even slept better. I may be 60 but I feel like I’m 30! I can’t believe I feel this good. Life is a gift. Living a happy and healthy life is your choice.”

Saint James mother of five, Kelli DiGregorio was a client four years ago. Kelli confides, “My weight was out of control. No matter what I tried, nothing worked. I did not feel good.” Kelli took the time out for herself and spent Wednesday nights in the program led by Barbara. “It wasn’t just about food. I became interested in learning the many aspects of a healthy lifestyle. After completing the beginner program, I continued to sign up for advanced programs. I spent a year as a client and the experience transformed my life.” Kelli went on to become a Certified Nutrition Counselor through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She now runs the beginner groups for the Shrink Your Body program. 

Barbara Grova offers a supportive casual group environment and one on one counseling. Her clients are among the young and the mature.  I had the opportunity to observe a workshop she conducted for children this past December.  She masterfully engaged eighteen 8-12 year-olds by warming the group up with exercise led by Crossfit Kids Stony Brook and demonstrated how to cook a healthy meal (Breakfast Quesadilla). Fun, nutritious snacks (Bunnies Hopping in the Snow & Snowman Kabobs) were made throughout the session. They even played games - Spy Kids with Nutrition and Blind Taste Test.  This impressive, action packed, interactive, pure genius program pumped the kids up for learning and practicing healthy lifestyle choices.  

This recipe was created by Kelli DiGregorio for Shrink Your Body, the Holistic Way ™ 

Sweet Potato Apple Soup

1 cup of diced onions
2 Tbsp of Olive Oil
2 1/2 lbs of Sweet Potatoes, peeled and diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 large apple, peeled and chopped
5 cups of vegetable or chicken stock—low sodium
Pinch of salt, pepper and nutmeg

Heat oil in large saucepan. Add in onions—cook until translucent, not browned. Add in sweet potatoes, carrots, apple and stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 25 minutes until veggies are tender. Puree soup either in a blender or with an immersion blender. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Enjoy.

New sessions of the Shrink Your Body, the Holistic Way ™ program begin March 5^th   & March 10^th.  Call Barbara Ann Grova at 631-428-2427 for additional information.