Christina Pirello

Cookbook Author & PBS Series Host

Christina Pirello is the Emmy award-winning host of the nationally aired PBS television series "Christina Cooks". She has taught whole foods cooking classes and has conducted lifestyle seminars on the power of food for over 15 years. It was when Christina was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 26, with virtually no hope for a cure, that Christina turned to whole foods to help cure her disease.

Early Years

Cooking with her mother as a child, Christina's relationship with food then led to work as a pastry chef and caterer. Following her diagnosis, Christina's attention was focused on the connection between food and wellness. Her future husband and partner, Robert Pirello, was the guide in her journey to remission, regression, and then the cancer-free declaration her disbelieving doctors gave Christina after thirteen months.

During her recovery, Christina's cooking abilities continued to develop as her understanding of food, its energy and the affect on health grew. With remarkable first-hand knowledge that the quality and quantity of food we consume has direct influence over our health, Christina was then compelled to share her experience with others, beginning with small cooking classes in her home kitchen. Her enthusiasm and belief that food is the foundation on which our lives are built was obvious to her students, and the word of mouth made her classes grow. Simultaneously, Christina created a 500-page cookbook, Cooking The Whole Foods Way (The Berkley Publishing Group, 1997) that was published within a year. Soon after this, a producer and PBS presenting affiliate was found to bring Christina's whole foods way of cooking to a much larger audience.

Current Projects

Now in its 5th season, Christina Cooks inspires viewers to take control of their lives through their diet. Sharing the power of food through the thought-provoking and practical knowledge she has gained, Christina Pirello offers a unique, unconventional look at healthy eating. Her second book, Cook Your Way To The Life You Want (The Berkley Publishing Group, 1999), includes more than 150 recipes and more of Christina's philosophy on food. Since 1989, Christina and her husband Robert have published a bi-monthly whole foods magazine, also called Christina Cooks. Her third book, Glow: A Prescription for Radiant Health and Beauty, was published in the fall of 2001 and her 4th book is scheduled for release in the fall of 2003.

Recognition

Christina has taken her message about whole foods to more consumers through features in Newsweek, the Philadelphia Inquirer, The CBS Early Show, Home Matters on the Discovery Channel, and In Food Today on the TV Food Network. She serves as Director of the Whole Foods Academy at Atlantic Cape Community College, and on the faculty of Drexel University. Featured as a chef and author at Philadelphia's internationally renowned Book and the Cook, Christina is also chairperson of the Philadelphia chapter of The Chefs' Collaborative 2000, a culinary organization dedicated to the creation of sustainable agriculture and the preservation of the quality of our food supply.

Christina Pirello believes that we are what we eat, and practices what she preaches through her series, books, and classes. If you want to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle, Christina Pirello can definitely show you the way.

Get more information about Christina Pirello at http://www.christinacooks.com/