Elaine Magee

Cookbook Author & Nutritionist

Early Years

Elaine's career path has been amazingly resolute ever since a high school class in Nutritional Physiology transformed her from a typical teenage cheerleader to a person who knew exactly what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Since then, she has been on a mission to affect the unhealthy eating habits of American culture with her prolific collection of books on nutrition-based cooking. "What was known about how foods affect the body when I received my master's degree in Public Health Nutrition twenty years ago is only a fraction of what we now understand on the subject. In fact, the research I do for my books and other writings are a constant learning experience. I feel like I really never left school just keeping up with all the new science that continues to confirm how much we truly are what we eat and how these phenomena can be managed to create a health advantage."

From that first high school class, through college studies and with every career decision that she made as a young nutritionist, Elaine stayed true to a course that she hoped would someday allow her to combine her writing talent with her zeal for nutritional cooking and position her as a noted expert in the field. Another long-time vision, formed very early as she graduated from college, was to become what she describes as a successful stay-at-home working mom. "I simply wanted it ALL and set out to accomplish it," she explained. "I now have two beautiful teenage daughters who I have been lucky enough to watch grow up from my home office. My wonderful husband, Dennis, has been my patient, perpetually picky, taste tester of all my recipe makeovers for twenty years now; he remains as fit as when we met, which I like to brag is living testament to my healthy culinary practice, the slight graying aside! While I am still not entirely satisfied with the degree of my professional notoriety, I know those expectations will happen with the next book or next radio spot. That is why I always refer to this ambition as a part of my plan, not my dream!"

Current Projects

This month's featured dish is a Melon Mango Breakfast Smoothie as prescribed by Elaine Magee MPH, RD (a.k.a. the Recipe Doctor). Elaine uses some of summer’s best fresh flavors to provide a tasty and nutritious start to the day. In fact each ingredient, as well as some combinations of ingredients, in this yummy drink makes it a deliciously powerful culinary tonic that fuels some of the body's vital immune systems!

"A healthy breakfast is the most critical part of everyone's diet. This smoothie is one of my favorites and takes very little time to prepare even for those with the busiest of schedules. Remember, it doesn’t really take extra time to eat right, but it does take a commitment to paying attention to what foods contribute to one’s overall well-being and not just gulping down anything that satisfies the appetite," counseled Elaine.

 "The smoothie contains plenty of protein and isoflavones from the soymilk, plus the synergy between the vitamin C in all the fruits interacting with the high beta-carotene content in the cantaloupe and mango help reduce the effects of LDL cholesterol, which forms plaque buildup in arteries. The granola provides the body with vital folates that combat some cancers and the onset of Alzheimer's. The calcium in the yogurt contributes to bone density, which is especially important for women. Considering all the healthy benefits that come in this tasty package, this breakfast drink is a bargain at only 350 calories!" (see recipe for a complete nutritional breakdown)

This analysis of her own ingredients demonstrates Elaine's knowledge and long time passion for the science of food, as well as a good example of the focus of her twenty-fifth book on the subject, FOOD Synergy. This latest book is a guide to how the chemistry of individual foods interacts with each other. "Over the past few years, research has made dramatic new breakthroughs in understanding how food affects metabolism. In addition to discovering which "super foods" offer maximum health benefits, we now know that some nutrients pack a special healing wallop when eaten together rather than alone. Food Synergy discusses these exciting dietary findings, with recipe suggestions on how to use the power of food in healthy and tasty combinations."

Recognition

Her own website and the Recipe Doctor column, which appears in newspapers and magazines across the country, turns familiar but unwholesome dishes into more nutritional formulas that are just as flavorful but without "the bad stuff" that is responsible for so many of this nation's chronic health problems. Elaine is also a regular contributor to the popular WEBMD.com and makes frequent appearances on radio, television and educational videos to disseminate her message. Never satisfied with her range of coverage, this industrious mother of two teenage girls will soon debut her own cooking show on the Internet. Elaine just keeps on ticking!

There is no doubt that the determination of this multi-talented Recipe Doctor, who is committed to helping people understand how and what foods can be good for the body as well as the palette, will be making house calls to an ever increasing audience as she continues to work in every media to promote her message. Besides, her prescription for healthy and sensible cooking is a very easy pill to swallow!