About the Authors
Shannon Le Mintier, RD, LD, earned a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and completed her post graduate education at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino, California. She has been in practice since 1997 as a registered dietitian and fitness professional providing services and classes for individuals, corporations, amateur and professional athletes, as well as youth and college sport teams. Shannon has expertise in various specialties including weight loss and gain, eating disorders, sports and athletics, and women’s health. As a member of many professional associations, Shannon keeps herself on the cutting edge of health, fitness and science. She lives with her husband and daughter in Georgia.
Greg Hardwick started his writing career communicating environmental and social issues after obtaining a Degree in Environmental Science in 1998. After travelling extensively throughout Southeast Asia, the South Pacific and Australia, Greg wrote several articles based upon culture, people and their natural environment. He currently edits and contributes to a local environmental newspaper called Econews and has been published in various national and international magazines. Currently based near the town of Noosa Heads, on the Queensland coast in Australia, Greg lives on a 5-acre property of native bushland, where he maintains a solar-powered house and enjoys growing his own food and hiking when between writing assignments.
Camille Macres spent much of her childhood experimenting in the kitchen, hosting dinner parties, and developing a passion for food and cooking. Her curiosity piqued while working with exotic food and flavors in Boston and Santa Barbara restaurants, and traveling to India, Thailand, and the Mediterranean. In 2004, Camille started Heavenly Home Gourmet, a full-service personal chef and consulting business that marries delicious flavors with an organic, whole food philosophy. Camille is also developing Recipe Rx, Inc., a website that will merge a comprehensive database of information on healing with whole foods and thousands of delicious recipes from well-known cookbooks and food-loving contributors.
Aparna Khanolkar worked as a personal chef in San Diego for three years. During that time, she also worked as the main chef at the Chopra Center for Well-Being in Carlsbad, Ca. Aparna is the author of the book A Mother’s Blessing, an Ayurvedic perspective on postpartum care for new mothers. Aparna has cooked for retreats, yoga teacher trainings and has given talks on Ayurveda. She believes that cooking and eating in balance is vital to enhancing one’s health, well-being and happiness. Aparna now resides in Santa Barbara where she teaches, cooks, and caters.
Bill Cates
Born in New Orleans, educated in Virginia and now a wine maker in California, Bill Cates has experienced a world of professions including (short list) horse trainer, short story writer, newspaper reporter, photographer and organic farmer. Co-founder of Tantara Winery, Bill has been dedicated to producing the very finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Tantara Winery is located on the beautiful Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Barbara County. Bill resides on an organic ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley with his artist wife, Gwen Cates. Their three daughters and grandchildren live within an easy drive.