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A Conversation With… Joshua Rosenthal, MScEd
Founder, Director and Primary Teacher of the
Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the world's largest health coach training program

Interviewed by Cara Ryan,
ATH Editor of Think Green

Editor's Note from Cara Ryan: "We’ve lived in processed-food land for decades, and we are seeing the problems that are coming from it...I say - do the best you can with the intention to do better." Wise words Joshua, thank you!

Cara Ryan: How did you get started with health coaching?

Joshua Rosenthal: I saw a need for people to be guided to healthy lifestyles. People want to be healthy; they just need help doing it. I meet people every day with food issues, body issues, relationship issues… after one conversation they feel a sense of relief. All they need is for someone to listen and support them in reaching their goals.

Cara: What inspired you to create the Institute for Integrative Nutrition?

Joshua: Through working with clients and observing human behavior, I became convinced that the key to optimal health is understanding each person’s individual needs, rather that following a rule book. What I discovered was that having happy relationships, a career you love, an exercise routine and a way to connect spiritually are even more important than the food on your plate. We all know what it means to live a healthy life, we just aren’t doing it. Integrative Nutrition trains Health Coaches to work with clients so they can achieve their health goals in an easy, relaxed way. The way it should be.

Cara: What steps does the Institute for Integrative Nutrition take to make the school "greener?"

Joshua: We are committed to providing a conscious curriculum that is focused on issues like food miles, sustainability, factory farming and organic practices. Beyond that, we are completely online, so there are no student transportation miles, and we are virtually paperless.

Cara: What steps does the New York City office take?

Joshua: The biggest step we’ve taken in the office recently is becoming 100% wind powered.

We also provide organic breakfast, lunch and snacks for our staff. We use dishes and utensils that are washable, water filtering machines instead of plastic bottles of water. When we ship we choose carbon offset for UPS ground. All products used in the office are eco-friendly, and we have office space that utilizes natural light and plenty of plants to purify the air.

Cara: Since this column is about thinking green, let's talk about plant-based diets! What greens are your favorite to incorporate into meals?

Joshua: I love kale. I probably eat it more than other leafy green veggie. It’s versatile and full of nutrition.

Cara: Do you think 2010 was the turning point for plant-based diets?

Joshua: There was a lot of attention given to plant based diets in the media last year. President Bill Clinton has been talking about his switch to a plant-based diet to improve his health and how he is seeing real results. Recently Oprah and her staff did a vegan challenge for one week. When celebrities are talking about diet and lifestyle changes, people listen. I think this media attention focused on what we’ve been talking about for years is great! We’ve lived in processed-food land for decades, and we are seeing the problems that are coming from it like obesity, diabetes and heart disease. We are getting back to cooking at home, eating whole foods and eating for health. I would say it’s a reawakening rather than a turning point.

Cara: What do you recommend for people who want to start living a greener life style?

Joshua: Make conscious choices to protect the environment by eating locally grown foods that are free of pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals will impact your life and your world. Reduce your consumption of disposable items. It’s really easy to stop using plastic bags, and water bottles, but sometimes it is more difficult for people to commit to buying organic and supporting local communities that use sustainable practices. I say - do the best you can with the intention to do better. People should examine the effect that conventional growing practices have on our health and our planet. When you take closer look and think about how it will affect your life, it’s worth every penny.

Cara: What are you excited for in 2011?

Joshua: I’m most excited to see what students and graduates of Integrative Nutrition’s Health Coach Training Program are doing to create a happier healthier world. The Integrative Nutrition community is tireless. They are the most passionate individuals I’ve ever met. And we’re just getting started.

I have a plan to create a major shift by the year 2020 – and I’m calling this the 2020 Vision. Today, in the year 2011, all of us know someone or some company that does not understand that food affects everything - our health and happiness, our planet, our future and our connection to each other. This can change.

At Integrative Nutrition, we are committed to being the catalyst for this change. Our goal is to have the world see clearly -- with 20/20 vision -- that food changes everything. We started more than 20 years ago, and have continued to educate thousands of people of the vital importance of true nourishment. In turn, our students have gone on to educate tens of thousands more people. Together we have created a ripple effect that is bringing health and happiness to the world.

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About Joshua Rosenthal
Integrative Nutrition Founder, Director and Primary Teacher

Institue for Integrative Nutrition founder and director Joshua Rosenthal has been working in the nutrition field for over 25 years and is the driving force behind the school. His experience spans the fields of curriculum development, personal coaching, business and nutritional counseling. He is an insightful healer whose simple approach allows people too quickly and successfully reach new levels of health and happiness. He is also the author of Integrative Nutrition: Feed Your Hunger for Health & Happiness.

 Follow Joshua Rosenthal on Twitter.

About the Institute for Integrative Nutrition
the world's largest health coach training program 

Welcome to the Future of Nutrition

When I started Integrative Nutrition almost 20 years ago, I was just one person with a simple idea that if I could change what people ate, I could help change the world. I started with a small classroom of excited students who shared my vision. We saw a big challenge ahead of us.

The health movement has come into its own since then. Articles about food and health are on the cover of major magazines. The White House has an organic vegetable garden. Schools are banning soda machines and bake sales. Whole Foods Market is now the world's largest retailer of natural and organic foods. People are catching on and becoming more aware. What was once considered alternative is now becoming part of the mainstream approach.

Last year, we launched our online nutrition school, allowing students from all over the world to experience our program. As we spread our message to a global audience, our community has grown exponentially. We are now 10,000 strong, with students and graduates in 50 states and over 60 countries.

I’m not surprised. Anywhere you go people need and want to talk about their health. You know this probably as much as I do. And you're most likely the go-to person for nutrition advice and love helping others even if you're not getting compensated. But why not get paid for what you love doing?

You might be looking at our school because you're worried about the stability of your job, or maybe you're unsatisfied by your current work. Well, this is your chance to launch a meaningful career and join our thousands of graduates who are making a living doing what they love and helping educate others on the importance of daily diet and lifestyle.

I invite you to look through our website and see how the education and training at Integrative Nutrition can help you reinvent your life. Our admissions advisors are available to talk, listen and prepare you for a powerful education that will open new and exciting opportunities for your future.

Wishing you a year of great opportunity,

Joshua Rosenthal, MScEd
Integrative Nutrition Founder, Director and Primary Teacher

Visit www.integrativenutrition.com for more information.