Hi, I am Leslie Frodema and welcome to Sudbury Valley Natural Health’s website.
I started Sudbury Valley Natural Health in 2001 as a way to share with my friends what I was learning about the ability of ”natural” cooking, wellness and lifestyle changes to improve one’s health. As I would read books, cook new dishes, and take classes in learning ”alternative” ways towards wellness, I thought this would be great information to share.
My desire to explore different approaches to health has been shaped by my work experience as a nurse in traditional medical settings as well as studies in nutrition and natural healing methods. I have incorporated the best of both traditions in my daily life, cooking classes and health counseling practice.
My movement toward following a plant-based diet began during high school when my mother, upon being diagnosed with high cholesterol, was advised to eat more grains, vegetables and fruits and less meat, fatty foods and sugar. Once I got to college, this way of eating was reinforced daily after I was paired with a roommate who was dedicated to following a vegetarian diet.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing (later I would earn an MBA from the University of Chicago), I began my career as a critical care nurse working at world-renowned teaching hospitals including Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital. In this setting, I developed a comprehensive understanding of how to treat various illnesses as well as an appreciation for the role diet and lifestyle play in regaining health and preventing disease.
Perhaps what caught my attention the most was the way in which my own health problems such as acne, allergies, exczema and ovarian cysts resolved on their own after a change in diet. I decided to more formally study the health benefits of plant-based diets and completed the Comprehensive Certificate Program at The Strengthening Health Institute (Philadelphia, PA) and Levels I and II and the Kushi Institute (Becket, MA).
Life experience though has proven to be the greatest teacher as well as the greatest inspiration. Through my in-home cooking classes and counseling practice, I have met so many individuals of all ages and from all walks of life who have improved their health by moving toward a plant-based diet. And family life, including raising a very healthy vegan child, demonstrates daily the incredible power of food to create lasting health.
Contact Information:
Leslie Frodema Sudbury Valley Natural Health PO Box 1151 Sudbury, MA 01776 p) 978.443.7525 e) lesliefrodema@yahoo.com
