The Greek Island of Ikaria is one of the “Blue Zones” where people are most likely to live long, healthy lives. So much of their longevity can be attributed to their way of eating. In this episode, Diane Kochilas, a New York City native whose family is from Ikaria, and who now lives there much of the year, explains the essence of the Ikarian way, and how to give traditional recipes a contemporary twist so they are do-able wherever you live.

Diane has been at the forefront of bringing healthy, delicious Greek and Mediterranean cuisine to a wide international audience for more than 25 years. She is the host and co-executive producer of the award winning PBS show, My Greek Table and she runs the Glorious Greek Cooking School on Ikaria. Diane has released 18 books on Greek cuisine and won 3 IACP Awards. Her latest is The Ikaria Way.

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Chef Virginia Willis has transformed her life since starting her health journey in 2019. She is now happier mentally and physically, and she has maintained a 65 pound weight loss. Willis has become a cheerleader for those wanting to make their own life changes, saying “If a French-trained Southern chef can do it, you can, too!” She says a key to success is build guardrails to keep you on your healthy path. List to learn what she means by that---and prepare to be inspired!

Willis is a James Beard award-winning cookbook author and television personality, Her books include Fresh Start, Secrets of the Southern Table, Lighten Up, Y’all, Bon Appétit, Y’all, Basic to Brilliant, Y’all, Okra, and Grits

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Welcome to Ellie's Spring Forward series where she revisits some of her most popular episodes that will help put winter behind you.

Two things are true about health and weight that seem to be diametrically opposed to one another. One truth: diet culture and focusing on weight loss is toxic. And the other truth: many people in the US would be healthier and feel better if they lost weight. How do we reconcile these seemingly conflicting concerns as individuals and as a society? The conversation about it has gotten so heated that many are left confused, frustrated and vulnerable.

In this episode, Dr. Michelle Cardel, a Puerto Rican nutrition scientist, registered dietitian, the Senior Director of Global Clinical Research & Nutrition at WW, and a faculty member at the University of Florida College of Medicine, where she is also an Associate Director for the Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, helps us figure it out, encouraging us to rethink how we think about weight, and assess whether we want to think about it at all.

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