Jan McCracken, Author/Self-Publisher Jan is the author of the healthy lifestyle cookbook, Healthy Carb Cookbook for Dummies and self-publisher of over forty books. Born and raised in a small farming community in the Midwest, Jan was adopted by her grandparents and grew up gardening beside her grandfather and cooking and canning with her grandmother. She spent most of her early life in the heartland of America learning to appreciate good food, good health and good friends surrounded by great old- fashioned cooks! The appreciation of fresh fruits and vegetables became a part of her... quite naturally. With her love of cooking and the company of warm friends around her, Jan fulfilled a dream in opening a country Bed and Breakfast in Branson, MO. It was during her innkeeping years that she wrote her first self-published book, the Ozark Mountain Christmas Recipe Collection. Over the years, Jan's interest in health and nutrition has grown, and she has spent years researching the best ways to convert good, old-fashioned, traditional recipes into leaner, healthier versions. However, sometimes she just has to share those good old-fashioned recipes that are like no others! Her writing style is upbeat, blended with a bit of humor and always fun! She quickly became known as the "Erma Bombeck of cookbook writers." Jan has become a staunch advocate of preventative medicine through diet, exercise and lifestyle. A grandmother herself now, Jan's involvement in health and nutrition has led her to her current passion in the fight in preventing childhood obesity. She feels strongly that one great approach to this issue is getting kids involved in cooking at an early age.
