Nancy Vassallo

Nancy Vassallo is a nutrition expert and the founder of an institute for nutritionists. She is also a mother of three and an avid cook. Today, she is a happy grandmother, and despite her busy schedule, her nature to stay up-to-date drives her to continue contributing to society. She helps many people through conferences and books, training them in nutrition and healthy living. Nancy's life has not always been easy. As a child, she often experienced the effects of her family's financial hardships. Her parents, of Italian origin, worked when they could but struggled to support four children due to her father's and mother's health issues (Nancy is the second youngest). During her adolescence, she couldn't afford everything she wanted and always had to help out at home due to their financial constraints. After many years and sacrifices, Nancy finally saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to her qualities and abilities, she managed to make a name for herself and achieve everything she had always dreamed of. The fact that she couldn’t afford what she wanted as a child motivated her to dedicate herself to studying and constantly strive for self-improvement. Over the years, she refined her ideas, moving away from the concept of one-size-fits-all diets. She developed specialized models that take into account the individual characteristics of each person. Her parents' familiarity with the Mediterranean diet, even if they weren't aware of it by name, greatly influenced her work. As Nancy often says, "We must try to avoid saturated fats (found in fatty meats, butter, margarine, lard, etc.), limit sugar consumption as much as possible (in both drinks and sweets), and eat more seasonal fruits and vegetables." When combined with regular physical activity, a healthy diet creates a perfect balance that can undoubtedly extend one’s life. Her mission remains steadfast, like a beacon in the night: to educate the younger generation to become nutrition professionals who, in turn, will help people live better and longer lives. Nancy now lives in California with her husband, Roger, and their two dogs, both rescued from a shelter: Shot, a five-year-old Dalmatian, and Joy, a nine-year-old Labrador.