Institute for Integrative Nutrition

[Guppy]

Does anyone know anything about this program?

http://www.integrativenutrition.com/

emily

[rawpriestess]

No sorry, I just eat raw.

I didn't take the time to read about their program, but I've tried hundreds, and eating raw is the ONLY one that has worked for me, so why go to a school to learn when I already know what is working for me?

[Guppy]

Hi RP,
Thanks for keeping my thread alive, even though you don't know the program. :)

Yes, I eat Raw too and am perfectly happy with it. I have just sent my youngest child off to school (kindergarden) and am looking for a way to re-enter the paid workforce in a career that will suit my newfound love of nutrition and health. This school offers a training program for work in the field of natural health, nutrition and all sorts of cool stuff. It sounds REALLY neat.

I just was curious if anyone knew anything about it. Looks like a "no".

Thanks anyway,
emily

[Adrian]

I was actually enrolled in the school scheduled to start Sept/Oct. I had some financial issues, so I decided to put it off.

The school seems quite interesting, teaching many different alternative health options available to students and it gives you the education you need to be a Holistic Health Counselor.

You should request one of their catalogs for more info, and subscribe to their newsletter.

Adrian

[Guppy]

Hey thanks Adrian! Too bad you had to defer. Can you tell me if you are already working in this field?

I do have their catalog and am going to the orientation in a few weeks.

emily

[Adrian]

I am not yet in the Holistic health field, and I feel like its my calling. One day, and hopefully within the next year, I will be able to go either there, or might just take somr raw food classes.

Let me know what U think of the Orientation!

[PDMagnusen]

I'm enrolled and plan to start the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in October. I'm so excited! I also feel that Raw is for me and I've been 100% for almost a year. I'm going to study this program because I want to help others! IIN teaches you about all of the dietary theories - from the East to the West. Their approach encompasses all of the physical, social, and environmental aspects of diet and nutrition. Every BODY is different, so the program teaches you how to work with body types and how to help people determine what diet works best for them. Whether or not raw is the way to go for that person is just ONE aspect of it. Nutrition is more that just the food we put into our mouths, right?? Anyway, that's just my opinon. I hope the program will be as good as I hear it is! I will let you know my experiences once I start!! :)

[Guppy]

Priscilla,
I am so excited for you! The program looks just amazing. If it were just up to me to decide, I would do it in a heartbeat. But as it involves my husband, who would have sole care of the kids while I am at class, as well as the money for tuition, which is not just a little money, well, I am meeting with a bit of resistance. I still have hope.

So perhaps I will meet you in October? If not, enjoy, and please report back on the experience.

Regards,
emily

[PDMagnusen]

Emily, I understand what you mean. It's been a struggle for me too (for different reasons). It is a huge financial sacrifice as well! Yes, I DO hope to see you in October, but if now I will definitely report back. Do you like close to New York?

[Guppy]

Priscilla,
I live in the suburbs of NYC - about a 20 minute drive or 45 mins on the commuter train. Do you need a place to stay for those weekends? I am certainly not as convenient as staying right in Manhattan, but you would be welcome to stay in our guest room. If I were coming to class too, of course I would be able to drive both of us back and forth.

Anyway, email me if you want to. I think my email is in my profile above. If not, write back here and I will give it to you.

Regards,
emily

[Revvell]

Hmmm. Interested why y'all are promoting this school on a raw vegan site. Nothing raw vegan about it as they cook, use eggs, etc.

Now, this one I would understand: http://www.rawfoodchef.com/

Revvell

[Tucson]

I've known the owner of this school (Joshua) since 1993. If I were you I would save your money. Most of the information they offer there can easily be gleaned from Internet searches. Their degree is practically worthless. I know my words sound harsh but I can't tell you how many graduates I've met who have never been able to make a living through that program, and that is the main reason they signed up. If on the hand you are mainly interested in taking nutritional classes and meeting lots of similar people than you've found the right place. Their classes are so large that they have had to conduct them in auditoriums at Lincoln Center. Having 600-800 people in a class is not unusual.

[sunshinesioux]

I personally went to the program. Out of the whole graduating class, only about 10 or so actually do the counselor thing. What people talk about on this forum is more information than the whole course offers.

If you feel lonely and need tons of people to hug and talk to instead of actually being taught much, then this program is for you. Its a huge money making scheme with little education to offer. It gives lost people a home to gather and feel better about themselves but doesn't give powerful information enough to really feel like a health counselor.

The highlight of it is the guest speakers which unfortuneately don't teach the program themselves. Buy Paul Pitchford's book and Anna Marie Colbin if you want an overall valuable education on nutrition and holistic remedies (cooked and non cooked).

Out of an 8 hour day span...ur real valuable informational lessons are perhaps 2 hours. The other 6 hours are spent entertaining each other by hugging and talking. You have friends for that. You also have this forum!! BTW: everyone graduates whether they show up or not and then get their certificate to counsel real people who truly want to be healthy. That is scary.

Sorry if this disappointed anyone excited about it.

[Guppy]

Hi Revvell,
Not promoting it, just trying to get some info on it. They DO teach raw foods, but they also teach many other eating plans. Among the many guest teachers are David Wolf, Howard Lyman and Neal Barnard. The idea being you can teach many different ways to your clients. Personally I would only teach vegetarian, but maybe I would teach some cooked vegetarian too for people who are not ready for Raw or just transitioning. I know I did not become a Raw Foodist overnight. I spent much time first as a vegetarian and enjoyed great health improvements from it.

And thank-you for that link. I am going to check it out.

Tucson and Sunshinesioux - Thank you SO much for your input. I am trying to gather all the info I can and I will defintely take your comments into acount. Sioux, I too wondered if it wasn't stuff I could just learn on my own and wasn't sure how valuable their certificate would be?

Thanks folks!
emily

[Veganforlife]

Alex Jamieson - now Alex Spurlock, wife of Morgan Spurlock of Super Size Me fame? She is a member of this school.
www.healthychefalex.com
She is awesome. I've worked with her before!
OH - they are expecting a little "super size me"!!!

[Sharon in Colorado]

I was looking at the tuition page and thought it was a little amusing - there's a discount for almost anything on here:

http://www.integrativenutrition.com/tuition.asp

[sunshinesioux]

Hi Guppy. Yes most of this stuff i'm sure you KNOW already. That's how simplistic the program is. And for more info...you know which books already! David Wolf, Alissa Cohen, etc give a bountiful load of info. In terms of the certificate...yeah...in some way u can say "see i'm certified" only if you counsel on your own. If you wanted to help a majority of people in certain settings, as much as we don't agree with it, the "real" BS degree of american dietary association is what you get hired with. If you want to do holistic counseling on the individual front or small groups..why not consider alissa cohen's program? It's only one week and so much more helpful to people than the school run by a business savvy man.

[PDMagnusen]

Hi, Guppy. I tried to email you but I can't get your email address through this site. Please drop me a line when you get a free moment - I'd like to talk to you off line.

[PDMagnusen]

Also, I want to add that I am not "promoting" IIN and that was not the point of my post. I am simply stating my opinion and the fact that I have signed up to attend the program, which I feel is acceptable. I am raw and I plan to be raw for the rest of my life, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not open to learning as much as I can about nutrition and health. As I stated before, this program claims to teach more than just FOOD. In my opinion, the food we choose to eat is just one pillar required for optimum health and longevity. I wouldn't attend this program to learn about FOOD, per se. I know what works and what I believe in, and that's RAW. My point would be to learn more the spiritual, personal, and social aspects of nutrition - more about what others are experiencing.

Tucson and siouxsnoopy, thanks so much for passing along that information! You guys are giving me a reason to look into this program further before committing myself in October. I have heard very good things about the school, but it’s a huge financial commitment and I want to make sure I am getting my money’s worth if I am going to go through with this.

[Adrian]

Hi Guppy. Yes most of this stuff i'm sure you KNOW already. That's how simplistic the program is. And for more info...you know which books already! David Wolf, Alissa Cohen, etc give a bountiful load of info. In terms of the certificate...yeah...in some way u can say "see i'm certified" only if you counsel on your own. If you wanted to help a majority of people in certain settings, as much as we don't agree with it, the "real" BS degree of american dietary association is what you get hired with. If you want to do holistic counseling on the individual front or small groups..why not consider alissa cohen's program? It's only one week and so much more helpful to people than the school run by a business savvy man.


Just curious what program does Alissa offer? Never searched the site for anything like that because I didn't know she offered anything. I thought her classes were raw sessions? Fill me in and let me know where to look. And if anyone has taken Alissa's courses, please let me know some feedback too! Thanks :)

[adrienne]

that programs like this can be helpful for the right folks. "Degrees" help in a career - one of the reasons I took Alissa's course, so I could call myself a raw food chef and instructor with confidence. Also, learning about all kinds of food/nutritional advice is great when working with the general public esp. when they ask questions like "what about this or that diet advice/idea" that way you can address all kinds of questions and concerns with more confidence than if you just read a couple of books - that is why I say that this program sounds great for the right kind of person. The more info we get/acquire/know - the better, even if it is not about raw. And it can help us solidify our knowledge that raw IS so great. And some folks you may work with will want to transition slower, and you can help them with that while making money too. I hope we can all support each other and give advice and opinions without sounding so harsh at times. :)
Love ya's!
Adrienne in Boston

[Guppy]

Priscilla - I emailed you.

Sioux - Why not Alissa's program? Right now I am looking for a broader base than just Raw foods training. It has taken me years to go from SAD to vegetarian to vegan to raw, and I would not have missed a single step on the path for anything. I learned so many important things as I moved through each phase. I would like to be able to help others through the same course.

Sharon - Yes, all those discounts and miraculously I qualify for none of them!

Adrian - Click on the Alissa Cohen logo up top and follow the links to her teacher certification trainings.

Adrienne - Amen to that!

night all,
emily