About MONAMIFOOD and LENI REED NAZARE

MonAmiFOOD

In the Monamifood blog  you will find simple and delicious recipes to help control weight and prevent diet-related chronic diseases.

Who is Leni Reed Nazare?

About my background… For about 25 years, I worked as a dieitian/nutritionist under my professional name, Leni Reed, MPH, RD. During that time I did a lot of nutrition education writing – for lay and professional audiences. My work for lay audiences was published in a magazine (column in Shape), two newspapers (columns in Dallas Times Herald and Dallas Morning News), six videos (one of which, Supermarket Savvy, was carried for a while in Blockbuster), and an audiotape (published by Nightingale-Conant). In addition, I was fortunate to be invited to co-author the recipes for the first edition of the American Heart Association Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cookbook (published in 1989).

I also spent six years as a faculty member teaching dietetics students at U of Texas South Western Medical Center at Dallas and the U of Oklahoma Health Science Center.

I enjoyed my work in the nutrition field but grew tired of it and wanted a change. So about thirteen years ago, I stopped practicing as a dietitian/nutritionist. But I never lost my interest in nutrition and food!

I love to cook and experiment with new foods and recipes! To me, cooking is exciting, fun, rewarding, and also relaxing.

For some time I had been planning to start a blog with the recipes that I cook for my family, but I never got around to it.  Then about two years ago, I read the book, Anti Cancer, by David Servan-Schreiber and was stunned by the scientific information available today about foods that can help prevent cancer…and I couldn’t wait to start my blog!

I started this blog with a focus on diet to help prevent cancer, but as it has evolved over the past few years, it has broadened in focus and now offers simple healthy recipes to control weight and prevent diet related chronic diseases.

It’s not hard to prepare healthy AND delicious meals. In fact, it can be easy — and fun, too. The gifts of nature are waiting for us! So let’s get started!

I hope you will join me on this exciting and delicious learning and eating adventure!

~Leni

  1. Helen Hipps | August 15, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    Dear Leni,
    What a wonderful blog! I recently read about tumeric and have been incorporating this into recipes, BUT did NOT know it needed to be combined with black pepper for effectiveness.
    Love the recipes,
    Thank you so much!
    Looking forward to more great information.
    Helen

    Reply
  2. Claire Tse | September 3, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    Cheers Lani,
    I thoroughly enjoy your joie de vie and research sources. I have used garlic for year and enjoy your tips on how to store garlic paste. I look forward to sharing info on kefir and kombucha; have been making both at home and enjoying the health benefits from each.
    Thanks for following your passion!
    Best,
    …Claire

    Reply
  3. "Mike" | September 24, 2009 at 4:00 pm

    Leni,
    Yesterday, just finished the hummus/basil dip atop slices of apple. Surely, the best combination yet! Thanks! Mike H.

    Reply
    • monamifood | September 24, 2009 at 9:34 pm

      Hi “Mike,”
      Thanks for sharing. I love the idea of spreading the hummus/basil dip (made by mixing humus and defrosted Basil Pesto Flavor Cubes) on apple slices. All fruits and veggies! GREAT!
      Leni

      Reply
  4. christaspitler | March 28, 2010 at 9:45 pm

    Leni,
    Wow! I am so excited to incorporate this information into my family’s lifestyle change! Thank you so much for all the wonderful why questions and recipes!
    Thanks,
    Christa

    Reply
  5. Robin | May 10, 2011 at 3:33 pm

    Great site — thanks for doing this for those of us that are still learning. I have read Anti-Cancer and am following many of the recommendations. My son was jsut diagnosed with a blood leukemia. Dr. Servan-Schreiber recommends garlic, green tea and tumeric for leukemia. Do you know if curcumin pills with or without biopermine (black pepper substance) are as effective as eating tumeric in meals? Thanks. Robin

    Reply
    • monamifood | May 10, 2011 at 9:19 pm

      Hi Robin, Your son is fortunate to have a caring mother like you! Regarding supplements like turmeric supplements….I would not go that route simply because you can get turmeric and black pepper in food (powdered or fresh) – and then you know what you are getting. In supplements, who knows; they are poorly regulated. Also, please note that at http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69401.cfm it says”Recent laboratory findings indicate that dietary turmeric may inhibit the anti-tumor action of chemotherapeutic agents such as cyclophosphamide in treating breast cancer. More research is necessary, but it is advisable for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to limit intake of turmeric and turmeric-containing foods.” You can read a lot more about turmeric and its health properties and issues by going to this Memorial Sloan Kettering site ( but first you have to accept the terms and conditions on this page). I hope this helps you. All the best to you and your son. Leni

      Reply
  6. Robin | May 11, 2011 at 12:53 am

    Thanks for your speedy response. I’m going to review the Sloan Kettering site as well.

    Reply
  7. Rebecca | June 28, 2011 at 3:36 am

    Hi Leni,

    It’s very nice to chat with you at the library. I’ve read a few pages of Anti Cancer, and decided to order it on Amazon.

    Your blog is a very good resource for guidance on healthy food. I will come back often for recipes.

    Thanks,
    Rebecca

    Reply
  8. Karen | July 12, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    Hi Leni,
    Your photos are lovely. Thanks for the info on mature beet greens (just threw away a bunch; never again!) I often grow okra bec/ the plant is so pretty and I love it roasted.

    FYI, I’m back doing classes at Wms-Sonoma … this sunday on salads. Hope to see you soon!

    Karen

    Reply
  9. maxim heredia | August 10, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    Hi Leni,
    your recepies are inspiring.I have cooked a few of your recepies, accidently using my imagination. Like your Lebanese lentil soup.Hope to use some of your ideas.Check out Linda’s Web Sitehttp://www.aspire-health.ca/therapists.php.

    Cheers

    Max

    Reply
  10. Chuck Havill | February 8, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    Leni: What is your favorite food movie? Maybe something like Julie and Julia or Babette’s Feast, I’m thinking. Maybe I’ll show it sometime. Chuck

    Reply
  11. Lauranne | April 20, 2012 at 6:45 pm

    Hi Leni, I love your blog. It’s funny that we’ve been friends for so long and I didn’t know about all your previous accomplishments in nutrition. I passed on the link to a new friend. Thanks for putting this information out on the Internet. Hugs -L

    Reply

  1. Pingback: Check It Out! – Dr. Servan-Scheiber’s New Website « Monamifood's Blog

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