Skip the Trendy Detox and Diets and Live Healthier with Wellness By Ramona

True or False: Eating healthy is expensive, difficult, time-consuming, and healthy meals are uncreative and lack flavor.

After you take a cooking class or receive health coaching from the knowledgeable Ramona Fasula, owner of Wellness By Ramona, you’ll know this answer is very false. “We’re in such a health crisis in this country. I think people want to be healthy, but they just don’t know how. That’s kind of where I come in,” said Fasula.

After losing her job in the finance sector two years ago, Ramona was left with the ultimate question — what next? To her friends: her new path was obvious, Ramona is a people person who always has had a passion for health and fitness, so she became a health counselor.

She earned her health coaching certification through The Institute of Integrative Nutrition in 2010, recently completed a course through Cornell University’s Plant Based Medicine Program, and a six-month intensive at the Christina Pirello School of Natural Cooking and Integrative Health Studies. In January, her goal is to enroll in a second masters program in Holistic Nutrition, followed by a PhD in Naturopathic Medicine.

“Everybody is different. Everyone has a different family history or blood type. All of these things affect how you process food,” explained Ramona. “There are so many things that come into play when it comes to nutrition, to say that one type of diet works for everyone is wrong. They don’t.”

Ramona offers an ala carte option of health services to help clients manage or prevent diseases, control cravings, manage stress, lose weight, and meet their health goals. Her services include:

Health Coaching

After the initial, free, hour-long consultation, Ramona builds a personalized program based on a client’s family history, wellness goals, budget, and time constraints. Rather than focusing on strict calorie counts and cutting out comfort foods, Ramona comes up with a wellness plan to achieve optimal health and happiness without sacrifice.

Cooking Classes

A cooking class with Ramona goes beyond learning to cook quick, flavorful, healthy meals: she teaches the benefits of each ingredient, like a person who has heart disease should be eating meals that include lentils, red onion, and green leafy vegetables such as spinach, collard greens, and kale. Private classes, group classes, corporate events, and meal planning services are all available. Classes are based around client’s wants, whether that be the basics of healthy cooking or an entire session on cooking with quinoa.

Pantry Makeover

Step 1: Rid your pantry and fridge of items you may not realize are unhealthy-items made from white flour, processed foods, and foods devoid of nutritional value. Step 2: Ramona will teach her clients how to read food labels to figure exactly what is going on their tables and into their bodies. The final stage of the pantry makeover is a trip to the supermarket to learn how to replace unhealthy items with better choices.

Ramona travels to the most convenient location for her clients. She frequently travels from Center City to the Main Line and from Delaware County to Delaware. Ramona is knowledgeable, yet approachable and will go out of her way to meet the needs of her students.

“The things that struck me most about my experience with Ramona and her guidance is that her approach is really based on your body and your specific needs. She is conscientious, an out of the box thinker, caring, resourceful, and consistent. New clients: Expect to learn more about your body and what’s really GOOD for it; then be amazed by the results,” said Denise Burton, Wellness By Ramona client of two years.

To learn more about Wellness By Ramona’s recipes and wellness tips, like her facebook or sign up for her monthly newsletter. To get started on the path to wellness, call Ramona at  610-513-3541, email [email protected], or contact her through her website. Dish readers get an exclusive discount when they mention this article.

Start your holiday shopping early with a WBR gift card for the person that has everything. “My Dad always said to me, ‘if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.’ It is so true because it affects every aspect of your life. To give someone the gift of health is pretty amazing.”

Ramona’s Tempeh with Greens Stir Fry

While Ramona was preparing this beautiful 20-minute meal, she taught me that the more colorful a meal is, the healthier it is.

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons avocado oil
• 1 red onion, cut in half moon slices
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 pinch fresh ginger root, grated, juice squeezed out
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 carrot, julienne pieces
• 1 cup daikon, julienne pieces
• 8 ounces tempeh, cut into 1 inch long slices
• 1/2 bunch broccoli rabe, rinsed, cut into 2 inch pieces

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in deep skillet or wok over medium heat.
2. Add the onions, a splash of soy sauce; stir-fry one to two minutes.
3. Add ginger juice and chili powder and stir well.
4. Add carrots, daikon, and a splash of soy sauce; stir-fry one to two minutes.
5. Stir in the tempeh and a splash of soy sauce; stir-fry until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes.
6. Stir in broccoli rabe, season lightly with soy sauce, and add a small amount of the water to steam the broccoli rabe.
7. Cover, and steam over medium heat until rabe is bright green. Stir gently to combine and transfer to a serving platter. Serve immediately.