What Others Say

Clients

"Balanced Nutritional Lifestyles provided me with an assortment of foods that met the diet requirements in a way that proved to be appetizing, tasty and quite adequate to my needs. As a side benefit I was able to drop a few pounds in the process. My recent experience with your expertise has provided me with a better approach to my eating habits."
- Irving Weisman

“Class was a lot of fun. Hope you teach another class here in future. Great information.”
- Robert

"Well, we've enjoyed your great meals in the last week or so. I liked the sable fish, Ernie prefers salmon. Your chile is decidedly yummier than my attempt. Your salmon is not the salmon I buy!! You're awesome and I'm happy to give a referral to anyone considering your services, whether just counseling or personal chef."
- Marianne Wronka

"What I loved about Gloria’s nutrition seminar was how she tailored the program to the audience. She recognizes how EF employees are on the go all the time, often working long hours and unusual shifts. The advice she gave was practical and easy to follow and the meals she suggested didn’t require hours of preparation. My favorite part of her presentation was when we held up various foods and she showed us the physical reaction that occurs to foods that harm us and those that are good for the body. It was unbelievably compelling! Everyone has an hour in their day to stop and think about self improvement, learning the basics of a healthy diet and a balanced lifestyle. We all thought it was well worth the time. Gloria is friendly and engaging and her enthusiasm for living a healthy life is contagious."
- Tamsin Trail, Director of Recruitment-Human Resources, EF Education

"I feel like I’ve been taught a most valuable life lesson: how to achieve a healthy body and mind simply with food choices and meal planning. Learning the ratios of protein, carbs and fat and eating balanced meals, even while at a restaurant, has liberated me from ever having to endure weight loss plans in the future. I am eating more meals, and even though I indulge on occasion, I look forward to getting back “in balance” at the next meal, and not because I feel guilty, but because I feel better when I eat the proper combinations and favorable foods.

I’ve already taken action steps, but plan to follow them throughout my lifetime. First, I have added several new vegetables to my list of favorable choices and no longer consume the processed cereals I used to love to eat; in fact, I no longer crave them! Second, I grocery shop more so that I have lots of healthy choices within reach, and finally, I have learned the value of listening to my body’s hunger levels to accommodate my needs. If I am hungry between meals, I eat a balanced snack, giving myself permission to do so. I also know that if I eat a half Zone Bar an hour before a workout, I perform at my best."
- Charlene Peters

"Since my husband's heart attack, I needed to learn how to cook heart wise. I tried all kinds of seasoning, but without saturated fats and salt the food had no flavor. Gloria Bakst taught me how to make a variety of meals in a short time that would last for weeks. She used all natural ingredients and no salt. My family and I could not believe how delicious the food tasted."
- Rose Macone

“I conquered my fear of shopping, stopped eating bread, pastas and starches, and lost five pounds. Most important things I’ve learned are to eat fat, protein, and carbs together and not to skip meals, eat small meals and snacks, and not to fast. I got what I needed to refocus my goals and to see what the right foods were for me.”
- R.C.

“I think you are terrific-friendly and understanding and certainly willing to assist in any way; either by phone or in person. I certainly needed the kindness you showed during a very difficult time in my life”
- S.S.

"With Gloria's Nutritional Lifestyle program, I lost 55 pounds in about 5 months. Her personal oversight, practical suggestions and on-going enthusiastic encouragement are part of the effectiveness of the program. She used various approaches: a shopping expedition to a healthy foods store; recipes, after asking what my preferred cooking habits were, and no more recipes when it was clear I wasn't going to use more; the offer of cooking lessons/demonstration; and advice for shopping. I enjoyed my sessions with Gloria and appreciated that she asked about my living habits and showed me ways to make life healthier. We usually went for a walk after our meeting, another great personal touch."
- G.W.

I learned how to eat a more balanced diet, using what I call the Three Majors at every sitting. This helped me eliminate cravings very effectively, and made me feel better about what I consume. I also got serious about exercising again, and am back at a regular program 3-4 times a week in the gym, plus daily walks.

"The best thing about this program is that it propelled me back into the gym again, and that was a real triumph I woe to you! Also, watching the food intake has become a habit too, and you certainly succeeded with me there! There was no boredom factor in the food prep, and I have become much more vigilant about what I put into my mouth!"
- F.K.

What Professionals have said:

Gloria Bakst is a knowledgeable, creative, experienced nutrition guide, teacher and chef. I have worked with her for many years and have enjoyed her flexibility, her grounded sense of reality about nutrition and people and her wonderful tasting food. Gloria is never judgmental about people's nutrition and always works to make her information and cooking useful and fun, as well as delicious. She is particularly creative in altering recipes and sharing food options for people's health needs. Gloria understands the therapeutic use of food in disease prevention and treatment, and also understands the need for celebration.
- Harvey Zarren, Cardiologist

"Gloria Bakst has been an inspiration and source of information on healthful eating for me for two decades. Through her knowledge, both of nutrition and cooking, she has helped me develop a plan for optimal health through nutrition. Her recipes are a great help. They are simple enough for me to prepare with two small children at home and I am confident that they help us meet our nutritional goals as a family."
- Dr. Angela O'Brien, Chiropractor

Gloria's Workshops:

When asked . . .What was the most important thing learned in class?

-“Thinking about adaptation – moderation.
The meal preparation was inspiring”

-“Balancing foods and how to appropriately prepare them.

-“Spices are very important.”

-“Understanding the fat grams.”

-“Getting new ideas.”

-“How to plan, how to cook”. This is the best 3 hours I have spent in a long time.”

-“Learning how to balance fat, protein and carbohydrates, and it wasn't that difficult”.

“I love the practical, easy examples of meals and snacks”.

-“How important correct diet is for overall health.”

-“I can eat more and lose weight.”

-“The importance of taking fish oils and learning interesting ways to cook.”

-“Gloria's easy manner and positive attitude are remarkable, she is a saleswoman with flair”.

-“Fat is not as important as carbs and protein balance.”

-“How this affects me hormonally”.

-“Reviewing the protein, carbs and fat breakdown. Tips on reading labels in the supermarket.”

-“So many things. Interesting learning about fats slowing down the rate of absorptions of carbohydrates”.

-“How easy it is to prepare the meals with a little thought and planning.” “Gloria is a wealth of information not only about the Zone but non Zone products which are Zone-able. She's dynamic, reads her audience very well, excellent course.”

-“I loved the cooking class learned a lot”

-“Shopping for the right foods and how they make such an impact on my health.” She is very informative the class was outstanding.”

-“The importance of fish oils. That you can actually eat ‘good' food on the Zone and why it is bad to go 4 hours without eating.”

-“How to use ‘real' food to stay in the zone. I had been using already prepared foods. Seeing the quantities we can eat-tasting the flavors – seeing the packaged ingredients you use. The Zone is not as complicated as I previously thought. Gloria has really helped me understand more about the Zone and made it very appealing to try.”

-“I am probably highly insulin sensitive. I will definitely do my 2 week journal.”

-“How to manage food blocks and incorporate them with meals.”

-“How to create a balanced meal and how what you eat determines how you feel.”

-“How to eat well balanced meals that are easy to prepare as well as getting motivated to begin the Zone.”

-“I didn't realize that salads and broccoli are free carbs – that was my favorite combo! Now I need to eat more carbs.”

-“I learned that I was doing something wrong not eating a snack before working out.”

Corporate Seminars Feedback

Healthy Directions Feedback  BC/BS Hingham: Surviving the Holidays seminar

“The presenters approach to incorporate comedy into her presentation” DJ

“The food tasting to know that good food is good tasting?” BO

“To taste the food that she made herself”.

“Everything”

Great suggestions and demonstrations.” PC

“The appetizers were great.  It is a great way to incorporate vegetables” LP

“Recipes” JM

“The use of visuals and humor”.

“Portion control-value of protein”

"It held my attention, presented real life scenarios, like the recipes and hand outs”. TB

“Very good – learning about what not to do during the holidays”.      

“Excellent introductions, great finish, love the recipes”.      

“Lots of practical advice”      

“Hands on recipes, handouts”.

How could this seminar be improved?

“Not sure, I really enjoyed it.” DJ

“No way to improve; great way to spend an hour!” PC

“It is as good as it is”

Please Comment on the effectiveness of the presenter during the seminar.

 “She really held my attention.  She was funny, which in turn held my interest.” DJ

“Explained things in detail”. BO

“Very effective” “Perfect” “Superb!” PC

“She was very clear”.

“Friendly and knowledgeable and bringing in samples to eat”.

“Very good”.

“Calm, friendly”.

“Very good-humorous, knowledgeable”.

“Very engaging”.