Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Author of 101 Optimal Life Foods Talks Nutrition

David Grotto's second book, 101 Optimal Life Foods, debuted in January 2010 with a forward by Montel Williams, and rave reviews by MORE magazine and John La Puma, MD, director, Santa Barbara Institute for Medical Nutrition and Healthy Weight and co-author of ChefMD’s Big Book of Culinary Medicine and The Real Age Diet, among others. His 2007 book, 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life, has already been translated into 16 different languages.

Not bad for a fellow who initially wanted to be a rock and roll accordion player or a broadcaster. But a comment by a customer in the health food store where he worked changed all that.

"Someone came in and noticed that I was kind of chubby and asked me if I ever ate fruits and vegetables - and I acted on his advice," Grotto says. He later owned and operated another natural foods store. As his broadcasting degree program wound down, family and friends encouraged him to follow his passion for nutrition. He graduated from the University of Chicago with honors, and a degree in dietetics and nutrition , and never looked back.

"First and foremost, I love food more than I love nutrition," Grotto says. "My major focus is on 'taste + doability + familiarity + cost = sustainability.' And what I've noticed for about the last five years is that people are coming to me about quality of life challenges."
A radio call-in show host for 10 years (Let's Talk Health, CHICAGO!), and host of the national television show Health and Lifestyles, Weekly, for two, Grotto currently offers nutrition counseling and spokesperson services, recipe and menu development, and corporate wellness programs.

He has high hopes for his second book too. 101 Optimal Life Foods provides loads of suggestions about foods that people can eat to improve their skin quality, sexual performance, or sleep as well as blood circulation and heart health; restore tired muscles, reduce stress, and protect their bones or eyes.

"[I believe] that what's good for the heart is good for every other part - it's more of a nod to a Mediterranean lifestyle," Grotto says.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID GROTTO