Jackie Topol is a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition where she received her certification as a Holistic Health Counselor. Since graduating in 2008, she has helped young people, families, and older adults transition to healthier, happier lifestyles. Currently she is a graduate student at NYU where she is working towards a Masters in Nutrition and becoming a Registered Dietitian. In her free time, you can find her teaching private cooking classes and in the culinary studio with her students at the JCC in Manhattan. With the belief that foods can heal, Jackie's classes have a seasonally-inspired and health-supportive focus. This past year Jackie has also volunteered with the NYC Alliance for Child Nutrition Reauthorization (www.NYCforCNR.org) to build support for the upcoming legislation that would grant more funding for the School Lunch program as well as many other nationally funded food programs. Recently, Jackie received the 2010 Wendy Burrell-Mintzer Memorial Scholarship from Les Dames d’Escoffier, a prestigious organization celebrating women in the culinary arts.