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<p>My passion for good food started in elementary school.&nbsp; I would often trade my packaged snacks like devil dogs and potato chips for my friend's delicious homemade cakes. &nbsp; As I got older, and more fitness and health oriented, my quest to learn more about food and cooking eventually lead me to the chef's training program at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts, a ground-breaking school that connects food and health, healing arts and gourmet cooking.&nbsp; There I honed my skills and now love exploring a variety of cuisines, ranging from comfort foods to exotic and ethnic, inspired by treks through Europe and Israel, and even New York City! &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>
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<p>Today I am the chef and owner of Personal Palate, offering personal chef and kosher catering services using all natural ingredients.&nbsp; I've worked with therapeutic diets such as GAPS, Gluten-free/casein-free, specific-carb, and macrobiotics to help clients with weight loss, food allergies, celiac, autism, cancer, and Crohn's disease. &nbsp;</p>
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<p>I have also taught cooking in several community venues and private parties to children and adults.&nbsp; As head culinary specialist at a local YMHA, I spent many a summer inspiring campers with hands-on, skill-based curriculum where they could taste the fruit of their own labor and experience the magic of the kitchen.&nbsp; I'm also on the health committee of an elementary school, helping to design and implement educational programs for kids from kindergarten to eighth grade.</p>
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<p>My clients and students are my best teachers, and I find there is always something new I can learn from them.&nbsp; Especially about what challenges them in their quest to be healthier and feel better.</p>
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<p>I joined the Veggication team to support its mission of teaching children to love cooking and eating vegetables.&nbsp; Food and nutrition education is the key toward producing a healthier generation and to stem the tide of chronic diseases that continue to plague our society.&nbsp;&nbsp;We want our kids to be strong and healthy.&nbsp; Exposing them early-on to positive and fun experiences with fresh vegetables plants the seeds for a vibrant life. &nbsp;</p>
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<p>A native Bostonian, I live in North Jersey with my husband and 2 boys, raising them to love the Red Sox as well as fresh vegetables.&nbsp; I like to bike and do yoga in my free time.&nbsp; I also have a BA in Economics from Union College. &nbsp;</p>
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<p>To view my LinkedIn profile, click <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/leslie-morrison/20/516/256">here</a>.</p>