18 years ago, at age 33, I had been diagnosed with having Hypoglycemia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Candida and a very long list of food allergies and intolerances. Although I later discovered that many of my symptoms mirrored those of Celiac Disease, I was never tested for it.

I chose to take the holistic approach to healing which for starters meant altering my food choices dramatically. My dietary protocol would be free of gluten, yeast, meat, dairy, refined sugars, caffeine and alcohol. Can you imagine a full blooded Italian following such a protocol? What, NO pasta or bread, NO wine, NO pastries or Cannoli's or espresso??!!!

As a result, I have reversed all of my symptoms, and helped many family members, friends and clients relieve various symptoms just by removing gluten, dairy and refined sugars from their diet. One example is my daughter Gabrielle who was born with Down Syndrome. As a young child she suffered from various upper respiratory symptoms and continuous ear infections. She went through the traditional route of endless prescriptions of antibiotics only to watch her symptoms worsen month after month. The moment I removed gluten, dairy and refined sugars from her diet, her ear infections literally disappeared and her upper respiratory symptoms began diminishing drastically and eventually disappeared as well. Over the years, I notice time & time again how some of the symptoms tend to reappear whenever she would eat one or more of the three mentioned foods.

Till this very day, my dietary protocol is still free of gluten, dairy, refined sugars, alcohol & caffeine, with a minimal consumption of yeast and occasionally some antibiotic & hormone-free chicken and Wild Salmon. 

For years I kept my protocol to myself with no reason to share it with anyone. In the summer of 2008, I began to explore what I realized was a newly distinguished passion around food. For some reason, it felt like it was time to share what I had achieved. I had spoken with my brother-in-law who had been in the restaurant business for 25 years and shared the idea of adding healthy selections to his existing menu. Two conversations and one meeting later, I created an alliance with him and his partner and became one third partner in a menu that essentially consisted of everything I had been eating for the past 16 years. The menu was well received by his clients and suddenly people with Celiac Disease began coming out of the woodwork expressing their gratitude for my gluten & dairy-free craetions. They knew that I understood their criteria, especially their concerns about contamination and realized that I was 100% committed to catering to ALL their needs. Afterall, I had already been gluten-free for 16 years at the time and most of the folks had been gluten-free for a few years at best. I had soon discovered that our food was also conducive to the Autistic Community, where it is recommended to follow a gluten & dairy-free lifestyle as well.

Shortly thereafter, I went on my own and branded myself as "The Healthy Italian" specializing in 100% Gluten & Dairy-Free Italian and Vegetarian Cuisine. Today, our services include Catering, Customized Meal Plans, Personal Chef for Hire, Cooking Classes, Speaking Engagements and Guest Chef events at local restaurants in the Tristate area. Some of our selections can also be found in health food stores and specialty food stores operating in Queens & Long Island, NY. For a list of their locations, please visit the home page of this website.

The vision of "The Healthy Italian" is for the vast majority of people to raise their awareness on the relationship between food and their overall well-being and be empowered to make food choices that will help them experience optimal health & quality of life!

Our mission is to assist in easing the transition for those who choose to entertain a dietary lifestyle that can enhance their overall well-being and performance in life by providing them with the ultimate authentic, healthy, nutritious and delicious gluten & dairy-free experience made with integrity and love!