EPK$ - Whittier Uptown Association · Chef LaLa is an accomplished chef, cookbook author, food stylist, food consultant, certified nutritionist, and motivational speaker. With her

EPK$Electronic Press Kit

Press Contact: Lucila Garcia Phone: (323) 646-2150

Email: [email protected]

Watch Sizzle Reel Videos, Audio bytes and

Photos available upon request or at

www.ChefLaLa.com

EXPERT/GUEST$APPEARANCES$

  LaLa is delicious food   LaLa is fun.   LaLa is fresh.   LaLa is family.   LaLa is motivating. She teaches and inspires.

  Chef LaLa knows that living a healthier life can be complicated for people of all sizes and ages. With all the new information and misinformation on nutrition, weight loss fads and trends, economic and social considerations, it is hard to stay current – and more importantly, who has time?

  LaLa brings you easy and realistic techniques with expert advice and tips on how to make lifestyle choices to live a healthier life. LaLa helps you make life easier by taking you through the everyday mine fields of life that prevent you from personal success so that you can go back to implementing and keeping that resolution you set at the beginning of the year.

  You don’t have to be morbidly obese and reach rock bottom; your desire to lose weight to live healthier is all it takes. LaLa will approach each situation with her distinctive sensibility and real world expertise. Chef LaLa’s expertise is an unusual mix of valuable information and practical applications for the over-extended, overwhelmed viewer looking for simple and realistic solutions. Most importantly, LaLa is warm and accessible….!S=she has the ability to appeal various audiences crossing over seamlessly to general and targeted markets. LaLa does it with charisma through delicious food and lifestyle.

Chef LaLa is an accomplished chef, cookbook author, food stylist, food consultant, certified nutritionist, and motivational speaker. With her creative talents and training, this first generation Latina dynamo is making waves in food, nutrition, health, and lifestyle in both English and Spanish language media.

Inspired by her family of restaurateurs, LaLa is a creative entrepreneur of the first order, operating a first- class specialized diet home meal delivery company. LaLa has devoted her life to her three passions. First, above all else, is her family and her son Maddox. But when she is working, she is devoted to mastering and refining the art of cooking, and to educating communities about how to enjoy traditional cultural cuisine in a healthy way. “It is a lifestyle, not a diet,” LaLa says.

LaLa’s love of food developed while spending time in her family’s Mexican restaurants. She then attended the famous Le Cordon Bleu and studied the intricacies of global cuisine. LaLa has been a guest on the Today Show, Martha Stewart, Food Network, Discovery Health National Body Challenge, Biggest Loser (Dale con Ganas), Dr. Oz, National Univision, and National Telemundo Shows to name a few.

LaLa’s first book, titled “Latin Lover Lite” was widely popular and sold out its first printing. Her second book, “Best Loved Mexican Cooking with Chef LaLa” expanded on her expertise in creating ethnic cuisine with all the traditional flavors sans the fat. LaLa’s, “Yummy for your Tummy” book was specially designed for First 5 California: an organization which recognizes that children’s health and education is a top priority, especially in the early years of development.

As a certified nutritionist, with special interest in the obesity and diabetes crisis in urban America, LaLa is focused on inspiring families to live healthier lives. As someone who has struggled with her own weight, especially after her first child, LaLa knows the challenges women face. As a result, she is able to motivate and inspire her audience in a personal way to accept their bodies and try everyday to live a healthy life.

Over the years, LaLa has supported health and multicultural health education through her work with the following organizations:

The American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, Kidney Foundation, NBA (National Basketball Association) Fit, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, School Garden Network, Para Los Niños, L.A.’s BEST, Step Up Network, Speaking of Women’s Health, Step Up Network Mentoring program, Cancer Association--Susan G. Komen Foundation, First 5 California, Five a Day, The Culinary Institute of America, Power Women Power Tools, and the Sheriff Department V.I.D.A. (Vital Intervention Directional Alternatives) program.

LaLa has received numerous awards and has been recognized for her work as a Latina business woman and her community service: - Los Angeles Times, Latinos de Hoy, Culinary Award (2013-2014) - Joselin Institute of Health, Latino Initiatives at Harvard Medical School (2011-12 honoree) - American Diabetes Association, Community Spirit Award In recognition for her unparalleled dedication and willingness to utilize her platform to change lives through education and to Stop Diabetes in the Hispanic/Latino Community. (2011) - The NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) Inspiration Award (2008) - MAOF (Mexican American Opportunity Found.) National Hispanic Woman of the Year Award (2008) - Macy’s ‘Community Star’ Award (2007) - General Mills’ ‘Corazon de Comunidad’ (Heart of the Community (2007) - LBWA (Latin Business Woman’s Association), Latinas in Business Award. (2006)

Whether she’s teaching nutritious cooking at the National Association of Medical Professionals, a community event, on a TV show, or promoting her line of healthy and authentic Latin meal solutions, LaLa is on fire with her desire to share everything she has learned to make peoples lives healthier and happier – one meal at a time.

FOOD, HEALTH, LIFESTYLE AND FAMILY

KNOWLEDGE$IS$POWER$PROFESSIONAL CHEF EDUCATION • Certified Executive Chef, Certified Master Chef Professional Chefs Association • Certificat en Cuisine Traiteur, Le Cordon Bleu (Paris) • Diploma in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts Program, SCSCA, Le Cordon Bleu (Los Angeles)* • Master Food Stylist, Culinary Entrepreneurship Program, Food Fanatics

ADDITIONAL NUTRITION TRAINING • Certified Fitness Nutritionist, Exercise & Nutrition Works, Inc. • Lifestyle and Weight Management Specialist, National Exercise and Sports Trainers Assoc. • Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist, Exercise & Nutrition Works, Inc. • Professional Certificate in Nutrition for Optimal Health, Wellness, and Sports, San Diego State University • Diabetes Self Management Specialist Certificate Candidate, Penn State/ Arizona State/ Central Arizona College • Child Nutrition Management, National Food Service Management Institute, University of Mississippi. • Audited course, The Epidemic of Obesity, UCLA • Lifestyle Medicine: Prescribing Exercise Certificate, Harvard Medical School • Lifestyle Medicine: Weight Management Certificate, Harvard Medical School • Lifestyle Medicine: Nutrition and the Metabolic Syndrome, Certificate, Harvard Medical School • Lifestyle Medicine: Osteoporosis, Certificate, Harvard Medical School • Lifestyle Medicine for Stress Management, Certificate, Harvard Medical School • Thyroid Nodule Certificate, Harvard Medical School • Managing Type 2 Diabetes: A Clinical Challenge, Certificate, Harvard Medical School • Management of Hyperlipidemia, Certificate, Harvard Medical School • Genetics: Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Harvard Medical School • Genetics: Maturity Onset Diabetes of Young, Certificate, Harvard Medical School • Medicine: Celiac Disease,: Diagnosis and treatment, Certificate, Harvard Medical School • Medicine: Diabetes, Certificate, Harvard Medical School • Medicine: Anemia, Certificate, Harvard Medical School • Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Certificate, Harvard Medical School • Diabetes & Nutrition Education (ongoing)

* pending completion of patisserie class

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS, PAST AND PRESENT

- Culinary Institute of America, Culinary Advisory Council

- NBA Fit (National Basketball Association) Spokesperson

- American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism

- American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention

- American Diabetes Association Spokesperson

- Ambassador to Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles

- Member American Dietetic Association, Dietetic Practice Group,

Nutrition Education for the Public

BECAUSE$BEING$SOCIAL$$IS$SO$MUCH$FUN!$

www.cheflala.com

www.facebook.com/Cheflalafan

www.twitter.com/ChefLaLa @ChefLaLa

Instagram: Chef_LaLa

www.pinterest.com/cheflalahome

On her national speaking tours, Chef LaLa empowers women to embrace their bodies and lead healthy lifestyles.

BEST9SELLING$COOKBOOK$AUTHOR$

FOOD, HEALTH, LIFESTYLE AND FAMILY

VALUES$  Life is a learning experience. Every

situation, challenge, and relationship contain some message worth learning or teaching to others.

  LaLa believes in teaching with a reality that people can relate to – using an approach to the chore of cooking that is refreshingly simple and honest. Her informal disposition invites audiences of all abilities and ages.

  Statistics say that one in every three Americans born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes.  She strongly believes that more people need answers on how they can keep their culinary traditions yet remain healthy in modern American society.

AMERICAN$DIABETES$SPOKESPERSON$

Feria de Salud: Por tu familia is an outdoor community event that is intended to reach thousands of local Hispanics/Latinos with the important message that they may be at risk for diabetes. Feria captures the festive elements of a street fair, but maintains the important aspects of choosing and managing a healthier lifestyle for the entire Hispanic/Latino family. The atmosphere of Feria includes music, dancing, nutritional information, cooking demonstrations, speakers on topics related to diabetes, and a variety of product and service booths.

Feria is planned, organized, and managed through an active volunteer committee working with local ADA staff. The end result is a fun-filled community event, reaching thousands of Hispanics/Latinos with current and timely messages about diabetes and healthy living, while building a local presence to support our mission.

American Diabetes Association PSA Video – English version

CHEF$LALA$IS$COMMUNITY$

"It is good to let a little sunshine out as well as in."

Chef LaLa is making a difference through innovative giving and volunteering. She believes in educational outreach, which builds strong and productive communities -- communities in which individuals have the chance to learn about health, opportunity and the well-being of children which is essential to the prosperity and vitality of our communities around the world.