When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.  That is how I happened upon Jessica McCleskey Hood.  And I am so thankful that I did.  Practically speaking, the Holistic Health and Integrative Nutrition program that Jessica advocated introduced me to an abundance of foods and skills in the kitchen.  Whether it be quick alternatives to so-called “healthy” boxed meals, grains and greens I’d never before pronounced, or recipes for savoring a moment in time, the recipes kept coming.  She encouraged me to SLOW DOWN and listen to what my body was telling me.  Also, to stay present in order to bring awareness to subtleties and to maximize enjoyment when preparing and eating a meal that is good for you.  By doing this, I developed a better relationship with foods and learned about the intricate balance between foods and emotions (began distinguishing between cause and effect).  Through her gentle encouragement and acknowledgement of the small steps (so they seemed to me) I was taking towards positive change, I came to an unexpected revelation.  I began to understand the power of a healthy lifestyle in combating the ailments of modern life (stress, anxiety, depression).  Equipped with many of the tools that Jessica offered for combatting these societal constants, pathways began to open.  I did.  I am doing.  I will continue to do.  Jessica is an extremely dedicated and insightful individual with a genuinely warm demeanor.  I am so grateful for the leg of our journeys that we traveled in together.

-Jen C., Research Professor, Atlanta-Georgia

What I really loved about working with Jessica is her spirit,compassion and enthusiasm.  I truly felt heard.  It's so nice to havea safe space where I could talk about what was going on with my life  without the fear of being judged, or have my feelings dismissed.  She gave me the support to finally achieve those goals that I haven't been able to reach since I quit smoking 4 years ago.  I've seen a number on the scale that I've only glimpsed while puffing away, and I'm no longer using food as something to constantly focus on, or hide behind in social situations.  I'm so happy to report that I'm no longer binging on sugary treats, drink coffee, or stress out as much.  I am, however, sleeping much better, taking better care of myself, and living a much more happy and fulfilled life. It's a work in progress but I'm feeling stronger, more confident, more free every day - and the bonus treat is that people around me are noticing!  (Such a great feeling).  Thanks so much, Jessica!

-Irina K., Jersey City-New Jersey

Health coaching is one of the best things I've ever done for myself and my life. I came to this through a Meetup on the topic of sugar. During the well-organized 6 week session I learned new information and got reinforced about what I already knew but maybe wasn't doing consistently. I got a higher level of awareness about my nutritional needs as a result of this experience. I enjoyed the walking tour of Whole Foods, the weekly goal setting, the in-class taste testing, the weekly 1 on 1 coaching calls, the recipes, the importance of "primary foods" to nourish your spirit and the overall experience. It was helpful that specific brands and ingredients were mentioned so that I could find items on my own after the session. It was especially helpful to look at the emotional side of eating and of every day life really. This is an extremely supportive environment for making lasting changes in your life and your health.
 
- Patrice M., Business Analyst, Marietta-Georgia

I've been fortunate enough to know Jessica my whole life, but the ultimate impact she's made on the person I am today can really be summed up in my time with her as my health coach. Her guidance and knowledge literally changed everything from the very basics of the way I eat to the biggest picture of how (and where!) I live my life.

- Caroline G., Development Coordinator for Academic Non-Profit Fundraising, Atlanta-Georgia

I worked with Jessica for some dietary needs of my son who is a special needs child.  I found her to be extremely knowledgeable and informative in her field.  But what sets her apart is the extra step she goes for you- she is such a caring and loving person, it shows in everything she does.  She would readily share with me numerous books or references, really easy recipes that the whole family could enjoy and opened my eyes to this whole new world of food that I did not know existed.  She is solely responsible for guiding my family to a much better diet- from loving the greens, quinoa or getting me hooked to the "Green Drink"- something that is a staple in our house now!  I wish her all the very best in her way forward!!

- Sanju B., Parent Mentor (Autism)/Stay-At-Home Mom, Houston-Texas

Jessica has been my Health Coach for about 9 months now, and I have been thrilled to work with her the whole time!  She is not only extremely knowledgable about health and nutrition, but her incredibly warm, encouraging personality has inspired me to believe in myself and make my ideas and goals become reality.  She always has a great perspective on anything I need to talk about, and has guided me toward starting my own business.  I am endlessly greatful to Jessica for her knowledge and inspiration, and I very highly recommend her as a researcher, expertise reference, or in any other capacity related to health, nutrition, and wellness.

- Jackie B., New Orleans-Louisiana

I really enjoyed talking and learning from Jessica. She is very organized, but her sessions are relaxed and fun, like talking with a friend. I found myself able to open up to her very easily. We talked about my chocolate obsession, friend problems, underage drinking conflicts, and exercising. She helped me with my sweet tooth problem by providing recipes for sweet yet very healthy substitutes like a mango blueberry smoothie. She also opened my eyes to organic foods and fresh, unprocessed foods and how healthy they are. I went through a health obsession phase and threw out all of the packaged sweets and junk foods in our kitchen. It lasted for a while and I ate healthily during that time, but even now that I am in college I am still concious of the amount of packaged foods I eat. Im also aware of the nutritional value of all of my meals and I always make sure I've got some protein with lots of veggies and lots of fruits thanks to Jessica. As you can see she's made a fundamental difference in my eating habits and I'm very grateful for it!

-Zoey M., Georgia Tech Student, Atlanta-Georgia

I will have to admit that when Jessica first started coming to talk to us about food I was skeptical.  I love eating and didn't really like someone telling me what and what not to eat.  I did like to talk to her about school though because I was in the 8th grade and it was tough socially.  It was great having someone that I could trust to tell everything that was going on.  I am two years older now and watching what i eat has become more important to me.  I still remember many of the things that Jessica taught me and I even asked my mom to cook vegetables the other day.  I am glad that I met with her and learned so much about food.  I even ate rutabaga last week and loved it!

-Sydney M., Woodward Academy Student, Alpharetta-Georgia

My teenage daughters play sports year round.  One season their coach encouraged their team to make two food sacrifices for the season.  This made a big impact on my daughters.  The team chose to delete fried foods and sodas from their diets.  Little did we know how these two foods in particular impacted our bodies and lives.  Because of this, we were excited to hear about Jessica's work and what she had to teach us.  It was great to know that my girls were receiving more  information on how different foods affect us and make us feel.  They were even introduced to healthy snack foods and became more and more interested in vegetables in the process.  They looked forward to Jessica's visits each week. She made them feel very important and as she taught them about making healthy choices in eating, she also talked to them about making smart social choices.(I was particularly impressed with this!) She would bring in new resources and recipes each week that were fun to try.  I would highly recommend Jessica to anyone interested in leading a healthy and happy life.

-Amanda M., Retired Teacher, Alpharetta-Georgia

After talking with Jessica, I fall asleep smiling! Jessica really knows how to connect and to communicate in meaningful ways. Through her kind heart and impeccable organizational skills, she is always on the same page as you. Jessica has a plethora of knowledge about a variety of nutritional, health, and holistic topics, including knowledge about local and digital resources.  Her positive encouragement and support, which is always present, provides for a safe, neutral, comfortable environment for you to discuss whatever you need in that moment. She really helps you to organize your thoughts, your feelings, and your life, allowing you to get the most out of life and get what you deserve.

- Emilie Z., Educational Instructor, Sarasota-Florida

Jessica has been an absolute God sent for me over the last few months!  I was a new mother with a newborn son with serious food allergies.  I had alot of questions as how to nurse as a vegan mom and what foods to avoid for my little man.  6 months in, I am down 90 pounds and my son Troy has clear skin and plenty of delicious baby rolls.  I couldn't ask for a better health coach!  If only she could help with all of the laundry! 

-Kelly Cleason-Kelly, Palmyra-New York

Meeting Jessica has been such a gift in so many ways! I always feel so energized and filled up after spending time with her. She is so intelligent, insightful and wise beyond her years. Her health coaching has helped me in so many ways from recognizing the negative effects of too much dairy and sugar to my body, mood and over all well being, to the spiritual and connected understanding of  the importance of trying to eliminate meat and animal products from my diet. Words can't express what a true blessing she has been in my life. She is a rare gem to whom I am truly grateful!

- Debra T., 45, ABA Therapist, Roswell-Georgia