About

Ava Waits, Nutrition Mentor and Global Nutrition Concierge™ at www.ParisianPicnics.com, helps her clients to embrace a European attitude toward food, where meals become a pleasure to prepare, and health becomes a priority.

 

Her gentle approach to nutrition works especially well with busy and caring leaders who know that they have important work to do in this world, but see that they won’t get very far as long as they have irritating health issues, or self-sabotaging eating habits. As her clients bring whole foods and superfoods into their office, kitchen, and suitcase, they are able to naturally target their specific health concerns, strengthen their body, clear up digestive troubles, and overcome fatigue. It becomes easy to release foods like sugar, caffeine, gluten and dairy.

 

Before training in nutrition, Ava used a completely natural and dietary approach to clear up her own digestive concerns, reverse gingivitis, and strengthen her dental health, while still enjoying each meal and embracing 2 hour dinners. As a world traveler, Ava experienced different health issues in multiple countries. Eating internationally can be a challenge, and she now offers new Global Nutrition Concierge™ Services, a tailored convenience for professional women who travel often, and must maintain their best health throughout the trips.

 

Ava graduated from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA with a degree in food science, natural health and behavioral medicine. She then trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. For more information, to view article archives, and to schedule a Nutrition Breakthrough Session to discuss your health goals and talk about solutions, please visit www.ParisianPicnics.com.

 

 

Please take a few minutes to read the following Interview before hiring Ava

 

Q. Please tell me more about your background and how you help to soothe health and diet concerns naturally?

A. There are several health concerns that I have personally cleared up through diet and lifestyle changes. I feel confident in helping my clients with these same concerns.

 

Several years ago, I had a huge struggle with gingivitis and gum disease, even though I brush and floss each day. After enjoying a glass of red wine with dinner one night, I woke up the next morning with the most extreme headache, chills and a throbbing mouth. I also noticed that pieces of my gums were falling off!

My mouth had become wildly inflamed, and a millimeter of the skin surrounding my teeth turned white, and crumbled when I touched it. I was very scared as my mouth seemed to fall apart. Within 24 hours, I developed 10 canker sores, which were so painful that I could barely chew my food for days. It was a stinging reminder that something was wrong.

I visited my dentist and hoped to find an explanation. They supported me with extra cleanings in the office, but I knew there was more I could do for myself at home between treatments. I began learning about nutritional support for my gums, which went far beyond chemical mouthwashes and fancy toothbrushes. I have always trusted healing food, not chemicals, and I was convinced that I could help to heal the root cause of my gum trouble through a holistic approach. The first step was to change my diet.

 

I vowed to avoid many of the foods that cause inflammation in the body, since these were probably responsible for the aggravation of my gums. This was not so easy, and it involved giving up American social foods, and the comfort foods that I had eaten every single day for my entire life. I also realized that my body was probably deficient in critical nutrients, since I had eaten such small amounts of meat during the past 12 years as a pesco-vegetarian. On this road to heal my gums, I walked the fine line of taking things out of my diet, and also rebuilding what my body had lost over the last decade.

 

Within a few months of eating differently, and living my life differently, I noticed a lot of changes, and surprises that I hadn’t even expected.
- My skin cleared up, and my fingernails became tough and strong.

- My precious gums became firm again, and have lost most signs of visible inflammation.

- The last time I visited my dentist, I was informed that a small spot on my tooth that I was worried about did not need a filling. For the 3 months before, I made huge dietary shifts to remineralize and repair this one spot on my tooth. Yes, cavities can be reversed!

- My digestion has improved, and I can pinpoint exactly which foods give me stomachaches.

- I even dropped a few pounds, and explain to friends how I am confident that I won’t ever become overweight if I continue to eat like this.

- My energy jumped up a HUGE notch right after I started eating more superfoods and raw foods. I am more happy, bouncy and excited for everything.

- I also don’t get sick anymore. I haven’t had the flu in over 10 years, and as if I come close to getting colds, I have discovered exactly what I can do to halt them, right away.

- Eating this way makes me feel so GOOD! I experience moments where I feel as though I am floating. I feel so radiant and “blissed out.” When I feel this way, it attracts gentle and kind strangers, and more opportunities in my life and business.

 

As I write this today, I am proud to be gluten-free by choice. I no longer eat cow’s dairy, sugar gives me a headache that keeps me away, and the only meat that I eat is seafood. I am quite allergic to wine, so if you have a chance to join me on a “Parisian Picnic” one day, I won’t be able to enjoy a glass with you. I will never risk having the same allergic reaction that damaged my gums. As I began learning French, one of the first things needed to know was how to say “I am allergic to wine.”

As you look at that list of things that I don’t eat, keep in mind that this in no way means that I don’t enjoy my food. I am a sucker for goat cheese, I eat honey from around the globe by the spoonful, and I have all of the olive oil and healthy fats that I want. Sitting in a cafe for hours is my daily love. Sometimes when I travel, I’ll break my own eating guidelines and indulge in camembert baguette sandwiches in Paris, or fruit-shaped marzipan in Germany. I do this without guilt, but I am sensitive enough to know exactly how my body will react, especially to wheat and cow’s milk. Sometimes it’s worth it, and sometimes it’s not.

 

 

 

Q. What type of personality do you work with best, and how can I tell if I’m the right client for you?

A. I choose to work with clients who are dedicated, ready, and extremely excited to start eating the best foods possible. I find that this type of person also makes the swiftest progress.

 

We’ll make a great team if:

~ You often travel for work (while commuting, to another city, or internationally) and have trouble packing food for the trip (which means that you often resort to convenient food out that leaves you feeling bloated, lethargic, and foggy).

~ You walk into a grocery store, get flustered, and can only guess if you’re choosing the healthiest food for your family

~ You wish that you had more time for yourself, your personal growth, and relaxed eating.

~ You are spiritual, but are playing in a corporate world.

~ You barely have time for a proper lunch because there is so much work to do. Instead, you eat at your computer, and sometimes almost choke on your food because you aren’t paying enough attention to the meal.

~ You like to lead, but get overwhelmed by how much energy you must put out to get things done.

I am also happy to accept people into my programs who are new to healthy eating. We all had to start somewhere (Even I used to eat cheese puffs and chocolate milk!) I welcome you and invite you to be adventurous by trying new foods you’ve never even heard of.

Our decision to work together must come from a place of happiness.

 

I’m probably not the right mentor for you if:

~ You are a serious athlete and are looking for sports nutrition. (Sorry ~ This is not my area of expertise, but I have professionals that I can refer you to.)

~ You aren’t willing to stop counting calories. (My nutrition programs are not restrictive like regular low-calorie diets, and I won’t ask you to do daily math problems for the rest of your life.)

~ You are searching for care for a teenager or young child. I only work with adults at this time, but I have some amazing colleagues who specialize in helping teens eat better, and a colleague who works with moms who wish to look after the health of their new baby. Please contact me, and I can connect you with these people.

~ My programs are not suitable for people who have life threatening illnesses, or those with a history of hospitalization for mental illness.

~ It’s also probably not the best time to work together if you’re in a tricky financial situation right now or have just lost your job. (We’ve all been there before, but I want you to have the financial support to feel comfortable in that part of your life before we work together. This way, you’ll have no reservations if you need to hire a personal trainer, or purchase new superfoods. Remember that I’ll be here later when you need me.)

I want to be sure that I am the right coach for you, and that you are fully supported during your journey. Because of this, I am obligated to let you know if we are not the correct fit, and I will happily refer you to another practitioner for support.

Q. How are you different than other nutritionists and coaches?

A. I help people to overcome their health obstacles by eating whole foods. Natural foods hold a lot of healing power, and it amazes me to see that we can adjust our diets in a way that creates the exact results we are looking for. I promise that I will never draw your blood, or look at test results on a chart. My programs are about creating a loving relationship with your food and your body. Because of this unique approach, my clients receive motivating and precise suggestions that are made specifically for them.

My clients learn to listen to the needs of their body, without worrying about counting calories, and keeping track of their grams of vitamins. I do not create meal plans with my clients, because I view this as an unsustainable way to maintain your health for the next 50 years of your life. (I know that I don’t want to be counting Vitamin C measurements each day until I am 113 years old.) I might suggest new superfoods to supplement your diet, however, I will not readjust the supplements you are already consuming.

 

Q. What is expected of me as a client?

A. I ask my clients to put their full effort into completing assignments, and that they try out all of the recommendations we agree upon at meetings. I also ask that my clients make more time for grocery shopping, food preparation and self-pampering. You will be taking a natural and whole foods approach to health and I suggest that you invest in organic foods. Organic and farm fresh produce is a little more expensive, but it is integral to your long term health.

All clients that I work with are expected and encouraged to continue seeing their regular doctor, dentist, counselor, and other health practitioners during their program.

 

Q. What are your holistic health and nutrition programs, and what do they include?

Exciting new services will be available soon!

If you would like to learn more, please contact me at Ava@ParisianPicnics.com to arrange for a Nutrition Breakthrough Session.

Book a Nutrition Breakthrough Session now for just $48 (a $140 value)

Q. What are your fees?

A. I have nutrition options that will fit every budget, and they begin at $48 (a $140 value) for your Nutrition Breakthrough Session.

If you are looking to reserve your spot in the new Global Nutrition Concierge™ Services, would like long-term support, or wish to hire me as your personal Nutrition Concierge for international trips, we can go over the details of this premier service when we meet at the Nutrition Breakthrough Session.

 

Q. Do you accept insurance?

Insurance companies do not currently cover this unique style of work. I encourage you to not let that hold you back from getting the support and education that you’re looking for. You can still sample the Nutrition Breakthrough Session and cooking classes for a small investment.

 

 

Q. Is your support confidential?

A. I am absolutely committed to keeping what you share with me private. Once you are given my personal phone number, please know that any messages that you leave there are only heard by myself. Your other records are kept secure in my office.
I also expect all group participants to keep our conversations confidential, so that we can maintain an open and comfortable environment for everyone involved.

 

Q. How quickly will I see results?

A. Each program is very self-driven, and the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. Many of my clients see results within the first month or two of working with me. It will depend on how dedicated you are to discovering new foods, and making the changes we talk about at each meeting.

 

Q. I’m concerned that I might not be motivated to make changes to my diet and health right now. Is there any hope for me?

A. Thanks for being honest. It may not be the right time to work together right now, since I only accept people into my programs who are ready to go. But before we put a pause on everything, I recommend that you book a  Nutrition Breakthrough Session so that we can talk in more detail.

 

Also think about what keeps you motivated:

~ If you are most motivated to change because of a particular health problem, take some time and write down the answer to these questions: If you do nothing today, what will your health concern be like 1 year from now? If you make changes now, what will your life be like when you have cleared up this health concern?

~ If you are most motivated when you make large investments into something, I encourage you to choose a larger program, should we decide to work privately. I know that this may sound funny, but people take things more seriously if they’ve invested more in the programs and in themselves.

~ If you find that you are motivated when you have a buddy with similar goals, I encourage you to consider adding a second person to your program. It will help to keep you on task, and will give you an extra person to speak with, aside from me, if you should run up against any challenges.

 

Q. I feel uncomfortable investing in myself.

A. I think we’ve all felt like this before. I invested heavily in my own learning this year. It once looked impossible, but I made it happen because I knew how important it would be. Today, I spend nearIy $800 a month to receive guidance from my own mentor, and it has supported me in a way that puts me in awe.

If your views on your finances keep you from getting the support you need, I’d like to offer this idea. Take out a piece of paper, and write down 50 ways that you can create money in your life to pay for a Nutrition Breakthrough Session, a nutrition program if we decide to work together, as well as organic food, and any other health support that you seek (like weekly massages, energy work, or personal training). After you’ve completed the list of 50 ideas, choose to do 6 of them, and create the money that you seek.

 

Q. How can I sample your work at low cost to see if this is the right solution for me?

A. A great resource is my free Email Newsletter, Ava’s Ray Of Sunshine, which I send out each week. It will keep you up to date on all of the cooking classes and health presentations that I teach in Washington State, as well as teleclasses that are  available worldwide. Please view the events page for the most up-to-date schedule. Through the newsletter, you’ll also receive articles on the healing benefits of foods, my tips for travel nutrition, and delicious recipes created without gluten, dairy or sugar.