Learn the Foods Lessons Behind the Success of NBC's "The Biggest Loser "

Atlantic General Hospital’s Visions for Total Health Conference scheduled for Saturday, November 3 at Stephen Decatur High School

Learn the role healthy eating has played during four seasons of NBC’s hit reality show, “The Biggest Loser,” at Atlantic General Hospital’s 9th Annual Visions for Total Health Conference.

On Saturday, November 3, Cheryl Forberg, culinary expert and consulting dietitian for “The Biggest Loser,” will discuss why the show’s participants are so successful and the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle, rather than the latest diet craze, in becoming slimmer and more youthful.

As this year’s keynote speaker, Forberg will set the tone for the entire conference, which addresses all aspects of life that affect our total health, from preventive care to chronic disease, inner harmony to financial health.

The conference, which is held as an education and outreach service to the community, will also feature comprehensive screenings, including cholesterol/lipid panels and blood glucose testing (12-hour fast required), body mass index, and foot screenings, free to guests.

The more than 40 exhibits, free screenings and 12 breakout sessions will culminate in Forberg’s keynote address at 12:30 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony for the Shore’s own contest, Delmarva’s Weight Loss Challenge. The contest is sponsored by Olympia Fitness Clubs, ClearChannel Radio, and HealthyU. Lewes, Delaware’s own Tim Clausen, a finalist in Season 3 of “The Biggest Loser,” will present the award and share his own weight loss story.
For more information about the conference or for a detailed schedule of events, visit www.atlanticgeneral.org/visions. No registration is necessary.

The 2007 Visions for Total Health Conference, free to the community, is also made possible by sponsorships from ABC Printers, Apple Discount Drugs, Atlantic General Hospital JAGS, the AGH Medical Staff, ClearChannel Outdoor, Coastal Drug Center, Parties Your Way, United HealthCare, the Worcester County Health Department, and Worcester County Volunteer Services.

About Cheryl Forberg
Cheryl Forberg is a professional chef and registered dietitian based in Napa, California.

Forberg received her culinary education at the California Culinary Academy (CCA) in San Francisco. After her graduation there in 1987, she embarked on a European apprenticeship, which culminated in a stint at the three-Michelin-star restaurant Au Crocodile in Strasbourg. Upon return to the United States, Forberg was chosen for the opening team of Postrio, Wolfgang Puck's first venture in northern California.

Forberg's passionate interest in healthy cooking led to an exodus from restaurant kitchens and an entrée to some of the most prestigious households in America. During this period she held the coveted position of Private Chef for Lucasfilm, Ltd. in northern California. She went on to earn a nutrition degree and an RD (registered dietitian) credential from the University of California at Berkeley. As a former research dietitian at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, she had the opportunity to integrate her scientific background into recipe creation for a variety of dietary protocols. This distinctive skill set enabled her to extend her culinary expertise beyond celebrated restaurant kitchens into the creation of inspired recipes that are also healthful. She has developed a clear and concise recipe format, easily understood by novice students. She has also performed nutritional analysis on over 6,000 recipes.

Published Materials
Forberg has developed, written and tested hundreds of original recipes for cooking schools and private and corporate clients. She is also a food and nutrition journalist, and her writing and recipes have appeared in mainstream culinary and health publications, including Sunset, Health, and Cooking Light magazines, the Washington Post, the Portland Oregonian, and the Melbourne Age.

Her expertise in nutrition, weight loss and healthy recipe development is showcased in several recent books including "Stop the Clock! Cooking: Defy Aging— Eat the Foods You Love" (Avery) and The American Medical Association "Healthy Heart Cookbook "(Meredith - 2004). Her recipes in The Mayo Clinic "Healthy Cooking Cookbook "(Oxmoor) won the prestigious 2005 James Beard award.

Forberg was the primary contributor to the nutrition chapter of "Young for Life: The Best Anti-aging Secrets for Women" (Oxmoor, 2004). Her menus and recipes appeared in Dr Nicholas Perricone’s recent bestseller, "The Perricone Weight-Loss Promise: A Simple 3-Part Program to Lose the Fat, the Wrinkles, and the Years" (Ballantine, September 2005). She also contributed content, menus and recipes to "The Biggest Loser: The Weight Loss Program to Transform Your Body, Improve Your Health, and Add Years to Your Life" (Rodale, October 2005). Upcoming projects include "The Biggest Loser Complete Calorie Counter" (Rodale, October 2006) and an anti-aging book (Rodale 2007).

In the Media
Her weight loss and antiaging nutrition expertise has been widely recognized in the popular press in recent years, including Men's Health, Fitness, Self, and Skin magazines, the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Washington Post. She recently appeared as guest chef in several cooking segments with Florence Henderson for “Speaking of Women's Health,” a Lifetime series. Forberg has also appeared on other national television networks (HGTV and USA Network) and on National Public Radio, as well as many regional and local television and radio programs. Her book projects are actively cited in the popular press with interviews and recipes continuing to appear in periodicals and newspapers such as Cooking Light, Fitness, Men’s Health, and the Washington Post.

Forberg is the consulting dietitian to NBC's "The Biggest Loser," where her role is to help overweight contestants transform their bodies, health and ultimately, their lives. She travels throughout the United States for lectures, cooking classes and demonstrations on the platform of weight loss and anti-aging nutrition.

Forberg is a popular instructor for UCLA and UC- Berkeley Extension. She is also a member of multiple associated professional organizations, including the Association of Food Journalists, the International Association of Culinary Professionals, Les Dames d'Escoffier, and the Food and Culinary Professionals practice group of the American Dietetic Association. Collectively, her speaking and writing experience present a recognized and respected platform to publicize the vital role of nutrition in slowing the aging process and maintaining optimal weight.