Jenna, born and raised in Massachusetts, looks back and admits to being a very picky eater with no motivation to actively participate in high school sports. So how did her passion for nutrition get sparked? It started with one conversation at 16 years old while volunteering at the Winchester Hospital coffee shop after school.

An elderly man had ordered a cup of green tea and he began explaining the health benefits associated with drinking green tea on a regular basis. He used the term "antioxidant" and described the potent power that the antioxidants found in green tea have on anti-aging and disease prevention. Curious to learn more, Jenna researched the health benefits of green tea and stumbled upon other sources of antioxidants such as blueberries and broccoli. Something clicked. Jenna realized there is a certain amount of control we have over the prevention of cancer and many other chronic diseases, so she began making gradual changes to her food choices, trying new fruits or vegetables whenever possible. She also started exercising to workout videos after school and never felt better.

Jenna’s self-discovery for eating and living better propelled her to learn everything she could about nutrition and physical activity, with the goal to help others find the rewards of improving their health and well-being. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Science with a concentration in Psychology at Boston University.

There she volunteered in the Peer Health Exchange program as a Health Educator, planning and conducting nutrition and physical activity workshops for students in the Boston public high schools, where otherwise there was no health education. Jenna has been working at Winchester Hospital as a Diet Technician since 2007, where she performs medical nutrition therapy for patients and assists them with meal planning within a restricted diet. Jenna has also interned at the University of New Hampshire and Concord Hospitals. Equally passionate about fitness, Jenna became a certified Aerobic & Fitness Association of America (AFAA) Group Exercise instructor and has taught group fitness classes to students at Boston University.

Jenna was drawn to iBeamforLife because she believes in the power of whole, natural foods along with the need to make small gradual changes that form into good, stable habits over time. Not a fan of the term "diet" because of its temporary meaning, Jenna believes healthful behaviors and lifestyle changes lie on a spectrum and take time. The key to well-being and a balanced life is to approach everything in moderation, with an emphasis on whole, natural foods rich in nutrients and vitality. Jenna also emphasizes the importance of understanding the "mind-body" connection, an integral and powerful component of the iBeamforLife program, as so much of behavior modification is psychological.

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