About the author
A Los Angeles chef with strong roots from Oklahoma City, Mary is an expert with 20 years of experience in the culinary field. For over 18 years, Mary has taught children about food, health, and cooking. She has used the Vita Gang as an easy way to connect with kids and teach them about healthy food choices. Since 2012, Mary has worked with Traditional Home Magazine to create timeless, beautiful, and delicious menus with accompanying recipes. For Mary, cooking is more than putting food on a table, it's a powerful way to connect and create a relationship with both food and the person/people you're feeding. Mary graduated from the Le Cordon Blue in Pasadena, California in 2003 and attended The Tuscan Chef Italian Cooking School in 2005. She also received her Nutritionist and Weight Management Specialist certification from American Fitness Professionals & Association in 2009.