Judy Barnes Baker

I always knew I would be an artist when I grew up. I am a right-brained,

alternative thinker who could miss the obvious but come up with off-the-wall

solutions that wouldn’t occur to most people. (Luckily, I married a left brain,

which makes it easier to function in the real world.) I have a long resume of

exhibits and awards as a painter and fiber artist.

So how did an artist come to write a book on health, diet, and nutrition? I am

as surprised as anyone else, but it was a matter of necessity, not choice. My

husband had always said he would never live to retire because of health

problems and family history, and he took early retirement to be close to his

grandchildren so they would remember him. His weight, blood pressure and

blood lipid profile had gotten steadily worse over the years. Every time he

went to the doctor, his medications would be increased, and he was starting

to get serious side effects. I first learned about low-carb diets from a friend

and decided to see if that would help get him off some of his many

medications. I knew he would eat what I gave him as long as it was good. Six

months later, he went in for his regular checkup. When the test results came

in the mail, the Dr. had written "Way to go!" across the bottom. (The Dr. had

no idea how he had done it, and never asked.) We have been committed to

the low-carb life and enjoying its benefits ever since.

After seven years of re-creating all our favorite recipes, I wanted to share

what I had learned so other people wouldn't have to start from scratch. My

working title was "You’ll Never Know What You' Are Missing," which sums up

what I was trying to do: to make eating for health synonymous with eating for

pleasure.

I published my second book, "Nourished; a Cookbook for Health, Weight Loss, and Metabolic Balance," in 2012.

So am I still an artist? Absolutely. And I consider my books and food

to be the most creative things I have ever done.

Bio:

I was born in Arkansas, where I lived until I was 14 when my family moved to

West Virginia. I graduated from WVU with a dual major in Art and Education

and a minor in literature. (My advisor insisted on the teaching credentials so I

wouldn't starve.) I graduated with highest honors and a membership in Phi

Beta Kappa and continued with graduate studies there.

I now live in the greater Seattle area. I have been blogging about food and nutrition and posting recipes since 2007 at www.carbwarscookbooks.com. You can also find me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/judy.baker.351 and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Judy-Barnes-Bakers-Books-Nourished-Carb-Wars/244707018931254), Twitter (https://twitter.com/judy_bb), Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/judybbaker/), and Goggle (https://plus.google.com/102941549366378324556/posts).

I am currently a member of Northwest Designer Craftsmen and the

International Association of Culinary Professionals.