Melissa Bernstein

Melissa C. Bernstein, OT, FAOTA, President/CEO of Power of 5 Life organization that provides valuable resources on how we can all live long and healthy life and AGE GRACEFULLY® teaming up with husband, David Bernstein, MD, Physician, Author, and Speaker.

The Power of 5 Test Kitchen Cookbook - Caregiver Edition- the first of its kind cookbook that applies healthy eating, engagement, and socialization techniques for caregivers to use when cooking with those with neurodegenerative disorders and other diseases.

This cookbook presents valuable tools in addition to the recipes, to ensure a safe and meaningful experience in the kitchen, encouraging and supportive to caregivers to collaborate with individuals suffering from neurodegenerative disease.

Melissa provides helpful advice, addresses safety concerns, and provides suggestions to make meal preparation enjoyable for caregivers and people with neurodegenerative or other conditions.

Valuable information from this cookbook for caregivers includes:

• An inventory of competencies for cooperative cooking activities (Skills Checklist), including a baseline survey of food

likes and dislikes.

• Compassionate Cueing Techniques & Types of Assistance level to be used during cooking, and

• Examples of adaptive utensils and kitchen gadgets that may be useful in helping a person prepare meals.

In 2020, Melissa & Dr. Bernstein co-authored, The Power of 5 A Journal for Health, Longevity and Wellness providing a guide to journaling personal health goals, integrating The Power of 5 formula into one’s lifestyle.

Her newest cookbook released March 1, 2023, entitled Power of 5 Test Kitchen Your Guide to Healthy Cooking and Eating is your guide to making the right choice on what and how to cook to maximize your wellness without compromising flavor. These delicious and nutritious, Mediterranean - inspired recipes are easy to cook and easy to adapt to any eating preference and dietary restrictions with options in each recipe.

In this book you will get:

• Nutritious Mediterranean inspired recipes

• Healthy snack choices

• Lifestyle guidance on benefits of eating common foods.

• What foods are healthy and which ones to avoid?

• The powerful benefits of herbs and spices- and the top 12 you need to be using regularly.

• Healthy eating tips and recipes for dogs with ingredients right from your kitchen!

Melissa dedicated herself to developing recipes consistent with the recommendations of The Power of 5 Formula: promotes eating less sugar, carbs and processed foods, and more whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, and protein such as tofu and fish.

She is a passionate cook, lifelong devotee to healthy cooking and eating for herself, her family, and her friends. A graduate of Boston University, she brings her long-standing commitment to helping others; first as a "seasoned" occupational therapist and later as a certified chef.

Melissa is based in Oldsmar, Florida and can be reached at 813-922-2876 or by email at Melissa@powerof5Life.com.

You can follow her:

The Power of 5 Test Kitchen - join in the happenings, sign-up to receive delicious healthy recipes delivered right to your email!

Like our Facebook page @PowerOf5Life

Follow her on Instagram: @PowerOf5TestKitchen.