“I’m completely committed to providing nutrition education to as many children, parents and schools who want to have the experience—either through after-school programs, summer camp, school and scout field trips, and school assemblies,” says Stacey Antine, registered dietitian and founder of HealthBarn USA, a healthy-lifestyle education program for children and families.
Antine, who had a successful career in public relations, decided to pursue a master’s degree in nutrition at New York University and become an RD after working on national nutrition campaigns for big food brands. She says her dietetic internship at Beth Israel Medical Center changed her life, especially when it came to childhood obesity.
“I traded in my corporate suit and Prada shoes for jeans and cowboy boots and opened up HealthBarn USA on a farm,” says Antine. “I’ve never looked back! Every day is a new opportunity to help kids and their families and that reminds me daily why I traded in ‘work’ to pursue my passion.”
Antine splits her time between locations in Wyckoff, N.J., and Yorktown Heights, N.Y., and she considers herself fortunate to be able to spend her days on a farm. “Now that I organically grow and cook my own food and teach kids and parents how, my diet is 90 percent whole foods and 10 percent packaged foods. It used to be 60/40,” says Antine. “I also compost as much as possible—even in the winter. It has definitely impacted the way I eat and live!”
