The Alternate Root - 6479889144

The Alternate Root. Food Loving. Passion Driven.
I offer support and education to those struggling to find nutritional answers through one on one consultations, cooking classes, meal planning, recipes, and workshops.

My name is Paula Bashford and I am from the Ottawa Valley.
Nothing brings people together like good food. My fondest memories growing up are those found in my mother’s kitchen. Since childhood, I have been somewhat obsessed with food so naturally, I studied the Culinary Management program in Toronto. Consulting with a naturopathic doctor, I provided meals for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Marlies, designed to improve health and performance. Soon I had grown to include other elite athletes such as Simon Whitfield, Steven Stamkos, and Gary Roberts. As I continued to work directly with more and more athletes, I could see that food had a much greater role to play than just to taste delicious (although that doesn’t hurt!) – it literally supplies us with life and depending on what we eat, we choose to survive or thrive. My passion lies within the local and organic food systems and I believe it is each our own responsibility to develop a healthy and ever-evolving relationship with food which includes understanding where it comes from and how it impacts our own bodies.

My own health journey, being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a child, kick-started my interest in nutrition at a very young age. Over the years, I have come to believe that long-lasting health is built on a foundation of a strengthened body, mind, and spirit which lead me to the holistic nutrition program in Ottawa. Here, I was introduced to the concept of bio-chemical individuality which means that the nutritional and chemical make-up of each person is unique and that dietary and other needs must vary from person to person – my treatment plan greatly differs from one client to the next.

A diagnosis can be a very terrifying time, especially when it involves the word cancer. I was able to work with a client who was ready to make significant changes to his everyday life if it meant he may have a better chance at beating this disease. Together, with his surgeon, we developed a proposed “change of life” plan and now after the surgery, chemotherapy, and tests, the client is back to living life cancer-free. Seeing him smile at my quirky jokes or to hear his hearty laugh is the greatest payment I could receive.

George Brown College, Chef Training, 2004
George Brown College, Culinary Management Program, 2005
George Brown College, Small Business Entrepreneurship, 2009
Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, Holistic Nutrition, 2017

Tags: Nutritionist,Personal Chef