Our Philosophy
While most nutritional practices dwell on calories, carbs, fats, proteins and restrictive "good and bad" foods, The Whole Journey philosophy provides clients with the ‘tools’ to create happier, healthier lives in a way that is flexible, fun and free of willpower and denial. Emotional happiness and well-being come from living in a vibrant body. As your food changes for the better, your biochemistry improves, and as a result your mood, energy levels and outlook on life improve as well.
Our clinical spin focuses on the concepts of functional diagnostic nutrition and functional medicine. We are always looking to find the root cause of illness and to heal that first, in lieu of addressing individual symptoms. This way the body's own healing process works most efficiently and effectivley.
The Whole Journey approach to nutrition also focuses on elements that nourish other than food, including honest and open relationships, a meaningful spiritual practice, a career that inspires, and physical activity that is enjoyable. We refer to these elements as Primary Food and address each one of them as we go through the program, so that your life and perspective can truly transform.
By creating a balance between the clinical aspects of health, primary foods and the food one eats everyday, our clients experience steady and gradual changes and improvements in their health and well-being, which enable them to not only achieve their health goals, but to maintain them for life while being flexible with their food for years to come.
All Whole Journey programs incorporate both prevailing dietary theories and clinical aspects of health and nutrition. We believe many people are unnecessarily suffering. Our mission is to help as many people as possible first to heal, followed by achieving and sustaining vibrant health.
Whether you have exhausted all other possibilities for health and wellbeing, or are simply looking to enhance your existing regimen, feel free to give us a call at (760) 685-5636 to see if we are a good fit for you!
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION
Christa Orecchio
Clinical Nutritionist, Holistic Health Counselor
Whole Journey Founder and Owner
Christa discovered her passion for holistic nutrition in South Africa after taking a life-changing workshop called "Optimal Nutrition for the Mind". It inspired her to embark on a healing lifestyle change including a whole foods diet and supplementation program. After being raised with excessive antibiotics and years of daily reliance on sugar and caffeine for energy, changing both diet and lifestyle provided almost instant energy, digestive healing, peace, weight loss and vibrant health. These simple changes convinced her of the tremendous transformative power of food and nutrition, resulting in a vibrant, balanced, and joyful way of life.
Fueled by this passion, Christa became a Clinical Nutritionist and Holistic Health Counselor and founded ‘The Whole Journey’ in 2005 to share her knowledge with others. Her nutrition practice is unique in that Christa does not advocate any one specific way of eating. She believes that every individual has distinct dietary needs based upon genetics, lifestyle, gender, blood type, stress levels, how they ate as a child, current state of health (we look at and run all kinds of lab work) and future health goals. Therefore, she focuses on bio-individuality, while imparting a positive and empowering perspective shift around food that results in greater lifelong food flexibility.
Christa holds a B.S. in International Business and Spanish from the University of North Carolina. She is a Clinical Nutritionist (CN) as well as a Holistic Health Counselor (HHC). Christa attended The Natural Healing Institute and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) in NYC, and is currently doing post-graduate work in the field of nutrition to obtain her CCN. Christa is accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.
Christa has been regularly featured as a health expert on TV and in print nationwide. She is the co-author of "The Anti-inflammatory Diet" with Cheryl Tiegs as well as the author of "The Whole Journey Food as Medicine Cookbook" and "The Five Tris: A Brand New Approach to Pre-natal Health". She is also the creator of The Whole Journey Product Review site, a TEDx speaker, and the Fox5 San Diego weekly health expert where she speaks about using food as medicine and a mind-body approach to eating and healing. You can watch her every Thursday morning at 9:05 am.
Emily Potter
Whole Journey Nutritionist, CN, HHC
Emily became a Clinical Nutritionist (CN) through The Natural Healing Institute (NHI) and a Holistic Health Counselor (HHC) through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN). She has extensively trained under Christa to learn The Whole Journey approach, customized protocols and Christa's unique way of blending the clinical aspects of health and nutrition with holistic practices that are specific and appropriate to each client.
Originally from a small family farm in Idaho, Emily grew up understanding the importance of whole and healthy foods by watching her grandparents plant a garden every summer. Her grandparents help shape Emily's belief that there is a direct correlation between the quality of food one eats, and the way one feels physically and emotionally.
Emily holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Idaho. After graduation, she began working with clients in the field of mental illness. It was through this experience that she became passionate about treating people holistically through nutrition, movement, emotional and energetic healing.
Emily has a long time love of movement arts, and currently teaches yoga in addition to practicing nutrition.
Chassie Bell
Whole Journey Healthy Chef, HHC
Chassie is our healthy cook! She leads our cooking classes both private and group, and goes into our clients homes to teach them how to make The Whole Journey work in their lives, both according to their health plan and their taste buds.
Chassie is incredibly passionate about food and nutrition. She believes whole-heartedly in the Hippocrates quote, “Let your food by thy medicine.” A self-professed foodie and former coke slurpee addict, Chassie has spent years perfecting the perfect plate of pasta and has learned to sneak greens into everything she cooks. She believes in bringing fun back into the kitchen and sharing good food with people you love.
Through her own journey to health she has learned that healthy, healing and nourishing foods can be fun to make and delicious to eat. She is an expert at navigating the tricky shelves of natural food stores and the art of cooking once and eating multiple times. Her methods in the kitchen are fun, educational and healing.
Chassie is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and the Holistic MBA program. She is also the author of the super cool food and lifestyle blog, cbandjblog.com.
Twila Ginn
Business and Administrative Assistant
Twila, who grew up thinking that a meal of meat loaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, canned peas, and chocolate pudding was balanced and nutritious, changed her life in 2008 when, by chance, she saw an article written about Christa and The Whole Journey in The San Diego Union Tribune. Since then, she has gained control of her life and her thinking and has been on an enlightening journey of fitness, nutrition, self-realization, and "wholeness."
Twila, a former special education teacher, has a Bachelor’s of Education degree in the Education of Students with Developmental Delays and a Master’s Degree in the Education of Students with Social and Emotional Challenges. She has also done advanced coursework in the areas of Educational Leadership, Autism, and Communication for Children with Communicative Disorders.
Twila, also a married mother of four grown children and grandmother of one, is working hard to reverse the effects of her pre-February 24, 2008 parenting, by imparting to them her new found wisdom of healthy living. They have embraced most of the changes, and they, too, are spreading the word of The Whole Journey.
Twila is our unsung hero! She is our first interface with clients and does all of our scheduling, logistics, and a million other things, all while keeping us organized and in good working order!