Learning How to Heal is Fundamental to Surviving and Thriving in the 21st Century

“It’s hard to believe that I’ve devoted over five decades of my life to learning about eco-intelligent living and using my life lessons to grow the body of work you see on this website. Working behind the scenes has suited me well, because I love the creative inspiration that moves through me when I work in solitude. However, spending time in high places (places where I draw inspiration from) it’s not always conducive to being totally grounded. What helps me is spending time in nature and connecting with my students.” -– Candia Lea

  • Founder of “Gourmet Gatherings”, a whole foods catering service providing event design, menu planning, and gourmet food preparation for health professionals and the general public (1980-89).

  • Founder of “Meals That Heal”, a satellite catering/nutritional consulting service for individuals and families with specific dietary needs. (1980-89).

  • Head Cook at Whole Child Day Care, Minneapolis, MN. (1985)

  • Juice Bar Manager and Head Cook at The Health Shoppe Juice Bar (1986)

  • Menu Theme Planner and Food Preparer at Le Grande Gourmand(1980-81)

  • Server @ Minneapolis based catering companies.

  • Founder of Sprout Gardens, a supplier of fresh sprout medleys to restaurants in the twin cities. (1976, 7).

WHOLE FOODS COOK, CATERER & NUTRITIONAL CONSULTANT

WHOLE FOODS COOKBOOK AUTHOR

  • Not Milk… NUTMILKS! (1989)
  • Super Smoothies: Taste the Nectar of Life! (1991)
  • Gourmet Grains: Main Dishes Made of Nature (1992)
  • Eating the Eco-Enlightened Way(Explores my 3 Cookbooks and Deep Dishes about Nature, Recipe Making, Cooking, and Health)

CREATOR OF NUTRITION EDUCATION BOOKS

  • Farming & Eating the Eco-Intelligent Way (A 21st Century (Eco-Conscious) Nutrition Curriculum for Educators & Students)
  • Tasting Life the Vegetarian Way! (A Resource Guide and Activity Planner for Homes and Schools)
  • Nourish Your Mental & Emotional Well-Being the Eco-Intelligent Way!
  • Healing OCD The Eco-Intelligent Way: A Mother & Son’s Learning Journey 

CREATOR OF NUTRITION ED. GAMES & INFOGRAPHICS COLLECTION

  • Farm AlarmCrossword Puzzle (A Written Activity that teaches about the dangers of GMOs) 
  • Eco-BitesFood Treasure Hunt Game (An activity that tests a learner’s knowledge about sustainable & non-sustainable food choices)
  • Tabletop TUTORS Info-graphics (250+ topics related to healthy farming, eating, and green living)

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS (NU-RITUALS FUNCTIONAL FOODS COMPANY)

  • Designed the company’s brochure and marketing message  

  • Brand Ambassador & Expo Speaker(Spoke about the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet)  
  • Co-created a functional food snack bar and made it The Omegavore Bar
  • Creator of the company’s cookbook:“Preparing Meals with Omegasentials” (2001)
  • Co-developed life-balance assessments   
  • Wrote and edited the Company’s Newsletter 

PUBLICITY ABOUT CANDIA’S WORK WITH FOOD

  • LocalMinneapolis Star Tribune Tastemakers Sec. (Featured Chef, summer 1989)
  • Minneapolis Star Tribune/ Taste (Winter, 1992 and 1997)
  • Grace Kirschenbaum’s World of Cookbooks (1992, 93)
  • Paul Pioneer Press(Kitchen Window, 1990)
  • White Bear Lake Magazine (Author Feature; 2019)  
  • ​White Bear Press(1995, 1996, 2019)

National

  • Spring Lake Press (Living Off The Land with Tom Squire)
  • Florida Sun Times
  • Cox News Services
  • Roanoke Times & World News(Spring 1994)
  • Woman’s World (1996)
  • The Boston Globe (1997)
  • Oldways Preservation & Exchange Trust(1997 Conference on Vegetarian Diets)
  • Sivana East website(2018) 

CANDIA’S APPEARANCES, DEMOS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Bookstore Appearances 

  • Barnes & Noble Bookstore(Roseville, MN.)
  • Present Moment Books(Minneapolis, MN.)
  • Coop book store signings(West Coast) 

Food Market Recipe Demos & Book Signings  

  • Whole Foods Market(St. Paul, MN.)
  • Kowalski’s Foods(White Bear Lake)
  • Valley Coop(Burnsville, MN.)
  • Wedge Coop(Minneapolis, MN.)
  • Linden Hills Coop(Minneapolis, MN.)
  • River Market (Stillwater, MN.)
  • Body, Mind & Spirit Nutrition Center(Minnetonka, MN.)
  • Nordic Track Healthy Express(Mall of America), MN.)

FREELANCE FOOD AND HEALTH WRITER

Food for Health Publications   

  • Delicious! Magazine (Spring, 1992)
  • Vegetarian Gourmet Magazine(Winter 1992, 93/ Summer 1995)
  • Vegetarian Journal Magazine(Winter 1994)
  • Grand Times Magazine(1994)
  • Vegetarian Times Magazine(1995)
  • Veggie Life Magazine(Summer 1995)
  • Coop Consumer News(Autumn, 1994)
  • Whole Foods Market News
  • ​Pathways: A Waldorf School Newsletter(Spring 1992
  • For The Love of Food Newsletter(Spring/Summer, 1995)
  • Christian Beginnings (Food Newsletter(1995)
  • The Diamond Net: Supra Pathways To Health(1996)
  • Network of Hope Newsletter (Spring 1997)
  • Northland Berry Newsletter(Spring, Summer, & Autumn, 2002)​
  • Book Publications (Collaborations) 
  • Llewellyn’s Organic Gardening Almanac Book (Featured author/contributor,1996)
  • Creative Ways to Bring Algae to Your Community(Featured author/contributor,1997)
  • Wellness Directory of Minnesota(Featured author/contributor, 2nd Edition)

HOLISTIC WELLNESS NEWS MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS

  • Consumer’s Medical Journal(Issue #69)
  • At Last: A Newsletter for People with Chemical Sensitivities
  • Whitaker’s Health & Healing Newsletter(Summer 1993)
  • The EDGE News Magazine (Numerous Publications during the 90’s and 2022)
  • Twin Cities WELLNESS (Numerous publications)
  • Present Moment Newsletter (1993)
  • Enlightenment(Stillwater, MN.,1995)

Healthy, Eco-Conscious Parenting News Publications   

 Leia Stinnet’s Rainbow Bridge to Light Newsletter

  • Southwest Family Room Newsletter
  • Minnesota Parent(Autumn, 1992)
  • The Mahtomedi Globe (Spring, 1996)

AUTHOR OF ECO MENTOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR PARENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS

  • Memoir: Born to Live Green -Awakening My Heart’s Wisdom to the Path of Eco-Intelligent Living.
  • Mentor Guide Book: Nourish Your Eco-Intelligence- Become the Eco-Mentor You Were Born to Be! 
  • 6 Companion Work/Play/ Journals:Discovery & Empowerment on the Path to Eco-Conscious Living
  • Discovery & Empowerment on the Path to Eco–Relational Living.
  • Discovery & Empowerment on the Path to Eco-Sustainable Living
  • Discovery & Empowerment on the Path to Eco-Nutritional Living
  • Discovery & Empowerment on the Path to Eco-Medicinal Living
  • Discovery & Empowerment on the Path to Eco-Spiritual Living

Ed. Book Collaborations (To Introduce Curriculum)    

  • Bringing Heart and Soul to Education (with William G. Spady)
  • Transform Agents (Author Collection)  

AUTHOR OF PARENTING SUPPORT BOOKS

  • Parenting Our ‘Special Needs’ Youth the Eco-Intelligent Way!
  • Eco-Intelligent Remedies for Autism Spectrum that Think Outside the Box

HONORS, AWARDS, & NOMINATIONS

  • 1989 – Minnesota’s Great Growing Organic Food Cook-Off  (1st place winner and recipient of $1,000 prize for her recipe “Mexican Garden Fiesta Millet.”)
  • 1998 – Minnesota Parent Magazine Essay Contest (Winner and recipient of $150 prize for my essay: “Devoted to Children.”)
  • 2006 – The Fred Factor Award (Dedication to helping people foster Holistic Health;Las Vegas, Nevada).
  • 2007 – Nominated for Volvo for Life Awards/Service to Environment Category.
  • 2007 – Nominated for Cooperate for Community Awards (National Coop Grower’s Association)
  • 2012 – Best Brilliant Idea for Humanity (Honored by The Messenger Network for my mini-book: Becoming an Eco-Mentor- Leading Others to an Eco-Conscious Lifestyle.) 
  • 2013 – The Social Network for Sustainability (Honored “Global Woman of the Week.”)
  • 2019- Who’s Who in America- (Interviewed for inclusion in the 73rd Edition; hailed by the New York Times as “The Venerable Guide to American Achievement” and chosen for “The National Millennium Time Capsule” by the White House.
  • 2020- Autism Hope Alliance Award (Recipient of $500 gift for helping families to create healthy, non-toxic lifestyles.)
  • 2025- TITAN Literary Book Award (My memoir “Born to Live Green,” was honored.)

EDUCATIONAL COURSES & CERTIFICATIONS

  • Game Changer Intensive: Pachamama Alliance
  • Climate Reality Leadership Core
  • Shamanic Path of Re-Enchantment
  • Spiritual Counselor & Psychology Empath
  • Becoming a Medical Intuitive (Level One)
  • Master of Herbs & Spices (Spiceologist)
  • IACTM Accredited Trainer