Danielle Cook, Founder of Happily Hungry

There are over 13,500 children under the age of 20 (1 in 300) diagnosed with cancer annually in the United States. Additionally, there are approximately 300,000-400,000 survivors of childhood cancer living in the U.S., of which about 100,000 are in colleges across the country.

In 2004, my son became one of those statistics. After he was diagnosed with cancer at age 11, I was determined to better understand what foods could help him during his treatment and for life beyond, as a cancer survivor. This profound experience led me to pursue a masters degree in Holistic Nutrition, and in 2010, to launch a nutrition program directed at pediatric oncology patients, their families and caregivers.

In 2012, my first book followed, Happily Hungry: Smart Recipes for Kids with Cancer.

The life-changing nutrition program I have pioneered achieves multiple goals:

  • Combines food, fun and incredible taste with comprehensive nutrition education and cooking instruction.

  • Works on-site at medical facilities as a complement to cancer treatment.

  • Introduces foods that can help mitigate cancer side-effects: loss of taste, nausea, aversion to food, mucositis, fatigue, neutropenia and immune-compromised conditions.

  • Combines the science of food with the fun of cooking for optimal wellness.

  • Teaches individuals and their families how to take charge of their nutritional health.

  • Includes whole-family nutritional counseling and help prepare the patient for good lifestyle choices as a cancer survivor.

As improvements continue to be made in cancer care, patients will be living longer with the disease and more children will survive their cancers and live well into adulthood. Nutrition education becomes paramount for prevention of reoccurring illness. In addition, the future of health care includes the collaboration of innovative nutrition programs in partnership with traditional medical protocols.

Danielle Cook, MS Educator, author, advocate, and pioneer of outstanding health programs.

Danielle Cook, MS
Educator, author, advocate, and pioneer of outstanding health programs.

 
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Learn More About the Book

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Danielle Cook
Professional Experience

June 2009 – Present
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Pediatric Hematology Oncology Clinic, Washington, DC

October 2015 - Present
The Children’s Inn at NIH (National Institute of Health), Bethesda, MD

May 2016 – July 2018
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Children’s Hospital at Sinai, LifeBridge Health, Baltimore, MD

Conferences

  • A Holistic Approach to Nutrition in Pediatric Care; Georgetown University Medical School, Grand Rounds, Washington, DC, 2016

  • Mind Blowing Foods for Better Moods; Life with Cancer Family Center, Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children, Fairfax, VA, 2015

  • Dishing It Up: Nutrition and the Healthy Gut, Smart Choices for Healthy Eating; Life with Cancer Family Center, Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children, Fairfax, VA, 2014

  • Cooking for Cancer: Developing an Evidenced-based, Innovative, Interactive Nutrition Program; 38th Annual APOSW (Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers) Conference, Philadelphia, PA, 2014

Webinars, Workshops, Poster Presentations

  • 5 Easy Tips for Eating Health While on Treatment for Children’s Cancer; CureSearch for Children’s Cancer

  • The Role of Nutrition in Pediatric Cancer Treatment; Webinar, The Scoop, National Association of Nutrition Professionals, 2016

  • The Role of Nutrition in Pediatric Cancer Treatment; Webinar, Hawthorn University, Whitethorn, CA, 2014 

  • Nutrition Workshop for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors, Parents and Caregivers; MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Pediatric Hematology Oncology Parent Advisory Board, Washington, DC, 2014

  • Cooking for Cancer: Combining Nutrition and Psychosocial Support to Relieve Pediatric and Parental Distress; Poster presentation, Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network Conference, San Diego, CA, 2014

Education

Hawthorn University, Whitethorn, CA
M.S., Holistic Nutrition and Registered Orthomolecular Health Care Practitioner (accredited by International Organization of Nutritional Consultants/IONC)

Thesis on the role of proper nutrition with regard to children undergoing cancer treatment

Clark University, Worcester, MA
B.A., International Development

  • Born and reared in ultimate foodie household in Paris, France. Fluent in French. French and U.S. Citizenship.

  • Resident, District of Columbia.

  • Member, National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP).