The Actors Group 206.427.7449

Cynthia Lair

In an odd reversal, Cynthia Lair paid to go back to school to become a Certified Health and Nutrition Counselor with money earned acting. It's true. Lair spent years in NYC performing in dozens of national commercials, studying with Uta Hagen and continuing work on stage in regional theater and showcases.

The professional acting during the day paved the way for classes at night. After moving to Seattle, the TV, radio and theater work continued while she wrote her first cookbook, and began teaching nutrition and cooking classes at Bastyr University. Currently she is an assistant professor for Bastyr University's School of Nutrition and Exercise Science (faculty member since 1994) and the Culinary Curriculum Director for their new Culinary Arts degree program.

Her popular cookbook, Feeding the Whole Family (Sasquatch Books, 2008) is in its third edition and over 60,000 copies have been sold. A fully revised edition of her second book Feeding the Young Athlete: Sports Nutrition Made Easy for Players and Parents will be released in 2012. As part of the CDC's Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) program, Cynthia was hired in 2010 by the Auburn School District grant to develop the curriculum for an 8-hour workshop to train school food service workers in the how and why of whole foods cooking.

These workshops are ongoing in the greater Seattle area.Speaking engagements include the Vancouver Wellness Show, Clear Channel's Baby Expo, Asante Health Systems, La Leche League conventions, NSCAA convention, UW School of Nursing, and the Greenhouse Spa. Ms. Lair has taught whole foods cooking classes at the Puget Consumers Coop, Evergreen Hospital, Pike Place Market and countless other venues.

The acting training combines nicely with her expertise in family nutrition to make her an engaging speaker.Cynthia finally morphed acting and nutrition in 2008 with the birth of the online cooking show Cookus Interruptus. In over 160 videos, Cynthia and her colleagues from The Edge Improv group twist health cooking and the family sit-com genre into educational entertainment. Watch at www.cookusinterruptus.com.