About Chef Namaste
My name is Natallia Clancy and I'm a dynamic professional with a passion for holistic well-being and transformative education. I hold a bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in food studies and nutrition both from New York University. My graduate studies ignited my interest in food and nutrition education, leading me to teach in after-school programs in over a dozen schools throughout the Greater New York City area.
I earned a 200-hour yoga teacher certification in Goa, India in 2011. My ongoing exploration of yoga, mindfulness, and meditation converged into a profound interest in mindful eating. This passion gave rise to Chef Namaste, an innovative initiative that blends these disciplines with conscious cooking to inspire a comprehensive approach to eating and living. Through my unique classes and workshops, I aspire to empower children and adults to foster a deeper connection with their bodies and minds, encouraging a harmonious relationship with food and overall health and wellness.
My impact extends globally, as seen through my role as a board member for the NGO Terrawatu where I oversee impactful food and nutrition education programs for Maasai communities in East Africa. In 2022 I completed a yoga teacher training for kids and teens in Bali, Indonesia, and practiced under esteemed Tibetan bowl sound healers in Kathmandu, Nepal, and Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Through a fusion of academia, spirituality, and culinary expertise, I'm dedicated to fostering healthier communities through a holistic and conscious lifestyle offering practical and actionable guidance and tools to my clients.
The 6 pillars of Chef Namaste
All Foods Are Good
We believe in encouraging healthy and happy eating routines and we speak positively about all foods. We don’t adhere to the philosophy of “bad” foods, diets or strict restrictions. Instead, we focus on food and nutrition education as a means to understanding what foods we should be eating on a daily basis and why.
Eat The Rainbow
We pride ourselves in eating delicious, well balanced and colorful meals. Every color reflects a different set of phytonutrients, so by eating the rainbow, we ensure that we are getting a variety of benefits. Yellow fruits and vegetables have beta carotene, vitamin A and alpha carotene. Green plants contain phytonutrients like chlorophyll.
Spread The Light
We believe that food knowledge is one of the most valuable life skills, and that's why we like to start young. We encourage talking about where in the world our food is grown, how it's grown and cherishing its historical origins. While we teach these philosophies, we believe in sharing knowledge, not preaching it.
Body Awareness
Wholeheartedly understanding your unique levels of hunger and fullness is a very important component in developing a balanced and intuitive eating lifestyle. A child who is accustomed to eating mindfully understands the body cue’s that he or she receives indicating hunger and fullness, and everything in between.
The Namaste Plate
All of the meals at Chef Namaste will be sure to include proteins, carbohydrates and fats- the basis of a well balanced meal. Throughout the lesson, we review why when all three of these macronutrients are used in the right combination, they not only give us 100% of the energy that we need all day, but they make for a tasty food pairing as well.
Table Of Gratitude
Pairing a brief gratitude exercise with something that we enjoy and make time for each day (like eating) will help us to make gratitude a larger part of our lives. Studies show that giving thanks just once a day for a few weeks can improve the physical and psychological wellbeing of children and adults.