Yolande Matoré Hoisington is a native of Paris, France. Before coming to the United States, Yolande obtained a Masters degree in psychology at the University of Paris and worked as a clinical psychologist .

After many years of teaching and working with children, Yolande moved to the United States, in Seattle, and began working in a dental office. Her work consisted of counseling periodontal patients about their hygiene and nutrition. She soon realized how much lifestyle and nutrition played a role in health and quick recovery. Curious about this phenomenon, Yolande spent several years extensively researching nutrition and cooking . Based on this information, she created a program for patients called “Nutrition+”, which dealt with improved nutrition, cooking, lifestyle changes and exercise. She worked with every patient and obtained very positive results including a decreasing of fatigue, weight loss and quick healing.

As a result of her success with the periodontal patients, Yolande designed in Seattle the “Harmonie program”. In this program, Yolande individually coaches her clients in overall fitness and health. To help them improve their cooking, Yolande began typing up a few healthy recipes and handing them out to her clients. Soon after, Health clubs such as the Pro Sports Club and professional organizations such as Whole Food Markets and Sur La Table, asked her to speak to their members about “eating the French way.” In addition, they had her demonstrate some easy, tasty, and healthy recipes. She then started to give French cooking classes in the seattle area.

Yolande decided to compile her recipes into a book called “Pace of Provence”. This book demystifies the complexity of French family cooking and encourages her readers to live their life at a gentler pace and transform their meals into a family affair.

After the book was published she began teaching in local colleges about “the French paradox”.
Part of Yolande’s philosophy is that people need to be better informed and that more diverse tastes and good eating habits need to be cultivated. She considers educating families to be her top priority and her goal is to improve their cooking skills which she teaches in her French cooking classes.

Yolande’s experience with children and her work as a nutritional coach puts her at a special place to address growing obesity and malnutrition among children. Her workshops are designed for parents. They focus on helping parents take action to challenge the many obstacles to healthy eating. Yolande demonstrates simple strategies and tips to help families attain a balanced lifestyle and improved family dynamics.

Yolande currently resides in Seattle, which fulfills her passion for nature. She is also the mother of a 25 year old son Julien, who still eats healthy and loves to cook. She spends her personal time, reading, painting, gardening, hiking, and, of course, inviting her friends for dinner, taking time to cook and savoring life in the true spirit of l’ art de vivre (the art of living).