Ep6: The Nurse Who Acts and Creatively Cooks Up Recipes! Meet Bonnie Antonini

Guest: Bonnie Antonini, BSN, RN, Actor and food blogger “Vegetarian Cooking for Carnivores Blog”

Host: Author, Actor, Photographer, Poet Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN

Nursing and the Arts Podcast

Nursing and the Arts Ep6 Bonnie Antonini

Audio link above is provided to listen to Ep6: The Nurse Who Acts and Creatively Cooks Up Recipes! Meet Bonnie Antonini, BSN, RN, Food Blogger – “Vegetarian Cooking for Carnivores Blog” and Nursing and the Arts Podcast Host Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN.

Nursing and the Arts is a podcast devoted to Nurses discussing their diverse artistic passions (or endeavors) such as visual arts/photography, journaling, comedy, podcasting, storytelling, writing/poetry, crafting, cooking, dance, theatre, music, film etc.

Join us on today’s 6th episode of the Nursing and the Arts Podcast for an informative and entertaining discussion with our guest Bonnie Antonini, BSN, RN.

Watch the Nursing and the Arts Podcast (above)

Ep6: The Nurse Who Acts and Creatively Cooks! Meet Bonnie Antonini, BSN, RN and Host Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN

Show Notes:

About Bonnie Antonini, BSN, RN, Actor and Food Blogger

In this podcast, Bonnie exudes lots of positive energy as she tells her story to host Susan J. Farese (that’s me)!

Bonnie and Susan met as actors portraying oncology clinic nurses on the set of “Men of a Certain Age” (the episode aired on 2011).

Bonnie had some experience as a Candy Striper during her teenage years with her best friend. She definitely did not want to be a nurse at first. Why? Because she didn’t want to give shots! So, Bonnie started out as an actor and after attending some college as a Psychiatric Tech (and finding out she’d ultimately need to give injections) she switched to nursing!

She is a BSN graduate at Sacramento State. She worked in Cardiac/Telemetry and then was a stay at home Mom to raise her two sons. Her husband is an Anesthesiologist.

She values nursing in that nursing has a variety of different specialties and change.

Bonnie started blogging years ago. She has written over 250 recipes on her blog named “Vegetarian Cooking for Carnivores Blog”!- The tag lines- “Recipes so good even a carnivore would love them”!
Also “An ex-carnivore’s struggle to eat vegetarian in a creative, delicious, and satisfying way”!

For fun the entire family enjoys hockey- the family loves to attend (and discuss games)! She also spends lots of time (for instance, up to 3 hours) on phone calls to their son in the military.

Bonnie has always had great concern for the prevalence of obesity and diabetes and started her blog to promote healthy eating. She emphases that many people eat out and spend lots of money – where they could start cooking and eating at home with her recipes from her blog.

Some of her acting roles were in Ford vs Ferrari, Smash (and more – Check out her IMDB link below)!

Bonnie’s words of wisdom about nursing: Nursing is a fabulous career, helps others, makes a difference in other’s lives, makes a good living and if burnout happens, one can change course and/or specialties.

Bonnie texted me this comment after this episode posted: “Just an interesting (and sad) statistic that recently came out: 74.4% of all Americans are overweight or obese. I wish I’d known this statistic for our podcast”.

Many thanks Bonnie!

Bonnie Antonini’s Links:

IMDB (Film/TV Acting credits): https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3647640/

Vegetarian Cooking for Carnivores Blog: https://vegcookingforcarnivoresblog.com/tag/bonnie-antonini/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonnie_antonini/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonnie.antonini/

Facebook Page for Vegetarian Cooking for Carnivores Blog: https://www.facebook.com/VegetarianCookingForCarnivores

Vegetarian Cooking for Carnivores Blog (Website): https://vegcookingforcarnivoresblog.com/tag/bonnie-antonini/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/bonnieantonini

Thank you so much Bonnie! It’s a pleasure “seeing” you again after 13 years on set!

About Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN, SJF Communications

Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN, a native of New Jersey, is the owner/ president of SJF Communications, San Diego, CA.

Susan has diverse health care experience including military and civilian nursing with clinical, administration/management, staff development, research and consulting roles.

SJF Communications, originally established in 2002 in San Jose, CA, provides services including Public Relations, Publicity, Marketing, Websites, Filmmaking, Acting, Social Media, Writing and Public Speaking, Photography, Mentoring, Coaching and Nurse Consulting services.

Susan is the author of the book Poetic Expressions in Nursing…Sharing the Caring (1993 and 2021), currently teaches ‘Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku‘ workshops, and has published poetry and articles on a variety of topics. She created and is the Host of the “Nursing and the Arts Podcast” and creator/admin of the Nursing and the Arts Facebook Group

Thank you for joining us to listen to and/or watch the Nursing and the Arts Podcast! Please feel free to like, comment on, share our episode(s), etc.

Also nurses can join our Facebook Group “Nursing and the Arts“

If you are a nurse (or know of a nurse) who would like to be considered for a “Nursing and the Arts” Podcast interview, please reach out to Susan by email: info@sjfcommunications.com.

SJF Communications is thrilled to introduce our PR Client, Dr. Sheldon Blake Zablow, Nutritional Psychiatrist of San Diego. Dr. Zablow recently launched his new Amazon bestseller non-fiction book Your Vitamins Are Obsolete: The Vitamer Revolution: A Program for Healthy Living and Healthy Longevity (Hybrid Global Publishing).

First, some information about Dr. Zablow’s book, followed by our Q & A

Summary of “Your Vitamins Are Obsolete”

By Sheldon Blake Zablow, M.D.

Did you know the synthetic B-vitamins found in supplements cannot be absorbed well or easily converted into the bioactive forms our cells actually use? Even other vitamins can’t work well if there is not enough of the naturally occurring B forms called vitamers. For example, without B vitamers, taking vitamin D won’t prevent osteoporosis. Learn how the naturally occurring vitamers DO work and Why, and start on your pathway to healthy living and longevity today!

Your Vitamins are Obsolete explains:

Why vitamer B deficiencies make your vaccines less effective.

How taking B vitamers assists vegans and vegetarians in maximizing their dietary benefits, in some cases even increasing fertility.

Why regular use of B vitamers can decrease your appetite for red meat, promoting personal and environmental health.

How including B vitamers in your diet reduces chronic inflammation, leading to improved health and longevity.

Q & A: Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN, SJF Communications and Sheldon Blake Zablow, M.D., Nutritional Psychiatrist and Author

Sheldon B. Zablow, M.D.

SJF: Why/How did you decide to write Your Vitamins Are Obsolete?

SBZ: I prescribed the bioactive forms of B₁₂ and folate to a very sick patient and she immediately got well. I had no idea why, so I started the research to find out how her body chemistry improved.

SJF: Did you make any personal discoveries (or aha moments) while researching the book? If so, please explain.

SBZ: Two moments. First was that as physicians, we were misinformed that the body can store water soluble B vitamins. The second was that there is a connection between a deficiency of these B vitamins and the onset of chronic inflammation that leads to most illnesses.

SJF: How did you decide on the title Your Vitamins Are Obsolete and decide to find a publishing company vs self-publishing?

SBZ: I choose this title to specifically summarize the book—all our multivitamin supplements have not kept up with the changes in our processed food and the pollutants that now surround us. I actually chose a hybrid publisher so a lot of it has been self-published in the sense that I had to do all the re-writes and organizing the pictures.

SJF: Tell us about your background that led to you discovering the association with Vitamin B-12 and folate deficiencies leading to inflammation and ultimately a variety of diseases

SBZ: My background is as an adult and child psychiatrist which means I see a lot of people with mental and physical problems. When I started prescribing these vitamins, the patients started reporting a reduction in their symptoms that were consistent with a reduction in their inflammation levels.

SJF: What is your role as a Nutritional Psychiatrist?

SBZ: This is a new area of medicine. It can be defined as using food, supplements, vitamins, exercise, meditation, etc. in conjunction with standard psychiatric medications to optimize the potential of the treatment to reduce both mental and physical challenges.

SJF Tell us about your upbringing, geographically, personally etc.

SBZ: I grew up in Norfolk, Virginia and attended college and medical school at the University of Virginia. I had never really been out of Virginia until I started my medical training in Atlanta and then moved on to Boston. I had an older brother that served in the military as did my father. My mother worked as an administrator and my father ran a small furniture store.

SJF: If you had to write the book over again, would you change anything?

SBZ: I would include the information I’ve put on my website about the connection between COVID and a deficiency of the B vitamins that can worsen outcomes.

SJF: A brief history of your education, professor positions/teaching appointments published articles, etc.

SBZ: I went to the University of Virginia for undergraduate and medical school, then moved on to Emory University for an internship in pediatrics. From there I went to Boston University for Adult Psychiatry training and then onto Boston Children’s Hospital to study Child Psychiatry through Harvard Medical School. Since moving to San Diego in 1982 I have volunteered as an instructor of Child Psychiatry at UCSD and have received two teaching awards.

SJF: What are your personal pastimes/hobbies/interests/passions?

SBZ: I have always enjoyed teaching and patient education opportunities through talks and writing. Years ago, I taught judo and wrestling but the more my body complained, the more I turned toward daily walks, weight resistance training and passive stretching. My passion is science and learning about new discoveries in any field.

SJF: Anything you’d like to mention about “Your Vitamins Are Obsolete“?

SBZ: It reviews some complex biology in less complex ways. I tell people that it is hard to hit the right balance when explaining but they should approach the book with the idea that they do not have to read every word to understand the basics.

SJF: Any recommendations for us to journal or document what we are going through with Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic? Stress management tools?

SBZ: The most important action that I mention in the book is to use your entire stress reduction toolbox which consists of exercise, proper diet, proper sleep hygiene, relaxation therapy, psychotherapy (when indicated), prescribed medication (when indicated), supplements and of course B vitamins. The more stress the more you use the tools you have.

SJF: How has the Covid-19 affected you personally/professionally?

SBZ: I had a bad heart attack several years ago that puts me into a high-risk category so I have been following the basic advice of always wearing a mask, distancing and isolating as I can. I have also been trying to perfect my mother’s Toll House cookie recipe.

SJF: Role models or persons that inspire you in your life?

SBZ: My hero is Janusz Korczak (pediatrician/child psychiatrist) who was the Dr. Seuss of Europe and medical director of orphanages before he volunteered to run the orphanage in the Warsaw Ghetto. He was martyred along with all his children.

SJF: Favorite quotes

SBZ: From the book: “Homo sapiens: a tiny twig on an improbable branch of a contingent limb on a fortunate tree.” Stephen Jay Gould

SJF: Who (celebrity) would you like to have lunch or dinner with to discuss your book?

SBZ: Arianna Huffington because of her interest in natural ways to improve mental and physical performance and how this can benefit the world.

SJF: Life hurdles? Successes?

SBZ: The main hurdles for me are the same as for others with the premature loss of a loved one (my brother through medical misdiagnosis) and health challenges (a near-fatal heart attack at 59 years). My successes have been the return of mental health in my patients after long hard work by both of us.

SJF: Three significant/pivotal moments in your life?

SBZ: The first two are above and the third is missing a plane flight that ended in the death of most of its passengers.

SJF: Fears?

SBZ: The only one that comes to mind is a fear of mandolin slicers. I have to wear a cut resistance glove and insist that anyone who uses one around me needs to also.

SJF: Recurring dreams/ Usual dreams?

SBZ: I am a very heavy sleeper, so I don’t remember my dreams other than the death- resolution dreams that have occurred after the losses of a loved one.

SJF: Strongest asset? What would you like to work on/improve?

SBZ: My strongest asset is my ability to focus forward when stresses increase. I have to work harder on not letting the focus forwarding make me miss out on the here and now.

SJF: Where/how do you ‘give back’ to your community/communities?

SBZ: I give back through my work with my patients by helping them improve their communication skills with the people in their lives and by teaching and writing about science, nutritional psychiatry, and parenting.

SJF: Any regrets in life?

SBZ: I never got that screenplay produced and I have not made it to Japan yet.

SJF: What qualities should the younger generations aspire to that you think are important in this day and age?

SBZ: Life is a process and to make the most of it, try to make choices that give you more choices while keeping in mind that most choices are not right or wrong – just different directions to go.

SJF: Funny/humorous (appropriate) stories (Psychiatry? Medical stories, etc)?

SBZ: I was talking to a father about his son’s school performance and he said his son could do better because high intelligence runs in the family. He said that many of his relatives were members of that high IQ organization—Menses.

SJF: Funny! and PUNNY too!

SJF: How do you handle loss?

SBZ: I turn toward those that know me the best and love me as I am with all my limitations.

SJF: Where have you traveled and where would you like to travel once Covid-19 is OVER???

SBZ: Any place in Japan.

SJF: Many thanks Dr. Zablow.