Melanie Polk, RD, is a registered dietitian and director of nutrition education at the American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C. She has more than 20 years of experience as a nutrition educator, media spokesperson, public speaker, and nutrition counselor. A graduate of Cornell and Emory universities, she served on the faculty of the University of Connecticut for 11 years, and has been a consulting nutritionist in private practice in Connecticut and the Washington, D.C. area. She has provided nutrition counseling and health communications services to corporations, consumers, chefs, publishers, and supermarkets. A fellow of the American Dietetic Association, Polk has been heard on TV and radio throughout the United States. She is a strong believer in the joy of eating, and an advocate of making simple, delicious dietary changes for better health without deprivation.