About us

Hello! I am Cristina, the owner of Healthy Italia and a native Italian who moved to the United States in 2014. 

My original plan was to stay in the U.S for six months working in an internship while improving my English language skills. After being offered a full-time accounting job, I decided to stay but I followed the advice of my father to pursue “something else” outside of a 9-5 job. Healthy Italia is my “something else”! 

The original idea was to open a retail store that would sell imported goods from small Italian producers. Today Healthy Italia has evolved into a retail store with an attached cooking school, where we instruct students in live and virtual cooking classes, teaching them how to prepare traditional Italian dishes from scratch. 

My mantra is that everyone can create a delicious dish from a few simple ingredients.

I cannot wait to meet you all in the store and in our kitchen!

Hello, I’m Susan, born and raised in Long Island to Italian immigrants. 

As an only child of two Italian natives, my youth was filled with Italian language, culture and food. When I first stepped into Healthy Italia to take a cooking class I felt transported back to my childhood! Seeing all the homemade foods and joy that cooking brings made me feel right at home. It felt like a natural fit to join the team and spread happiness to all who walk through the door! 

I love chatting with customers in both Italian and English, to help make gift baskets, plan birthday parties, corporate team building events or family parties.  Give us a ring and I will be happy to help make your event a memorable experience!

Christine was born and raised in New Jersey and grew up in a family where food and gathering around the table were an important part of everyday life. As the oldest of three girls, she spent much of her childhood cooking and baking alongside her parents and grandmother, creating memories rooted in food, conversation, and connection.

After graduating from Seton Hall University, Christine began her career in large scale event production. After several years in the corporate world, she made the decision in 2023 to step away and refocus on building a career that felt more aligned with her passions and values. 

Christine and her family discovered Healthy Italia in 2018 and quickly felt at home. The classes, the food, and the sense of community reflected everything she had always loved about gathering around the table.

Today, as Brand Operations Manager, Christine helps bring the Healthy Italia brand to life. She leads content creation, social media, marketing, and digital design while working closely with Cristina to help share the story, voice, and mission of Healthy Italia. For Christine, being part of Healthy Italia is more than a job. She feels incredibly grateful to help build a community where food, culture, and connection continue to bring people together around the table.

Beth has been a chef instructor for more than 20 years, sharing her love of Italian cuisine with home cooks of all levels. A longtime Madison resident, she graduated from Bucknell University and began her professional career in advertising before following her passion for food and attending culinary school in New York City.

Although she now works full time as a real estate agent, Beth continues to teach Italian cooking as a way to stay closely connected to the culture, traditions, and language she loves. Through her classes, she enjoys helping others discover the joy of preparing authentic Italian dishes and the simple pleasure of cooking from scratch.

For Beth, nothing brings more happiness than cooking, teaching, and gathering around the table with family and friends.

Lindsey was born and raised in New Jersey, where she grew up in the kitchen cooking, creating, and experimenting with new recipes. From an early age, she discovered how food has a special way of bringing people together. Sharing meals, laughter, and conversation around the table has always been something she deeply enjoys.

At Healthy Italia, Lindsey loves helping guests create delicious meals while experiencing the joy of cooking together. She looks forward to welcoming people into the kitchen and helping them create lasting memories around food.

Margaret joined the Healthy Italia team in 2022 and serves as Lead Cook and Class Prep. She prepares all the fresh foods available in the marketplace and ensures everything in the kitchen is carefully prepped and ready for cooking classes and private events.

Working behind the scenes, Margaret plays an essential role in keeping the kitchen running smoothly. Her attention to detail and dedication help create the seamless experience that allows guests to focus on enjoying great food, learning new skills, and sharing time together around the table.

Christine was born and raised in Huntington, New York and moved to Madison, New Jersey in 2016. She joined the Healthy Italia team in 2022 after spending 25 years working in Manhattan, primarily in the magazine publishing industry. With a professional background in marketing and finance, Christine enjoys working behind the scenes where spreadsheets and data help tell the story of a business.

At Healthy Italia, Christine supports the team as bookkeeper, helping keep the financial side of the business organized and running smoothly. Since joining the team, she has also embraced the culinary side of Healthy Italia, learning to make homemade pasta and now enjoying the experience of cooking it often with her daughter.