My name is Rosanne Spinner and I live in New Hyde Park, New York.  I'm a holistic health coach as well as the laughter yoga leader of "Spinner's Grinner's" Laughter Yoga Club.  Growing up for me had its challenges.  My mother was very ill from the time I was 6 years old until her death 25 years later.  Junk foods and candy were my comfort during those years. 

By the time I was a young adult, I had reached an unmanageable weight.   I had to learn to deconstruct my cravings, and then, the cravings went away.  I gave up sugary junk foods and LOST 100 pounds.  But what I GAINED was a compassion to help others find their truth.  In addition, I'm a grateful breast cancer survivor since 1997.   I became a board-certified holistic health coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in 2009 which was "the journey of a lifetime".  I've become very intrigued with the therapeutic and preventive health benefits of laughter yoga, and that, I believe, is where I found my dharma.  In addition, I refer people with various health concerns to my fellow IIN health coaches through my business, Rosanne Spinner Holistic Health, Inc. These days, I eat whole foods, no added sugar, very little (humanely raised) red meat, as well as poultry and fish. 

As I gave up sugar in 1975 (cold turkey), I was very happy to meet and be introduced to Vanessa and sample her scrumptious Gnosis Chocolate during the school year at IIN.  I remember how heavenly it was, and I was so happy that it is soy-free as well.  I saved the wrapper in a special file folder, and recently placed an order.  The only flavor I've tried so far is "Simplicity".  What I like about Gnosis Chocolate is that their ingredients are JUST what I was looking for.  Many other so-called healthy chocolates have beet sugar, cane juice, and/or soy lecithin in them.  I recently made a batch of Black Bean Fudge Brownies using Gnosis chocolate, and they were delicious - a little goes a long way with flavor, too - which I love, since I'm calorie conscious.  The message that I would like to impart to those reading this is:  although I was a binge eater - this chocolate is NOT something that I am tempted to binge on, but rather savor slowly.  It is obvious that a lot of care went into the Gnosis recipe and I'm so grateful for the syncronicity that put me and Gnosis chocolate in the same place at the right time!  I tell everyone I know that Gnosis Chocolate is the only chocolate that I believe in!

Please tell us about yourself:  Name,where you reside, what you do, anything you want tell us

MIMI KIRK, I LIVE IN SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA

Are you Vegetarian? Vegan? Raw? Dairy? Sugar? Gluten? Please tell us about how you eat/nourish yourself.

I'M A RAW VEGAN, SO OF COURSE NO DAIRY, GLUTEN OR SUGAR, EXCEPT AGAVE OR STEVIA.

I EAT LIVING FOOD. GREEN DRINKS, SALADS AND I USE A DEHYDRATOR TO MAKE SOME SPECIAL THINGS LIKE FLAX CRACKERS, BREADS AND MAIN COURSES.

Do you have any favorite superfoods?  Please elaborate if you feel inspired to.

I LIKE GOJI BERIES, MACA, AND CHOCOLATE

Have you found your Dharma (life's purpose, dream) yet?  If so... what is it? tell us about it!  If not yet, what are you doing in the mean time?

I HAVE FOUND MY DHARMA MANY TIMES OVER. THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT HELPING OTHERS IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER, EVEN IN MY BUSINESSES AND PLACES I'VE WORKED, I'VE ALWAYS FOUND WAY'S TO HELP PEOPLE. I'VE CONSIDERED IT A GREAT GIFT AND I'M VERY PROUD OF MY PAST SUCCESSES. CURRENTLY IN MY 71st YEAR OF LIFE I WAS VOTED THE SEXIEST VEGETARIAN OVER 50 BY PETA (PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS). IT HAS MADE MY LIVE QUITE BUSY ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE AND ACCEPTING NEW FRIENDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. I AM ALSO WORKING ON A BOOK TO LET PEOPLE WHAT I DO TO STAY HEALTHY AND VITAL. IT WILL CONTAIN HEALTH INFORMATION AND LOTS OF RECIPES TO HELP PEOPLE SEE THAT YOU CAN EAT DELICIOUS FOOD ON A RAW PLANT-BASED DIET.

Please tell us about your relationship with Gnosis Chocolate.  Favorite flavor?, what do you like about us?, why? who? etc.

I'VE TRIED ALL THE RAW CHOCOLATES FROM EVERY COMPANY IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. WHEN I TASTED GNOSIS, THAT WAS IT, FINALLY, GREAT CHOCOLATE THAT DID NOT MAKE ME FEEL I WAS COMPROMISING OR SETTLING FOR SOMETHING LESS THEN MY FAVORITE WHEN I WASN'T RAW. I'VE ALWAYS CONSIDERED MYSELF A CHOCOLATE CONNOISSEUR AS I’VE EATEN CHOCOLATE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND PLACES THAT ARE KNOW FOR THEIR GREAT CHOCOLATE. I’LL CHOOSE GNOSIS ANY TIME AND NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT’S THE HEALTHIEST CHOCOLATE AROUND, BUT FOR ITS AMAZINGLY SATISFYING TASTE. I AM ALSO IMPRESSED WITH THE COMPANIES POLICIES AND WITH VANESSA THE OWNER. SHE IS DEDICATED TO MAKING THE BEST CHOCOLATE WITH ENOUGH VARIETY TO SATISFY ANY TASTE. I THINK EVERYBODY LIKES DIFFERENT THINGS IN THEIR CHOCOLATE. I THINK I’VE TRIED MOST OF WHAT GNOSIS HAS TO OFFER AND RECENTLY HAD THEIR LEMON, BERRY, ROSE BAR AND I THINK THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE. IT HAS EVERYTHING I LOVE IN CHOCOLATE PLUS ALL THIS SUPERFOOD. I AM CONFESSING TO THIS, I USUALLY HAVE A SQUARE OR 2 OF GNOSIS AND FEEL VERY SATISFIED, BUT WHEN I HAD THE LEMON, BERRY, ROSE BAR, I ATE THE WHOLE THING. OK, ITS OUT!

What does Gnosis mean to you?

I NEED CHOCOLATE, ITS LIKE A TREAT THAT HELPS ME KEEP ON MY RAW DIET. I DON’T FEEL I’M MISSING ANYTHING IN MY DIET WHEN HAVING THIS GREAT CHOCOLATE.

What positive message or bit of knowledge would you love to impart to others viewing these answers?

I THINK THE RAW FOOD DIET HAS CHANGED MY HEALTH FOR THE BETTER AND I’M SURE ITS INCREASING MY LIFESPAN. I RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE WHO IS LOOKING FOR BETTER HEALTH TO TRY IT.

Vanessa, Your Chocolate Girl, recently spent some time in Grenada getting the feel of a “farm to bar” chocolate company, the Grenada Chocolate Company. Started by a real inspiration, Mott Green, this is a place that is almost ridiculously idealistic, yet it works so very well.

All of the cacao beans are processed and turned into chocolate mere minutes away from where they’ve been harvested. The whole farm is certified organic and is solar-powered. Plus, the company is owned by the co-operative of farmers who nurture the theobroma cacao trees directly reap the benefits of their hard work. It’s worth mentioning too that this is cacao that passes the taste test with flying colors! Check out this page and see a short video clip of Vanessa harvesting cocoa beans. Don’t be frightened of the machete in the back there, it is being wielded by a trained professional.



Buy five bars and get one for free! Free people! It doesn't get much better than that.

Some ideas to whet your appetite...

For the lover of all things chewy and crunchy: 2 Lemon Berry Rose, 2 Cashew Goji Berry, 1 Pom Acai and for your freebie, Immune Boost!

Or maybe you want all smooth bars: 2 Simplicity, 2 Cool Peppermint, 1 Fleur de Sel, and for your freebie, SuperChoc!

Go forth and find your nirvana combo!