In her class Whole Food Plant-Based Living, Spiros focuses on small changes that can make big differences in people’s health.
It may not have been easy for Kermit the Frog, but a Moraine Valley graduate Luanne Spiros is teaching people how being green can be not only easy when applied to their food choices, it can change their life.
In her class Whole Food Plant-Based Living, Spiros focuses on small changes that can make big differences in people’s health.
“I learned about the power of food and how it can prevent and sometimes reverse major diseases in our world. It inspired me to adopt these practices for myself,” Spiros said. “Now, I want to share the message and help others.”
To aid in delivering that message, Spiros received an Earned Behavioral Change certificate from Prosci, a change management company that provides training on how to effectively implement changes in people. She also earned a Plant-Based Nutrition certificate from Cornell University, as well as certification from the Rouxbe plant-based cooking school and multiple fitness specialist certifications.
The message is being delivered via noncredit courses Spiros is teaching at the college, allowing her to come full circle in her career. After her graduation from Moraine Valley, Spiros earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science with a minor in math and an MBA from Northern Illinois University. She complemented those studies with an analytics certificate from Loyola University of Chicago and an e-commerce certificate from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
She held a corporate career in technology, but now has stepped back to teach at the college where her education started. Reflecting on her days at Moraine Valley, Spiros chose to attend Moraine Valley because of its affordability.
“I was finishing high school and frankly didn’t have the money to go away to school, but I did have the grades. Moraine Valley offered me an academic scholarship to go for free, and I was so grateful,” she said.
“My teachers were terrific. I’m a huge believer in community colleges. They’re affordable and offer tremendous value for someone who wants to explore new programs and for those who want to transfer,” said Spiros, who worked as an aide in the computer science lab while she was a student.
At different points during the last three decades, she’s been back on Moraine Valley’s campus, including as a student in a prep course to become a certified network engineer and as a math tutor.
Now she’s back at Moraine Valley again and excited to be teaching about green, healthy eating options. “I want people to know they can keep a positive, delicious relationship with food, family and friends — just do it differently.”
