Whole foods are foods that have not been processed and do not have additives. Often they are organic, meaning they haven't been treated with potentially harmful chemicals during any stage of growth or preparation (or that use of such chemicals has been minimal). People often refer to whole, organic foods as "natural foods," and in many locations, natural food stores offer a selection of these products. Farmers markets often offer whole, organic foods as well.
Many people distrust the wide variety of pesticides, hormones and other potentially harmful ingredients that have been integrated into our food supply. When people eat non-organic foods, they inevitably consume some of these ingredients. Over time, this could have detrimental effects on the human body. Dr. Luigi Fontana, a research instructor in medicine in the Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, says, "If someone wishes to improve their health and reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, I would definitely suggest that they get away from the refined and processed foods that Americans usually eat and try to eat a wide variety of nutrient-dense foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and fish."
If you already have a degree in cooking, you can build your knowledge of whole foods (and your resume) by taking shorter courses. If you don't have a degree yet, this can be a great way to find out if you have a passion for whole foods cooking. The Natural Foods School, based in the U.K., provides one and two-day courses in whole foods cooking. Some Whole Foods Market stores have culinary centers that offer cooking classes as well. Check with your local community colleges and other local venues to learn whether they offer similar courses.
If you feel sure that you want to become a whole foods chef, and you'd prefer to enroll in a longer program, other options exist. Bauman College, the School of Natural Cookery, the Natural Kitchen School, and the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health & Culinary Arts offer certification programs in natural foods cooking. If you don't yet have a cooking degree, this could be a great pathway to becoming a natural foods chef. The cooking world has a high demand for chefs trained in whole food cooking, so your training will be invaluable.
Some people take healthy eating a step further, and prefer to eat all (or mainly) raw, natural foods. Sometimes they heat certain foods, like soups, without cooking them enough to change the chemical structure of the food. A number of courses exist to train the prospective raw food chef, such as those run by the Raw Food School and the Living Light Culinary Arts Institute. Other chefs might specialize in vegan or vegetarian whole foods cooking. Many options exist, and if you decide to specialize further, a whole foods cooking background will provide invaluable experience for such a career path.