Bauman College, with locations in Santa Cruz, Pennygrove, and Berkeley, California and Boulder, Colorado, offers programs that include training and certification to become a nutrition consultant and natural chef. Graduates find employment working for private clients and at healthcare institutions, holding workshops and seminars, and serving as technical salespeople. Bauman College doesn't offer financial aid, but it does allow students to create payment plans with a $100 deposit.
Living Light Culinary Academy, in Fort Bragg, California, focuses on raw vegan cuisine, which helps people lose weight and improve health and energy. The school was founded by Cherie Soria, who's considered the originator of this style of cooking and has devoted more than 40 years to teaching others. Students from over 40 countries have been trained at Living Light. Tuition rates as of March 2011 range from $400 to $2,700, depending on the courses taken.
Natural Kitchen in Princeton, New Jersey has been offering natural chef training since 2005. The eight-month program is taught by school faculty and guest teachers. The curriculum focuses on healthy meals, food history, detoxifying the body and the reason the body performs better when given healthy food. Small, hands-on classes cover whole grains, vegetables, beans, soy, seasoning and homemade food remedies. Tuition as of March 2011 is $5,995.
Natural Gourmet Institute for Health & Culinary Arts in New York City was founded by maverick nutritional therapist Annemarie Colbin in 1977. Students receive hands-on instruction that includes lectures and demonstrations, and they're required to complete a 100-hour internship as part of the curriculum. Financial aid isn't available, but student loans are. Tuition as of March 2011 is $24,950; students can hold their spots with down payments of $8,320 and pay the remaining balance on the first day of instruction.