Cecilia Ramirez doesn't own a restaurant. She is not a caterer, nor did she graduate from culinary school.

But she knows a lot about food.

Several times a week, every week, Ramirez talks to scores of people about proper nutrition and healthy food choices. She is a community health worker for Nutrition Network, a program of the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency.

She helps people understand that healthy eating isn't difficult.

"It's not hard," she insists. "You want to make it your goal. It just takes a little thought and planning. I meet people who want to eat healthier. Sometimes, they don't know how to make better choices."

Sure, those combo meals at fast-food places seem cheap and convenient to those of us with little time to cook. But they are loaded with fat and calories and offer scant nutritional value.

On occasion, Ramirez encounters people who still cook with lard, which is animal fat.

"I tell them eating like that will lead to heart disease," she said.

When doing a demonstration, Ramirez and her mentor and collaborator, Health Services Agency nutritionist Karen Lux, spend time talking about serving sizes, cooking techniques and preparation, and the food pyramid guide.

The pyramid is a guideline developed by the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. It gives people a visual guide of foods they should consume each day and the number of servings needed.

Foods closer to the top of the pyramid should be consumed in fewer quantities compared to those at the bottom.

"People don't really know how many portions of foods are needed a day," she said. "When I tell them they should be eating six to 11 portions of breads and grains, they are surprised. It's a look of disbelief, because it sounds like a lot.

During her talks, she's learned this much: When it comes to eating vegetables, many folks haven't changed their attitudes much since childhood.

People should eat three to five servings of fresh vegetables every day, but many often scoff at the mention of veggies.

Ramirez explains that incorporating vegetables into meals is easy. Adding lettuce, tomato and sprouts to a sandwich is one way to do it.

Ramirez said she's heard from people who listened to her talks and changed their eating and exercise habits.

"I've been in the grocery store and have people come up to me and show me their baskets filled with fruits and vegetables," she said. "That makes me feel good, knowing I've helped them help themselves."

When she appears at the Modesto Certified Farmers Market, she prepares a fiesta taco salad and fruit crepes, both of which are simple to make, she said.

The taco salad takes about 15 minutes to prepare and the crepes take 30 minutes. The crepes can be served at breakfast or as a dessert; the strawberries and bananas can be substituted with any fresh fruit.

To learn more about nutrition and healthy eating, or to have someone from the Nutrition Network speak to your school, church group or organization, call 558-5675.

Bee staff writer Donna Birch can be reached at dbirch@modbee.com or 578-2309.

Reprinted by permission of The Modesto Bee.