Herb Mesa

Bio

Herb Mesa is a real life success story and an inspiration to anyone who struggles with achieving a healthy lifestyle. He is a restaurant-trained chef, and a self-taught healthy cuisine chef, as well as a certified personal trainer and fitness guru. Herb teaches that taking the time to learn his language of ‘balance through food and fitness’, anyone can become their personal best. As a first generation American of Cuban and Puerto Rican parents living in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Herb Mesa grew up on the flavors of the Caribbean. But with these richly intense flavors also came saturated fat, calorie-rich food in large portions. This, combined with a less than ideal focus on physical activity, caused Herb to struggle with his weight for many years. Starting his career in the restaurant industry as a dishwasher, Herb worked his way up to Chef and, later, executive positions such as Director of Catering and Assistant General Manager at luxury hotels. As his professional success flourished, his weight rose and his energy level suffered. He decided for his own health, and for the health of his family, he had to make a change With help from his wife, Linda, and their two young daughters, Herb said ‘good bye’ to the hotel business, but not ‘good bye’ to food. He became a certified personal trainer and nutrition & wellness consultant and worked at a local family gym. He conquered food without sacrificing the flavors he loved by beginning a business for himself in 2003 called The Energy Chef, with which he taught individual clients, corporate groups and gym members how to make satisfying, nutritious dishes and incorporate exercise into their lives. He now works as a personal chef and personal trainer in Atlanta, and most recently, Herb is a finalist on the Food Network’s premier reality cooking competition, The Next Food Network Star, where his excitement, enthusiasm and motivation for a healthy lifestyle exudes more than ever.