Jim Painter earned a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and is currently an Adjunct Professor at University of Texas, School of Public Health. His current areas of research include reducing risk of heart disease through phyto-nutrient and dietary intervention, mindless eating and stealthy calorie intake to control calorie intake. Jim has been a Registered Dietitian since 1980 and has served as the Director of Nutrition research for the California Raisin Marketing Board, nutrition adviser for Sun-Maid Raisin Growers of California and Paramount Farms Wonderful Pistachios. He consults for the Davison’s Safest Choice and the National Dairy Council. He currently serves on the American Heart Association’s Products and Services Eat Well Task Force and is a member of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. He worked for Marriott Corporation in the 1980s, taught nutrition at the University of Illinois during the 1990s and Chaired the School of Family and Consumer Sciences at Eastern Illinois University until 2013. Jim has more than 100 peer reviewed publications and presentations to his credit and has authored the text book, Nutrition You Can Use and his latest book Let’s Eat Mindfully! He and his wife Rosemary live in the United States and have two sons, two daughter-in-law’s and four grandchildren.
1) Which place or city or country do you most feel at home in?
I have travelled many places around the world and feel at home in most of them.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
That I have had the opportunity to influence people globally on nutrition, though I don’t consider it my achievement, rather, my good fortune.
3) What inspires you?
I am inspired when I see my influence paying off in an Aha! moment from an audience member, whether it be an idea on how to lose weight, reduce sugar but not flavour, or how to live healthier.
4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?
The biggest obstacle might be in sorting fact from supposition even in nutritional data, and then changing minds that don’t want to look afresh at the data.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
Fred Kummerow - I admire his research and conclusions. He has singlehandedly pressed the US government to remove transfats from the diet.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
My ability to network with and affect the health of people worldwide.
7) And the worst?
...when technology doesn’t work well.
8) What are your long term goals?
Continue to be a change agent for good health and also take time to relax, be fit and be prayerful.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
Not sure, but I would focus on nutritional improvements in the health care system paradigm.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
I would want to meet Jesus and hear his teachings in person, especially regarding forgiveness.
