Christina Pirello: Cancer Survivor to Emmy-Winning TV Chef

Christina Pirello was born Christina Hayes on July 23, 1957, in New Jersey, United States. She grew up in an Italian-Irish family where her Italian mother centered family life in the kitchen, creating an atmosphere of joy and togetherness that would profoundly influence Christina’s future.

Born Three Days Before Christmas: Christina was born three days before Christmas, and her Italian mother deliberated carefully before choosing the name Christina—a name that would become internationally recognized decades later.

Kitchen Memories: “My mom was always so happy while she was cooking. It was the place where the whole family gathered, and it was a place I knew great joy came from,” Christina recalls. This early exposure to food as love and celebration planted seeds that would later bloom into her life’s work.

Fun Fact: Christina’s family never shortened her name—they always called her “Christina” because her mother loved to say” the full name. Her younger brother briefly called her “Tia” as a toddler before learning to pronounce Christina correctly.

Quick Bio: Christina Pirello Overview

Christina Pirello Date of Birth: July 23, 1957

Christina Pirello was born on July 23, 1957, making her a Leo (though some sources incorrectly state Virgo). This birth date means Christina will turn 69 years old in July 2025, though she appears years younger thanks to her plant-based lifestyle.

Her July birthday falling just three days before Christmas created a unique childhood experience—celebrating both occasions close together each year. This timing influenced her mother’s thoughtful selection of her name.

Understanding Christina’s birth year (1957) provides crucial context: she was diagnosed with terminal leukemia in 1983 at age 26, giving her entire adult life—from age 26 to now 68—a profound purpose born from surviving what doctors said was impossible.

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Education: From Fine Arts to Food Science

University of Miami: Christina earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Fine Arts from the University of Miami, demonstrating early academic excellence and creative passion before discovering her true calling in food.

Master’s Degree in Food Science and Nutrition (2003): Twenty years after her cancer diagnosis, Christina pursued formal credentials in her field, earning a master’s degree that combined scientific understanding with her practical expertise. This education gave her the language to explain WHY whole foods work, not just HOW to cook them.

Certified Clinical Nutritionist: Christina holds professional nutrition credentials that complement her culinary skills, allowing her to speak authoritatively about food’s role in health.

Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College: Christina serves as a professor of culinary arts and nutrition, teaching the next generation of chefs about whole foods and plant-based cooking.

The Diagnosis That Changed Everything (1983)

In 1983, at age 26, Christina Pirello was diagnosed with acute leukemia—a terminal diagnosis. By the time doctors identified her illness, the cancer had advanced to an acute stage, and conventional medical therapies offered little hope.

“You have terminal cancer. You have only months to live,” doctors told the vibrant young woman with her whole life ahead of her.

Initial Response: Christina was initially discouraged and uncertain. She planned a trip to Italy, perhaps a final journey before the inevitable. But fate had other plans.

The Introduction That Saved Her Life: A co-worker introduced Christina to his friend Robert Pirello, who “ate whole grains, veggies, and beans” and said it cured cancer. Christina thought, “Whatever”—but agreed to meet him anyway.

Robert gave her The Cancer Prevention Diet by Michio Kushi. “I read it in about 36 hours because I couldn’t put it down, and I thought it was either the biggest crock I’d ever read or the best-kept secret on the planet,” Christina recalls.

Christina Pirello Age: Sixty-Eight Years Young

Born on July 23, 1957, Christina Pirello is 68 years old as of 2025. She will turn 69 on July 23, 2026. However, her plant-based lifestyle and vibrant energy make her appear and feel younger than her chronological age.

At 68, Christina has been cancer-free for 41+ years—longer than she’d been alive when diagnosed. Her age represents not just years lived, but a living testament to the healing power of food.

Longevity in One Career: Christina has dedicated 37+ years (since 1988) to teaching whole foods cooking—longer than many people’s entire careers. Her PBS show “Christina Cooks” has aired for 24+ years, making it one of public television’s longest-running cooking programs.

The Macrobiotic Journey: Cooking Her Way to Health

Robert Pirello introduced Christina to macrobiotics—a dietary approach emphasizing whole grains, vegetables, beans, and minimally processed foods. Together, they went shopping at a local co-op, loading tons of unfamiliar food into Christina’s basket.

“We emptied my cupboards and loaded them up with new foods; Robert gave me a few quick tips, and I was off…cooking my way back to health,” Christina explains.

The First Two Months: After just two months of eating beans, grains, and vegetables, Christina’s doctors noticed significant improvement in her condition—something conventional treatments hadn’t achieved.

Fourteen Months Later: In fourteen months, her cancer was gone. Blood tests showed no sign of leukemia, and they haven’t since. It was 1984, and Christina had been given a second chance.

“When I think back to those days, they seem other-worldly, distant. They have become a part of the tapestry of who I am, but not only who I am,” she reflects.

Christina Pirello Husband: Partnership with Robert

During her healing journey, Christina fell in love with Robert Pirello, the man who introduced her to macrobiotics and convinced her she had a future when no one else did. Christina married Robert Pirello, changing her last name from Hayes to Pirello.

“My last name was Hayes, and my husband’s name was Pirello. I just think his name sounded more interesting. Christina Pirello had a nice sound to it,” she explained in an interview.

The Name Connection: Christina’s family is “very Italian, even though we’re half Irish. Even my father, who was Irish, acted more like an Italian. So when I got married, I realized that having an Italian last name worked well for me.”

Pirello Origins: Robert’s family name is Sicilian. Family genealogy determinedthat  the Pirello family goes back to Greece when the name was “Pirellos.”

Ministry and Business Partners: Christina and Robert have been partners in every sense—publishing a natural foods magazine called Macrochef together and building Christina’s cooking empire as a team. Robert’s initial guidance saved Christina’s life, and their partnership has touched millions more lives through their work.

Christina Pirello Wikipedia: Public Record and Recognition

While Christina Pirello doesn’t have an extensive Wikipedia page (as of my search), her accomplishments are well-documented across PBS, publishing, and culinary platforms. Her story has been featured in major publications, including:

• The Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine
• Newsweek
• First for Women magazine
• Natural Health magazine
• Vegetarian Times
• VegNews magazine
• The Huffington Post

Her lack of a comprehensive Wikipedia page doesn’t diminish her impact—it simply reflects that her work speaks louder than online encyclopedias.

Emmy-Winning Television Career: Christina Cooks (2001-Present)

Since 2001, Christina Pirello has hosted Christina Cooks, which airs weekly on over 200 public television stations nationwide and in over 50 countries on Discovery Health (now CreateTV).

1998 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award: In the show’s third season, Christina won the prestigious Emmy Award for Outstanding Host, recognition from her industry peers of her exceptional on-air talent.

The Show’s Premise: Christina Cooks teaches viewers how to prepare delicious, healthy plant-based meals using whole, unprocessed foods. Christina’s warm personality, Mediterranean-influenced recipes, and practical tips make healthy cooking accessible and enjoyable.

Longevity: Twenty-four years on air make Christina Cooks one of PBS’s longest-running cooking shows, outlasting many celebrity chef programs that came and went.

Bestselling Author: Seven Cookbooks and Counting

Christina Pirello has written seven cookbooks, including several bestsellers:

1. Cooking the Whole Foods Way – Named “Healthiest Cookbook of the Decade” by the Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine
2. Christina Cooks: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Whole Foods But Were Afraid to Ask
3. Cook Your Way to the Life You Want
4. Glow: A Prescription for Radiant Health and Beauty
5. This Crazy Vegan Life (2009)
6. Christina Pirello’s Wellness 1000 (e-book with 32 how-to videos and 70+ photos)
7. Additional titles expanding her whole foods library

Her books combine recipes with nutrition education, empowering readers to understand WHY certain foods promote health, not just HOW to prepare them.

The Christina Pirello Health Education Initiative (2008)

In 2008, Christina founded The Christina Pirello Health Education Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to changing America’s relationship with food. The initiative focuses particularly on children, connecting with kids both in schools and on TV to help them make healthier choices.

This work reflects Christina’s belief that prevention through education can spare future generations the suffering she experienced.

Academic and Professional Positions

Beyond television and writing, Christina Pirello holds prestigious positions:

Walnut Hill College Professor: Christina serves on the faculty at The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia, where she lectures as a professor of culinary arts and nutrition. “I can’t imagine anything better than influencing the young chefs who will take the culinary world by storm!” she enthuses.

Board Memberships:

• The Farm Market Trust
• The Green Council of Philadelphia
• The Green City Youth Council of Philadelphia
• Chefs for Humanity Chef’s Council

Professional Associations:

• IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals)
• Women Chefs and Restaurateurs

Media Contributions and Columns

Christina writes prolifically beyond cookbooks:

• The Huffington Post – Regular contributor
• The Examiner – Columnist
• VegNews magazine – Featured columnist
• Natural Health magazine – Contributor
• Vegetarian Times – Contributor
• New Visions magazine – Featured columnist
• First for Women magazine – Featured content
• Taste for Life magazine – Advisory and editorial board member

Speaking Engagements and Advocacy

Christina Pirello is a sought-after speaker who lectures nationwide about the powerful role food plays in health. Her speaking topics include:

• The healing power of plant-based diets
• Preventing cancer, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease through food
• Macrobiotics and whole foods cooking
• Making sustainable food choices
• Corporate wellness programs

United States Defense: Christina served as keynote speaker for the U.S. Defense Department’s food service convention, bringing her message to those feeding America’s military.

Social Media and Digital Presence

Christina maintains digital presence primarily through:

• Website: christinacooks.com – Features recipes, blog posts, health information, and resources
• YouTube: Christina Cooks channel with cooking videos and health discussions
• LinkedIn: Professional profile highlighting career achievements
• Email: rjpirello@aol.com (business contact)

Unlike younger chefs focused on Instagram and TikTok, Christina’s generation emphasizes substance over social media metrics, prioritizing her PBS show, books, and in-person teaching.

Personal Philosophy: Food as Medicine

“What I’ve discovered since those early days about the power of food in the body is what drives me in my passion every day,” Christina explains. “If people understand the energy of food and how it affects our health, they can make choices best suited to them.”

Core Beliefs:

• Much health information today is influenced by corporate interest rather than biological facts
• Plant-based diets can prevent and reverse many diseases
• Eating as if all life matters can change personal health and planetary health
• Organic, whole, unprocessed foods are humanity’s best medicine

FAQs About Christina Pirello

How old is Christina Pirello?
Christina Pirello is 68 years old as of 2025. She was born on July 23, 1957, and will turn 69 on July 23, 2026.

What is Christina Pirello’s date of birth?
Christina Pirello was born on July 23, 1957, in New Jersey. She was born three days before Christmas, which influenced her mother’s selection of her name.

Who is Christina Pirello’s husband?
Christina is married to Robert Pirello, the man who introduced her to macrobiotics when she was diagnosed with terminal leukemia in 1983. Robert convinced Christina she had a future when doctors gave her months to live. They publish the Macrochef magazine together.

Does Christina Pirello have a Wikipedia page?
Christina Pirello does not have an extensive Wikipedia page, though her work is well-documented across PBS, publishing platforms, and major media outlets, including Newsweek, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Huffington Post.

How did Christina Pirello cure her cancer?
In 1983, diagnosed with terminal acute leukemia at age 26, Christina adopted a macrobiotic diet of whole grains, vegetables, and beans under Robert Pirello’s guidance. After 14 months, her cancer was gone—remaining cancer-free for 41+ years. She emphasizes this was her personal experience, not medical advice.

What is Christina Pirello’s educational background?
Christina earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Fine Arts from the University of Miami, plus a Master’s Degree in Food Science and Nutrition (2003). She is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist and professor at Walnut Hill College.

How many cookbooks has Christina Pirello written?
Christina has written 7+ cookbooks, including the bestselling Cooking the Whole Foods Way, which was named “Healthiest Cookbook of the Decade” by the Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine.

How long has Christina Cooks been on PBS?
Christina Cooks premiered in 2001 and has aired for 24+ years on over 200 PBS stations nationwide and in 50+ countries, making it one of public television’s longest-running cooking programs.