Dee's first career was in analytical organic chemistry. During her 17-year career as an environmental chemist, she moved up the industry ladder from bench chemist to laboratory supervisor to ultimately managing the entire quality assurance program for one of the nation's leading environmental testing laboratories.

During the years in which she practiced chemistry, Dee became intimately familiar with the chemical names and toxic properties of the majority of common environmental pollutants, particularly those used in and on America's food supply.  She made the connection that pesticides, preservatives, flavorings, colorings, and refined carbohydrates affect body chemistry in such a way that balanced health is difficult to sustain.  It was this understanding that led to a dramatic transformation in her life, she overcame a lifelong battle with obesity by eliminating processed foods from her diet.  The result was a 100-pound weight loss, which she has sustained for 17 years.

During and after her weight loss, Dee spent countless hours reading nutrition books educating herself on the most effective and balanced path to optimal health. She also spent lots of time in the kitchen creating healthier versions of her favorite comfort foods.  Because she was so successful with her own weight loss, others sought her advice for their own food and weight issues.  As a result, Dee discovered a passion for helping others turn to nutrition as a means to better health, to understand how and why foods affect us, and to teach them how to prepare healthy food for themselves and their families.

In 2000, Dee decided to become formally trained in nutrition education and diet counseling at Bauman College (formerly The Institute for Educational Therapy), which included whole foods cooking classes and extensive study of nutritional therapies for achieving optimal health, including reversing chronic and terminal diseases.  Bauman College specializes in training individuals for careers in holistic nutrition and culinary arts.  The curriculum Dee studied focused on counseling clients in matters of diet and health, and on health-supportive cooking, which is based on preparing balanced meals using high-quality ingredients that are whole, natural (as opposed to man-made), unprocessed or minimally processed, fresh, in-season, and organic whenever possible.

Since receiving her certification in nutrition and diet counseling in 2001, Dee has become a trailblazer in the world of nutrition education and whole foods cooking.  Her recently released second book Plan-D The Amazing Anti-Diet has sold in the U.S., Canada and overseas, helping thousands of people to change their approach to food, eating and balanced health. Her first book Dee's Mighty Cookbook: Tasty Cuisine for Flourless and Sugarless Living has sold over 7000 copies worldwide.  She is also the namesake of Dee's Flourless Muffins -- the popular flourless oat bran muffin is available throughout the Southwest in select natural food markets.  Dee also most recently created a healthy and tasty whole grain tortilla that is now available throughout the Southwest. For more on these tasty wonderful products, click here.

Dee and her husband Michael McCaffrey are the founders of the Center for Processed-Free Living, an organization dedicated to providing healthful education in nutrition, cooking, and implementing lifestyle changes for weight loss and optimal health.  Dee is a member of the American Association of Nutrition Consultants. She appears regularly on network and cable television, has been featured several times in local and national print, and has been a guest on over 20 radio shows throughout the United States and Canada.