François Roland grew up in the French-speaking city of Geneva, Switzerland. In 1971, he became interested in the macrobiotic approach to health after reading books by George Ohsawa. He attended his first European seminars offered by Michio and Aveline Kushi in 1977, in Gstaadt, Switzerland, and Paris, France. The following year, he moved to Boston, Mass. to study at the newly formed Kushi Institute. While studying at the K.I., François also attended an acupuncture school in Cambridge, Mass. Following graduation, he worked as an acupuncture assistant in a holistic medical office, and as a macrobiotic counseling assistant at the office of Michio Kushi. François also owned and operated a natural foods restaurant for four years in Allston, Mass. The restaurant was staffed by students of the Kushi Institute, as well as with graduates of the Seventh Inn School of natural cooking, and catered mostly to the vegetarian community. Francois has four children and lives in Cleveland, where he teaches cooking classes, lectures on macrobiotic topics and offers macrobiotic counseling services.