About Sara,
Registered Dietitian and Wellness Coach
I have an unrelenting passion for all things food, nutrition, and health. I truly believe my purpose is to guide others to live the life they have dreamed about through their choices in food and their relationship with food. I have experienced that transformation within myself and know it’s possible for others as well.
My formal education is from Loma Linda University (home of one of the Blue Zones!), where I graduated with a Master of Science degree in Nutrition & Dietetics in 2014. After my master’s program, I received a certificate of training in Integrative and Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy (IFMNT) and have worked in outpatient services, concierge nutrition and lifestyle coaching, and medical sales. Prior to becoming a dietitian, I received my undergraduate degree from UC Davis in Managerial Economics and worked in finance.
My leisure time is spent with my handsome husband and two adorable boys, practicing yoga, shopping at farmer’s markets, blending whatever vegetable I can find in my Vitamix, and enjoying being on or nearby a sandy beach.
A note to you…
We are all so unique—from our taste buds to gut flora to emotional health to genes, that it takes more than a program or diet regimen to successfully make lifestyle changes that are sustainable. I believe in first and foremost getting back to the basics of good nutrition and then progressing from there. If you aren't eating an ample amount of plant foods, then the chia seeds you sprinkle on your cereal certainly aren't going to be the key to your health.
What is common though, is the importance of eating whole foods that are closest to their natural state as possible. It’s no surprise that the lifestyle and foods that prevent most diseases are the same, no matter if you are vegan, paleo, gluten-free, or what have you. When you are eating what Mother Nature intended and engaging with food in a healthy manner, what results is a new way of living. However this doesn't mean deprivation, restriction, or rigid rules. It's about balance, awareness, and some wiggle room too.
I believe in directing people to healthier choices that work with their lifestyles while incorporating the principles of intuitive eating. The goal is to turn these choices into habits that are sustainable day to day, week to week, and year to year. This entails exploring how not only food affects our bodies and makes us feel, but as well as our sleep, stress, work, and physical activity patterns, to make way for our personal best.
Quick Q & A with Sara
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Helping people—that's my number one motivator in life. I love to be a small part of another person's journey. I know the power that nutrition and improving one's wellness can have on every aspect of a person's life… whether it's relationships with family, friends, or most importantly, the relationship with yourself.
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I make it known to my clients that one meal or one day is not going to make or break their wellness… it's what they do most days of the week that really counts.
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Evolving. I'm constantly learning more about myself and transforming my own journey in life which gives me great perspective when working with my clients.
I think those closest to me would describe me as goofy or quirky—I don't take life too seriously.
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Seeing a part of the world that's completely new to me. I love to meet new people and it always amazes me that you can get to know someone who lives half way across the world from you and have common interests and values.
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Yoga—it's the first time that I've found a type of exercise that I actually enjoy doing the process of. I'm lucky that it also relaxes me and gets me out of my own head.
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My family and people in general—connection to one another is really all that we have at the end of the day. We have the ability to really connect with others when we’re healthy and well.
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Not a lot doesn't make me laugh. Just as I am naturally optimistic and find a silver lining, I also tend to find humor in some things that others might not—which is not always a good thing when it comes to timing.