Get to know your Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
We are Megan Rasmussen and Arlene Moreno and we both have a passion for helping others learn about nutrition. We are both fitness instructors and graduated together with our Masters degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics from Loma Linda University. Throughout our time in school, we bonded over our similar outlook on fitness and living a healthy lifestyle. We both had a goal to start a small business that focuses on helping people lose weight, so we thought why not work together? And here we are! Our passion for teaching others about nutrition comes from our own personal experiences. You can read more about us below!
My name is Megan, and I have never told this story before, but I want you to hear it so you know you are not alone.
Growing up, I absolutely loved food. I loved when my family would make big meals and I remember always anticipating the next time I was going to eat. I loved all things sweet and was not a picky eater. I wanted to eat as much as my dad and was proud of the fact that I often took 3 helpings. I was obsessed.
This ultimately led to weight gain. And I wasn’t happy about it. I always compared myself to other people, whether it be celebrities or friends. I didn’t understand why other people could eat a lot of food and still look super skinny. I spent so much time, especially in my teens, obsessively comparing myself to other girls, destroying my self-worth. I tried diets, different ways of exercising, and depriving myself of foods I loved. But I always gave up and splurged. It was a vicious cycle that ended in me being extremely unhappy. I did not think it was possible to ever be anything but fat.
I was never diagnosed with an eating disorder, but looking back I know I exhibited traits of disordered eating. The turning point finally came when I was in my second semester of my freshman year in college. I stumbled across a book titled, This is Why You’re Fat. I was instantly curious. There were so many facts about nutrition in this book that I had never known because I was never taught nutrition in school. I was mesmerized. And weight loss started to seem possible.
It was then I decided to dedicate myself to losing weight, being healthier, and fueling my body. I’m not saying everything about this book was perfect. Looking back on it as a Dietitian, I don’t agree with everything it says. But knowledge is power. And the nutrition knowledge I gained by reading this short book gave me the power to follow through. Long story short, after this I lost about 25 pounds and I went to school to become a Registered Dietitian. And now I want to give you the knowledge you need to change your life so you don’t have to struggle like me. It is possible to enjoy living a healthy life! Let me show you how!
On my journey to becoming a dietitian, I had a couple detours.
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One day when I was younger I didn't like what I saw in the mirror. I began to exercise, but I wasn't seeing results.
When I was in college I got the opportunity to learn more about exercise. I took a class so I could help others who were struggling just like I did. That's when I got my certification in Personal Training. That was my first detour.
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A few years after I got my Personal Trainer certification, I found myself wanting to learn more about how to cook, make it healthy and still taste good. There were times when I wondered why things didn't work or why they did. So, on my second detour, I attended cooking school. I got my Associates degree in Vegetarian Culinary Arts.
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My journey to become a dietitian was not short or easy. However, I endured because I fell in love with how food can have such a big impact on our bodies. Being a Seventh-Day Adventist, health is always a topic of mind. It was always interesting hearing my mom talk about it and bringing up interesting topics. I have always loved the health of food just as much as eating delicious food.
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So come join me and let me help you through your journey at whatever step you are on. Your health is achievable!
