From a young age, Annamaria viewed food not just as nourishment, but as an important part of her culture and tradition due to her Greek American heritage. After splitting time between Greece and the U.S., she began to notice how confusing nutrition information was stateside. Eating in a balanced way seemed so natural in Greece, but so complicated back in New Jersey. It was this disparity — along with her own personal struggles with weight, acne, GERD, and IBS — that drew her to pursue her master’s degree in nutrition and the registered dietitian nutritionist credential. Annamaria is particularly passionate about teaching others how to navigate nutrition information overload after her own experiences. Before joining the team at Culina Health, Annamaria worked in private practice, long-term care and corporate wellness.
Favorite cultural dish or comfort food: Any type of Greek “ladera” (stewed beans and veggies in onion, olive oil, tomato), like fasolada (white bean & veggie soup), gigantes (giant beans), fasolakia (stewed green beans and potatoes), bamies (okra), and rebithia (chickpeas). Soak up the sauce with some fresh chunky bread.
Go-to morning beverage: Cappuccino with almond milk and plain old water!
Fave nutrient-packed snack: Dried apricots dipped in almond butter
A habit you swear by: I love a mindful morning ritual. Time your sleep to ensure you get at least 7-8 hours and have time in the morning to yourself. Wake up slowly, get some sunshine and ideally some fresh air. Drink some water before coffee, write down your to-do list for the day. Ground yourself before the day starts.
Language(s):
English, Greek
Education:
Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition, New York University
Dietetic Internship:
Rutgers School of Health Professions; Hackensack University Medical Center; The Valley Hospital; University Hospital; Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Certificates:
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Counseling Style:
Empathetic
Relatable
Educational
Supportive
Approachable
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