If you’ve ever stumbled across someone attempting to recreate a dish found on social media,
reading the nutrition label on an item they stumbled upon in the grocery store, or becoming
hyper fixated on one topic that they’ve gone down the rabbit hole for the past week, (currently: dry fasting/oral therapy for cow’s milk allergy) then you’ve found me! Born in El Paso, Texas, and now I have found myself calling Lubbock, Texas my home.
My nutrition journey has taken me across Texas, from earning my Bachelor of Science at Texas A&M University in College Station to working as a bilingual nutritionist for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Killeen for two years and completing my master’s degree and dietetic internship in Amarillo. Currently, I serve as a clinical dietitian in an ICU setting in Lubbock and as an outpatient dietitian in Levelland, where I provide lifestyle modification counseling to help individuals meet their nutritional needs.
Becoming a dietitian during COVID was quite the journey. Social media played a significant role in how individuals perceive food and nutrition: from telling people to avoid certain items because of its “harmful effects” on children or advocating for other items that they may be sponsored by which can have little nutritional value. There are others that promote diets that “will aid in child growth, help lose weight, aid in muscle tone” etc. I have heard it all. There are diets that should only be used with certain disease/conditions or not at all. These self-proclaimed nutrition experts have created such a fear of food that people do not know what to eat anymore.
Food and nutrition are so complex as it is not a “one size fits all” I am passionate about speaking with individuals about how important their own wants and needs with food are especially during childhood. The knowledge and habits learned during childhood and adolescents follow us into adulthood. I find it rewarding to educate parents, children, and families on practices that promote lifelong health and comfort with their food choices.
As a Mexican American, I have faced much criticism over my food choices as they may not
“look” like the typical “healthy” food choices in a tradition American sense. I deeply value the
role of cultural foods in our diet. I am committed to helping you maintain and enjoy your cultural culinary traditions while achieving your nutritional goals in hopes that you can instill these food options in your child’s lives.
Growing up in a Mexican household I heard two conflicting statements - make sure to eat
everything on your plate, but don’t overeat or else you will be labeled as ‘chubby’. I used to
believe a healthy diet meant giving up beloved Mexican staples like tortillas, beans, and rice.
However, as a first-generation Latina dietitian, I am here to tell you that all foods fit. My
educational journey and professional experience shaped my guiding principle that all foods fit. My goal is to work alongside you to find a diet that best fits your nutritional needs and lifestyle, removing the fear of food.
I graduated from Texas A&M with my undergraduate degree and from Texas Tech with my
master’s degree. My education and professional experience allow me to work with all walks of life - from infants to seniors. I look forward to working with you!
Please contact me at samantha@panhandlenutritiontherapy.com to find a booking time!
Comments