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The HEALTHY DINING Program and its signature website HealthyDiningFinder.com constitute a groundbreaking effort to provide consumers with a centralized resource for identifying the healthier choices and corresponding nutrition information from restaurants nationwide. Developed in collaboration with the National Restaurant Association (NRA) and with partial funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HealthyDiningFinder.com provides American diners with information that, in many cases, is not available anywhere else.
Equally important, the Program serves as a vehicle for motivating and inspiring chefs and restaurateurs to create and serve a selection of healthier dishes that emphasize lean protein, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. HEALTHY DINING ’s registered dietitians work with participating restaurants to identify their healthier dishes, analyze the nutrition content, and suggest “special request” modifications – noted on HealthyDiningFinder.com – that improve the healthfulness of their featured dishes.
The private company, headquartered in San Diego, California, has been at the forefront of restaurant nutrition since 1990. The team has worked with hundreds of restaurants and has analyzed more than 12,000 menu items for nutrition content.
The HEALTHY DINING team includes:
Anita Jones-Mueller, M.P.H. - President and Founder
Anita founded HEALTHY DINING with a vision and dedication to developing a new dimension in nutrition by motivating professional chefs to apply their expertise and artistry to the creation of healthful cuisine. Her passion for nutrition emphasizes “the fusion of culinary excellence with optimal health.” Anita earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health from San Diego State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Education from Portland State University in Oregon. She is an engaging speaker and has provided hundreds of presentations to live audiences, as well as taped and recorded interviews for television, radio and print media. Anita and her husband both enjoy eating healthful foods and their two daughters are destined to receive excellent nutrition advice.
Erica Bohm, M.S. - Vice President and Director of Strategic Partnerships
Erica develops strategic partnerships within the restaurant industry and health community, coordinates restaurant enrollment, and promotes the website to the media and the public. She has been interfacing with restaurants, health professionals, businesses, and the media for HEALTHY DINING since 1992. She received a Master’s of Science in community health education from Hunter College in New York and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from The American University in Washington D.C. When she’s not working, she enjoys walking, hiking, traveling and spending time with family.
Esther Hill, Ph.D. - Director of Grants and Research
Esther is one of the founders of HEALTHY DINING. She is the Principal Investigator on HEALTHY DINING’s research studies and is currently working on the evaluation of HEALTHY DINING’s grant project with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Esther served as the Principal investigator for a grant with the California Department of Health Services, published in the June 2006 edition of Health Education and Behavior. Esther earned a Master’s of Science in Bioradiology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in Biomathematics from Loma Linda University. Her son, who has type 1 diabetes, was part of the inspiration behind her development of HEALTHY DINING. Prior to HEALTHY DINING, Esther worked in medical research at the University of California at San Diego. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their friends, who happen to be science-fiction fans.
Nicole Quartuccio, R.D. - Nutrition Director
Nicole Quartuccio conducts and supervises the nutrition analysis and quality assurance for restaurants. She also manages HealthyDiningFinder.com and oversees HEALTHY DINING's e-newsletters. Nicole received a Bachelor of Science in foods and nutrition from San Diego State University. She is the President-Elect of the San Diego Dietetic Association and a recipient of the "Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year" award. When she’s not entering and analyzing nutrition data, Nicole loves to cook and participate in outdoor activities like hiking, biking and relaxing on the beach.
Marc Stein - Director of Operations and Director of Sales
Marc oversees HEALTHY DINING’s daily operations, as well as restaurant enrollment. He has more than 20 years of successful managerial experience, including several awards and commendations for managerial effectiveness. Before joining HEALTHY DINING, Marc worked for a Fortune 50 company, where he held both corporate and executive field level positions. When he’s not hard at work for HEALTHY DINING, Marc spends time with his wife and two boys, fishing, boating and playing anything that requires a ball.
Lauren Rezende, M.P.H., R.D. - Culinary Nutrition Specialist
Lauren works one-on-one with restaurants, analyzing menus and modifying recipes to create healthier dishes. Prior to joining HEALTHY DINING, Lauren taught sports nutrition, advanced nutrition, and food science at San Diego State University and community colleges in the area. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from San Diego State University and a Master’s of Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles. Lauren enjoys cooking, practicing yoga and spending time with family and friends.
Andrea Ogden, R.D. - Restaurant Membership and Marketing Coordinator
Andrea assists HEALTHY DINING’s participating restaurants with the communications, marketing and logistics of providing nutrition information for their customers. She received a Bachelor of Science in foods and nutrition at San Diego State University and has extensive training in conducting nutrition analysis for restaurants. Andrea loves exploring new restaurants, cooking and water sports.
Sara Lucero – Administrative and Database Manager
Sara keeps the HEALTHY DINING office running smoothly, maintaining and updating databases, performing administrative tasks and fulfilling orders and requests. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development from Azusa Pacific University. Sara has more than 10 years of customer service and is trained in Instructional Design. She loves to read, write and spend time with family and friends.