Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/66088
The dining area off her kitchen is where Kati Mora, '06 M.S. '10, does most of her writing and blogging about nutrition. approval Meal of BY DAN DIGMANN 10 centralight winter '11 Mora helps make sense of nutrition fads, trends Every person has at least one reason to eat and stay healthy. Registered Dietitian Kati Mora has two. Their names are Eli and Ben. "Focusing on eating healthy will help you to live longer and help improve the quality of your life," says Mora, '06 M.S. '10. "This was driven home for me when my husband, Aaron, and I had kids. I want to eat healthy and stay active so I can continue to be involved with their lives." Whatever the reason, an American Dietetics Association survey report released in September 2011 indicates a trend in more Americans placing higher importance on proper diet and exercise. Helping to bring healthy food choices and conversations to light are efforts such as First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign to eliminate childhood obesity. Even fast food restaurants are weighing in to feed this trend by offering more health- conscious menu options such as low-calorie chicken wraps instead of hamburgers and apple slices in lieu of French fries. Despite these shifts toward healthier attitudes and alternatives, a recent Gallup and Healthways poll shows almost 62 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese. "We have a serious obesity epidemic in this country," Mora says. "For dietitians, this is a great opportunity for us to shine and share our expertise to help others." In addition to representing Kellogg's FiberPlus as its wellness advocate primarily in blogs and online forums, Mora provides nutrition advice and resources to individuals of all ages and backgrounds through her company – Mora Nutrition – and its website, Around the Plate. Through her work Mora says she is committed to using her background and scientific resources to help people make sense of myriad nutrition topics and trends so they better understand what the best food choices are for their individual situations. She says natural and whole foods are among the current trends in nutrition.