Our Leadership Team
Our registered dietitians and nutritionists are working to help you make healthier choices at restaurants.
President and Founder Anita Jones-Mueller, MPH, is president and founder of HEALTHY DINING. She is a nationally known public health nutrition expert and a market innovator, thought leader and strategist in the
healthy eating landscape. As the dynamic leader of a mission that integrates the brainpower, artistry and passion of chefs, restaurateurs, registered dietitians, public health influencers, technology strategists, and communication and digital experts, Anita is actively creating a healthier America – in a delicious way, every day! For more than twenty years, Anita has led HEALTHY DINING from a Southern California focus to a nationwide enterprise as the first ever restaurant nutrition technology and digital health company. Anita’s burning passion to unite optimal health with the culinary artistry of the restaurant industry has led to a robust and growing company that showcases a diverse selection of dietitian-recommended HEALTHY DINING and KIDS LIVEWELL choices from hundreds of restaurant brands nationwide. Participating restaurants and qualifying choices are featured on the signature web and mobile site, HealthyDiningFinder.com – the only search engine of its kind designed to empower Americans to dine out with taste and good health in mind. By leveraging the cutting edge expertise of the integrated team, HEALTHY DINING is a partner to restaurants of all sizes looking to meet their guests’ varying nutrition needs. In addition to the HealthyDiningFinder marketing program, other areas of expertise include nutrient analysis, menu labeling compliance, gluten and allergen identification and healthier preparation methods. Through it all, the core expertise Anita and her team provide includes the strategy and foundation to help restaurants transition in this nutrition focused era without compromising on taste – or brand positioning. Anita was selected by the First Lady, Michelle Obama, as one of five “Women Working Wonders” for “giant barriers” and featured in July/Aug 2015 edition of MORE magazine. She has also been featured in USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Business Journal, Santa Barbara News Press and other media venues. Anita writes a Healthy Dining column for Nation’s Restaurant News to share industry best practices and tips for creating and marketing healthful cuisine. 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 always happily “at work” even at home, promoting the benefits of healthful eating to her two daughters and husband.
Chief Innovation Officer, Engineer Frank is an engaging and inspiring leader accelerating the strategic development and growth of the “Powered by Healthy Dining” digital health solutions. From web, mobile and IoT,
Frank’s role encompasses the customized integration and execution of Healthy Dining’s technologies for our stakeholder clients, spanning the restaurant, healthcare, wellness and wearable industries. Frank’s background encompasses over thirty years of leadership, business development, and engineering roles within the digital health, defense, automotive electronics and aerospace industries. His entrepreneurial passion for ideation and design has led to many product innovations and contributions to corporate growth. He co-founded and grew a successful technology integration company that was acquired by a leading global motion control company.
Vice President of Technology As the Vice President of Technology, Michael leads the development of Healthy Dining’s digital technology, which fills market gaps in the consumer eating and restaurant menu management
/ordering landscape. Michael also builds, leads, and supports Healthy Dining’s technology team as the company grows its digital footprint to world-class status. Having worked previously for both businesses and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Michael has proven enterprise-level experience spanning a wide range of management, technical and consultative services related to application development, acquisition, use, and maintenance of computer and network software and hardware. He has a strong ability to lead and manage large technical staffs in software development, network infrastructure and third-party applications. Michael’s extensive knowledge and experience in the design and implementation of web-based applications and portals for various platforms and users will be critical to Healthy Dining’s expansion, as will his expertise in creating and maintaining complex relational databases for tracking multiple data streams. Michael shares in the company’s vision and mission to improve the health of our nation as well as his own. Michael also welcomes the chance to use his experience and knowledge to build and lead a strong agile software development team to grow, enhance and support the Healthy Dining technologies.
VP and Director of Strategic Partnerships Erica has been passionately introducing consumers, restaurants, health professionals, employers, and others to the benefits of Healthy Dining since 1993. With her leadership and keen
ability to forge strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, she is a valuable asset to the company’s continuous growth and mission to create a healthier America. She also regularly contributes as a spokesperson for the company, helping to spread the word about HealthyDiningFinder.com and its unique status as a one-of-its-kind, online nutrition resource. Prior to joining Healthy Dining, Erica spent several years in nutrition- and health-related positions at the American Red Cross in Greater New York and the American Health Foundation. She earned her master’s degree in community health sciences from New York City’s Hunter College. Erica was inspired to join Healthy Dining after receiving her first copy of the publication Healthy Dining in San Diego, the forerunner of the award-winning website, HealthyDiningFinder.com. She loved the concept and knew immediately she wanted to be a part of the effort.
Nancy has a master’s degree in nutritional science from San Diego State University, where she also completed the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). She is also a registered dietitian, and completed her dietetic internship
through Utah State University. As Director of Nutrition, Nancy works with restaurants and food manufacturers to execute nutrition analysis for menu items to help educate and promote healthier options to diners. Nancy is a frequent contributor to the company’s online nutrition blog, Restaurant Nutrition, and Nation’s Restaurant News. She is also a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the San Diego Dietetic Association.
Director of Nutrition Strategy With a passion for food and a background in nutrition research, Mary has a special talent for integrating the scientific and culinary aspects of nutrition.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of California at San Diego, Mary narrowed her focus and combined her interests to earn a master’s of science degree in dietetics and nutrition at Florida International University. As a culinary dietitian, Mary has the unique opportunity to empower consumers to make the best choices for their health while also enjoying the pleasures of great food. While pursuing her RD credential, Mary worked with a research group studying the role of nutrition in individuals living with HIV and AIDS. While involved in this field, Mary was able to take part in a variety of community education and public health efforts, and has also published and presented original research in several clinical journals and conferences. Outside of work, Mary enjoys cooking, yoga, long walks with her dog, and blogging about food and nutrition.
Ilana works closely with restaurants across the country to help them meet the growing demand for nutrition information and healthier choices. In her role as Director of Nutrition, Project Management, Ilana provides nutrition
analysis of restaurant menu items while offering guidance to help restaurants reduce the amount of fat, calories and sodium in their food. Ilana earned her bachelor’s degree in foods and nutrition from San Diego State University and completed her dietetic internship through Sodexho’s Distance Dietetic Internship Program. Previous to her role at Healthy Dining, Ilana served as clinical dietitian in the diet office of a local hospital, working closely with dietitians and foodservice employees to ensure patients’ menu orders were accurate and appropriate for their specific dietary needs. Outside of her role at Healthy Dining, Ilana serves as Education Co-Chair of the San Diego Dietetic Association. In her free time, Ilana enjoys cooking, Pilates, and taking advantage of the many benefits of living in San Diego.
Culinary Dietitian
With a master’s degree in gastronomy and culinary arts from Boston University, Blaire brings to Healthy Dining a passion for food science and restaurant cuisine. As culinary dietitian, Blaire conducts nutrition analysis for restaurants
and helps identify allergens as well as vegan and vegetarian items, to enable guests with individual needs dine with confidence. Working previously as a grocery store dietitian and chef, Blaire has extensive experience helping customers make healthful choices for themselves and their families. She brings this passion and knowledge to her current role by providing menu consulting for Healthy Dining Finder and Kids LiveWell menu items. Blaire is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Research Chefs Association and currently teaches food culture and nutrition courses at Palomar College in San Marcos.
Culinary Dietitian
Diana has over 30 years of experience in food service consulting, computerized food management software development, institutional menu planning, recipe nutritional analysis, extensive food service preparation, and
conducting instructional healthy cooking and nutrition classes. Providing nutritional consultation with an emphasis on diabetes education has been a passion of Diana’s, and she is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ practice groups for Diabetes Care and Education, Weight Management, and Nutrition Education for the Public. Diana received her bachelor’s degree in food science and nutrition from Colorado State University and then completed a dietetic internship program in the San Francisco Bay area to become a registered dietitian. As a culinary dietitian at Healthy Dining, Diana focuses on nutritional analysis of recipes and menus and identification of allergens, gluten, and food additives. “Good nutrition can help prevent or treat an array of health challenges that people face,” Diana says. “Promoting a healthier lifestyle is one way I believe I can help make a difference in the lives of others.” Diana is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the California Dietetic Association, and in her free time she enjoys traveling, listening to music, reading cookbooks and cooking, catering events for friends, and spending time with her cat, Sadie.
Culinary Dietitian
Kathleen began her professional career after graduating from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. Witnessing the rise of obesity, she realized an education in exercise and fitness was only part of the
solution, so Kathleen went on to complete an additional bachelor’s degree in dietetics. Empowered with knowledge in both fields, she has a stronger foundation for educating others about the connection between health, fitness, and food. As a culinary dietitian, Kathleen is focused on collaborating with restaurants to identify and establish menu items that meet Healthy Dining’s nutrition criteria. Kathleen also performs menu nutrient analysis and helps bring healthy dining options to your home table. “I enjoy reviewing published recipes from popular restaurants around the country to find delicious and healthy options for our Healthy Dining guests to enjoy at home,” says Kathleen. As a military spouse and new mom, family time with her husband and son is what Kathleen focuses on most in her free time. Additionally, cooking is a true passion that has brought Kathleen an appreciation for how cultural food practices of others relate to overall health.
Manager of Restaurant Partnerships
Equipped with a master’s degree in public health from Loma Linda University, a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition from San Diego State University, and extensive experience working with Feeding America and WIC
(Women, Infants and Children), Amber is committed to helping others live healthier and happier lives. Amber’s top priority at Healthy Dining is working with restaurants to promote their healthier options, enabling them to demonstrate their dedication to the health of their community through the food they serve. "As both a dietitian and a busy mom, I see firsthand that sometimes there is just not enough time in the day to get it all done. And on those busy days, HealthyDiningFinder.com gives me the tools I need to feed my family the meals I wish I had time to make at home,” says Amber. In her free time, Amber stays busy by playing soccer, camping, hiking, going to the beach, and spending quality time with her husband and two children. As a committed vegetarian for the past 20 years, Amber is also very dedicated to her own organic garden and composts daily!
Program Manager, Registered Dietitian
As one of Healthy Dining’s culinary dietitians, Olivia’s responsibilities include nutrient analysis for Healthy Dining’s restaurant clients. As program manager, she is also tasked with leading a groundbreaking effort to identify
diabetes-friendly menu items from popular local San Diego restaurants on an app. This initiative is part of a pilot research project that could ultimately benefit tens of millions of restaurant-loving Americans with diabetes. Olivia’s interest in health and nutrition was an outgrowth of personal experience. A longtime food lover, Olivia was working at Traders Joe’s when she began walking to and from work to lose weight. Upon witnessing the pounds drop away, Trader Joe’s regulars marveled at her successful weight loss and asked how she did it. Olivia determined that she wanted to learn science-based ways to help others achieve similar success. That realization prompted a new career path as a registered dietitian (RD). Olivia has a bachelor’s degree in human nutrition and a master’s degree in community and behavioral nutrition from Virginia Tech. Having completed the certification for becoming an RD, Olivia continues to be passionate about empowering others to live healthier, active lives through health education and providing access to this information using technology. Olivia’s other passions include hiking, kayaking, cooking, learning about the science behind cooking, and spending time with canine companion, Bentley.
Program Manager, Restaurant Nutrition Specialist
Kelly Donahue, a Healthy Dining restaurant nutrition specialist, is an integral part of Healthy Dining’s nutrition team, working with restaurants on their nutrition analysis projects. Additionally, as program manager, Kelly is a liaison
to local San Diego restaurants on development of a first-ever app that identifies diabetes-friendly menu items from popular local restaurants – initially in San Diego and later beyond. Growing up with four brothers (and no sisters), Kelly was thrust into a lot of sports and physical activities from an early age. A lover of all kinds of food and a self-described “foodie,” Kelly became aware of how she felt different after consuming different kinds of foods and wanted to learn about how food could fuel her body in the most healthful way. Prior positions include Klean LA, a meal delivery company, where she conducted nutrient analysis, created recipes for different populations (e.g., vegetarian, pescatarian, celiac, etc.), and authored a health and fitness blog. As assistant dietitian for Long Beach Unified School District, Kelly created recipes for students with special dietary needs, like food allergies. When it comes to free time, Kelly is all about the outdoors – hiking, camping, and fishing.
Nutrition & Marketing Manager
As nutrition and marketing manager, Danielle assists Healthy Dining’s dietitians with a wide variety of projects. Danielle is currently pursuing the Master of Science degree at San Diego State University (SDSU), where she is also
enrolled in the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). In addition to being a member of the Student Nutrition Organization on campus, Danielle is the head of a nutritional intervention research study at SDSU. She “exercises” her culinary talent by teaching cooking classes and has prepared meals for the Chargers’ NFL football team. Danielle's passion for making a positive difference in this world started at age eleven, when she started her own 501(c)3 organization, Sox in a Box, after a visit to Tijuana, Mexico. Danielle was shocked to see that only 20 miles from the San Diego suburb where she lived, the young kids were scampering around barefoot over pieces of large metal, glass shards, mud, and dirty, trash-strewn streets; their feet cut and blistered. At her young age, Danielle knew she wanted to help these children. She wrote to several world relief organizations and found out that after food and medicine, new socks are desperately needed to provide a sanitary covering for and protect the feet of the homeless, the displaced, the impoverished, and the victims of natural disasters and war. And that is when Danielle knew that “sox” would become her passion. Word spread quickly, and soon every corner of her house was overrun with socks, SOCKS, and more “SOX”! To date, Sox in a Box has sent over 500,000 pairs of socks worldwide. Read more here. Danielle’s nutrition career path and great appreciation for healthy food was born when she visited an orphanage to deliver her Sox packages and was asked, “Do you have any food?” by a frail little girl whose ribcage poked through her top and whose hair was falling out. Danielle continues to further her passion to help children worldwide through better food access, proper vitamin supplements, and nutrition education.
Monica Dixon
Nutrition Project Intern
After completing her bachelor’s degree in foods and nutrition at San Diego State University, Monica joined the Healthy Dining team. As a degreed nutritionist, Monica works with Healthy Dining’s dietitians on identifying diabetes-friendly options at local restaurants for
a newly developed mobile app. Additionally, she creates relationships with new restaurants and assists the tech team in a variety of projects. Before coming to Healthy Dining, Monica worked in pediatric obesity research for the University of California, San Diego, where she ran child interventions focusing on healthy eating strategies and behavior management. She also has a background in personal training and enjoys fitness, hiking and anything outdoors. Monica is a proud mom of two kids, ages 3 and 8, and a dietetic intern at Utah State University, working towards her credential to become a registered dietitian.
Director of Research, Project Management
Hailing from Ottawa, Canada, Anjali brings extensive education and experience to Healthy Dining: a bachelor’s degree in life sciences research from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario; a second bachelor’s degree in nutrition
and food from Ryerson University in Toronto; and finally, a master of public health degree in community nutrition from the University of Toronto. Anjali brings to Healthy Dining a passion for applying research to practical programs and strategies that make a positive impact on Americans’ health. As Director of Research, Anjali oversees grant management; project planning; implementation and evaluation; IRB proposals; and grant writing. Prior to joining Healthy Dining, Anjali was involved in several research projects in the area of public health, including the creation of evaluation tools for senior nutrition programs; consultation on program planning, implementation and evaluation for a farm-to-preschool project; and evaluation of the current hospital nutrition environment in Southern California. Anjali is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the California Dietetic Association, and also the San Diego Dietetic Association, where she currently serves on the Executive Board as the education co-chair. In her spare time, Anjali enjoys swimming, tennis, camping, traveling and cooking, while also taking in all the great dining options in San Diego.
Senior Research Manager
Shawna graduated from the Harvard School of Public Health, considered the premier training program for public health leaders in America. Before she received her Masters of Science degree at Harvard, Shawna completed her
Bachelor of Science degree at Arizona State University. As Senior Research Manager for the Worksite Wellness Initiative at Healthy Dining, Shawna is overseeing the research component of a groundbreaking worksite wellness program designed to support employers in introducing the HealthyDiningFinder.com resource to their employees. With her passionate devotion to health and nutrition, Shawna brings an impressive ten years of experience to Healthy Dining, including an internship with the United Nations World Food Programme in Rome,Italy, the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger. Additionally, Shawna worked as a research assistant at Harvard School of Public Health’s Department of Global Health and Arizona State University’s Department of Nutrition. She also worked as the study coordinator and community dietitian for the William K. Warren Medical Research Center for Celiac Disease at University of California San Diego and as a nutrition research consultant for the Harvard Center for Population and Development, Hopital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti, and Enjoy Life Foods, Chicago.
Research Data Manager
As a research data manager for Healthy Dining, Mariana designs and maintains databases and performs data entry, verification, and organization. She also analyzes qualitative data, prepares research surveys and questionnaires, and
conducts literature reviews. A Mexico-native, Mariana started her career in foods and nutrition when she became a food science technician at the age of 18 in her hometown of Tijuana. Mariana has a master’s degree in nutritional sciences and an undergraduate degree in foods and nutrition, both from San Diego State University (SDSU), where she also completed the didactic program in dietetics. During her time as a graduate student, Mariana volunteered in various research projects at SDSU, performing activities such as managing and analyzing data and translating different research materials into Spanish. For her master’s degree research project, Mariana created a school garden in a public elementary school in Tijuana to evaluate the effect of the participation in the school edible garden on fruit and vegetable intake of sixth grade students. The results were significantly positive, and Mariana still volunteers in the school garden and other community gardens across Tijuana as a nutrition educator. Mariana is also a private nutrition consultant, working to empower low-income populations to make healthy food choices and live healthier lifestyles. Her favorite hobby is working as a sommelier – arranging and conducting private wine tasting and guiding culinary tours in Tijuana and Ensenada. She also enjoys gardening, yoga and visiting ethnic grocery stores to try different foods.
Technology Advisor
Jatin is a results-oriented technology industry leader bringing his vast experience in architecting and managing complex software and IT solutions to Healthy Dining. He has a strong background in the creation and management
of multi-disciplinary engineering teams, mobile and software product development and building as well as sustaining customer relationships. Jatin’s passion is to create simple yet powerful technological solutions that harness the synergies in an organization while driving growth. Jatin is a football buff and a die-hard Michigan Wolverines fan with a passing interest in NFL and NBA, as well. Jatin has a master’s degree in engineering and science from the University of Michigan.
Software Developer
Khushbu Patel – a software developer at Healthy Dining – is an integral part of our tech team, working to develop, test and maintain the "Powered by Healthy Dining" innovations. Khushbu grew up in Gujarat, India, and earned her
bachelor’s degree in information technology. After landing in San Diego, she enhanced her IT skills through an advanced certification from San Diego State University in web and mobile application. Prior to joining Healthy Dining, Khushbu worked for a software company and a publishing company on several web-based applications focused on client database management. Khushbu is a great fit for Healthy Dining, as she loves dining in restaurants, cooking and traveling and priorities health in her personal life.
Accounting Manager
Healthy Dining’s Accounting Manager, JC Preciado, brings a wealth of financial and business experience to the team. With a bachelor of science in business administration from California State University Bakersfield and a background in
bookkeeping, human resources and payroll, JC manages all facets of the day to day accounting operations. In his free time, JC enjoys learning more about the power and positive effects of proper nutrition for well-being, playing tennis and basketball, reading, traveling and learning more about finance and business. He volunteers regularly, working with VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) through United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Money Matters for Boys & Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity over the years.
Administrative Manager
Suzanne, Healthy Dining’s administrative manager, has a background in many aspects of business, including accounting, finance, business development, administrative, and customer service. She has worked in both the public
and private sectors and in many industries, including the restaurant industry. Suzanne is a big asset to the company, using multiple skill sets to support the sales, marketing, and nutrition teams. She is excited to be part of a dynamic company where technology is playing a greater role in successfully carrying out its mission. Suzanne first joined Healthy Dining in 2001 to support an important social marketing campaign where she enjoyed working in several roles to raise awareness of healthy menu options and to encourage the selection of healthier restaurant meals. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from San Diego State University, Suzanne later returned to Healthy Dining to help publish the final editions of the Healthy Dining books and help with the transition to HealthyDiningFinder.com. Suzanne has a passion for dining out with her daughter, who has learned how to eat healthier, thanks to Healthy Dining’s tireless efforts to educate customers of all ages on the importance of making healthier choices. Suzanne is excited that her daughter is part of the younger, tech-savvy generation growing up with Healthy Dining in the new millennium.