Get Waisted with Rene\': The Vegan Dietician

Ginny shares the story of how she became vegan, and how to develop a vegan diet to fit your lifestyle. It\'s great information for those looking to eat healthier, or for you vegans, to add some more spice and variety to your diet.

Ginny Messina

When I first headed off to college to become a dietitian, I was a carefree omnivore. I’ve loved and felt great compassion for animals all my life—but for two-and-a-half decades, it didn’t occur to me that this had anything to do with how I should eat. You can read more of my story—about how the little light bulb over my head finally lit up—in my first blog post.
My work prior to vegan advocacy took place in diverse settings. I’ve worked with pregnant teens, migrant farm workers, and families. As a nutrition instructor at Central Michigan University, I taught principles of nutrition science and of public health education to dietetics students. I was the director of nutrition services in a medical center serving more than 50,000 patients, and have developed nutrition education materials for many organizations including the U.S. government’s national cholesterol program. You can read more about my background and work on my curriculum vitae.


My work today focuses on giving people the tools and knowledge they need to adopt a healthy vegan diet and to ensure that they will stay healthy and happy for the long term. I share this information through my blog, my books, and presentations. I’ve recently co-authored three books for vegans and veg-curious people: Vegan for Life, Vegan for Her, and Never Too Late to Go Vegan. I’ve also co-authored a textbook on vegetarian nutrition that is aimed at medical and nutrition professionals and have twice co-authored the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics position paper on Vegetarian Diets.


When I’m not busy reading and writing about vegan nutrition, I’m a volunteer at my local animal shelter, a board member of my local spay/neuter outreach organization, a feeder of feral cats, an avid gardener, a bookworm, a student of piano and of vegan knitting, and the devoted mom of a group of happy rescued cats. I’m a transplanted New Jersey-ite (and a Jersey girl at heart) living on the wild and wooly Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest.



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Ginny\'s Website