Hey friends! I’m Rebecca…

… “Bex” for short, because in the Philippines you have to have a nickname. I’ve lived overseas since 2004, in both Manila, Philippines, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Welcome to my expat life! 

I’m a US Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), nutrition and fitness coach, speaker, athlete, and mom to three nearly-grown kids. I believe that eating well, finding a fitness routine that you love, and living with purpose and joy, are keys to a lifetime of good health. Here you’ll find yummy and healthy recipes made with ingredients you can actually find, and fitness tips that actually work. I’m glad you’re here!

Living and raising a family outside my home country has influenced the way I cook… and eat! I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the wonderful local produce, spices, and cooking methods that are so deliciously prevalent in my host country. But I’m also all too familiar with the challenges of living outside your home country- from not finding your usual food products, to wondering how to store food properly in a tropical climate, to having an oven that doesn’t fit your baking pans. I get it!

The Expat Dietitian was born for these reasons, to share with you healthy & delicious recipes made with easily accessible ingredients and simple techniques.  I’m also here to combat misinformation, nutrition quackery, and fear mongering surrounding food and nutrition that is so rampant in today’s society. Good nutrition doesn’t have to be difficult, restrictive, or guilt-inducing. It’s my firm belief that we should include as many things as possible in our diets, including spontaneity and joy. My recipes show you that healthy eating is fun and attainable, whether you are at home… or home is across the globe.

 

I use my professional credentials and academic background to provide lectures and workshops on nutrition and wellness topics to organizations around Manila. My partners include Asia CEO Summit, Asia CEO Women’s Forum, Skin & Cancer Foundation, Vitamix Philippines, International School of Manila, Brent International School, and Union Church of Manila.

A unique aspect of my wellness advocacy is helping clients combine good nutrition with a doable fitness program to achieve optimum health. I have an academic background in exercise science, as well as years of experience as a personal trainer and group exercise coach. I love sports, and I’ve always been an athlete myself, from gymnastics when I was younger, to competitive bodybuilding in my late 40’s, to triathlon today. I believe that true health comes from balancing healthy eating, physical fitness and joyful living.

My hope is that this blog inspires you to eat well and live well. Cheers, friends!

Education & Credentials

  • Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nutrition & Dietetics, Texas Christian University
  • Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Nutrition, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Commission on Dietetic Registration

Publications

  • ·  Master’s thesis: “Effect of oral estrogen on substrate utilization in postmenopausal women”, Fertility and Sterility. 2008 Oct; 90(4):1275-8.