Lona Sandon, MEd, RD, LD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. As an American Dietetic Association Spokesperson, she puts scientifically based nutrition information into consumer friendly language for the public. Ms. Sandon was named the 2005 Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year by the Texas Dietetic Association. She was also awarded the 2006 Dallas Dietetic Association Media Award and the 2007 Texas Dietetic Association Media Award.

Ms. Sandon holds a Masters of Education in Education Technology from the University of Texas, Brownsville and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Minnesota. She completed a one-year dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics (now Fairview University Hospital).

Ms. Sandon is currently the Chair-elect of the Nutrition Educators of Health Professionals (NEHP) dietetic practice group. She previously served as treasurer and on the nominating committee. She has also served on the local level as the 2007-2008 President of the Dallas Dietetic and several positions on the board prior to that including meeting coordinator, public relations chair and technology support chair. She is a frequent contributor to the “Nutrition Tidbits” section of the Dallas Dietetic Association’s web site and the section editor of the Center for Human Nutrition Wellness website for Women’s Nutrition and Nutrition Trends. She is frequently contacted to speak for community events and employee health and wellness programs with organizations such as Exxon Mobil and The Environmental Protection Agency.

Ms. Sandon has been featured in over 100 media outlets. Media outlets include CNN Radio, Washington Post, New York Times, USA Today, Dallas Morning News, and Ft. Worth Star Telegram. She also serves on the Women’s Day magazine advisory board and as the nutrition expert for the Living Without Limits website: http://lwlonline.com

Ms. Sandon has a personal interest in wellness and sports nutrition and exercise. She is a certified fitness instructor by the American Council on Exercise and a Level III YogaFit instructor. Daily exercise of cycling, aerobics, yoga, or weight training is just her way of life. She has eight years experience in leading fitness and wellness classes for multiple health and fitness centers.

Growing up in a household where wholesome foods were the way of life led her to a career as a Registered Dietitian with an interest in health promotion and disease prevention. She recalls fresh baked whole wheat breads, dry roasted nuts and seeds, oatmeal, natural peanut butter, and fruits and vegetables as staple foods. This wholesome diet supplied the fuel for working muscles as a competitive artistic roller figure skater for 17 years.

Speaking Topics

• The Perfect Diet: Ten proven strategies for weight loss
• Sports Nutrition and You: Eating to fuel the athlete in you
• Nutrition for Active Teens
• Please Just Tell Me What to Eat: Making sense of dietary guidelines
• Top Ten Foods for Heart Health
• Yoga and Exercise for Stress and Weight Loss
• Move it To Lose it