Meet The Team
Get to know the dedicated professionals behind Food Ease. Our skilled dietitians bring a wealth of expertise and compassion, committed to helping you achieve peace with food and body.
Emily Edelson, MS, RD (she/her)
Founder of Food Ease
I’m Emily, a mid-size, neurodivergent, and queer registered dietitian and the founder of Food Ease Nutrition Counseling in Santa Cruz, CA. I specialize in weight-inclusive care, providing support for clients navigating eating disorders, body image struggles, and chronic conditions through a Health at Every Size® (HAES®) lens. My education includes a BS in Public Health from Tulane University (2015), an MS in Nutrition Interventions, Behavior Change, and Communications from Tufts University (2019), and I’m currently working toward my Eating Disorders Certificate at Lewis and Clark University.
My approach to nutrition is deeply rooted in creating a safe, non-judgmental space for all bodies. I focus on empowering clients to reconnect with their bodies, heal their relationship with food, and challenge the harmful effects of weight stigma. I incorporate self-talk reframing and body image distress strategies to support healing, especially for those who have been marginalized in healthcare. I believe everyone deserves access to compassionate, weight-inclusive care that recognizes their unique needs and identities.
As the founder of Food Ease Nutrition Counseling, I lead a team of dietitians with a focus on client-centered, collaborative care. I hold monthly supervision sessions to ensure my team is equipped with the tools and knowledge to practice weight-inclusive care in chronic condition management and eating disorder recovery. I’m passionate about increasing access to nutrition care for all and am dedicated to advocacy around weight stigma and creating inclusive spaces in healthcare.
Outside of work, I enjoy thrifting, road trips with my pups, Bubbie (my senior shorkie) and Siggy (my Aussie puppy), and exploring new ways to practice body acceptance through food, travel, and self-expression. I believe in embracing my own body’s journey and encourage others to do the same. I’m driven by the belief that everyone has the right to heal and thrive without judgment, and I’m committed to making that possible through my work and advocacy.
Let’s connect if you’re interested in learning more about my work or exploring how we can work together to create a more inclusive, compassionate healthcare environment for all bodies.
Alexandria Morgans
Business Manager & Health Coach
Hi! I’m Alexandria — the business manager and online personal trainer for Food Ease with a bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences. Before stepping into this work, I spent 19 years as a ballet dancer, including 3 years dancing professionally. That experience taught me discipline, resilience, and the importance of caring for both body and mind—lessons that now guide everything I do.
My approach is rooted in a weight-inclusive, non-diet philosophy—centered on healing, not restriction. After years in a perfection-driven environment that shaped my body image and relationship with food, I’m passionate about helping others unlearn rigid food rules and reconnect with their bodies through compassion and curiosity.
At Food Ease, I lead client services, coach online training clients, and host biweekly movement classes designed to make movement feel empowering and sustainable. Through my content and coaching, I aim to challenge toxic diet culture, normalize recovery, and make evidence-based guidance feel relatable, human, and real.
When I’m not creating or coaching, you can find me lifting weights, curled up with a good book, or rewatching my favorite comfort shows.
Dallas Smith, RD (she/her)
Client Outreach Coordinator & Virtual Assistant
Hi! I’m Dallas – A Canadian Registered Dietitian and long-time member of the Food Ease team. Over the years, I’ve supported our practice through marketing, social media, client outreach, and the creation of accessible nutrition resources that reflect our values of food freedom and inclusivity.
My passion for nutrition stems from my own journey learning to eat intuitively and nourish my body as an endurance athlete. I understand firsthand how challenging it can be to move away from rigid food rules and reconnect with trust and balance around eating.
Now, I’m dedicated to helping others find that same sense of ease and confidence with food without guilt, restriction, or judgment.
Veronica Buacharern, MS, RD (she/her)
Hi, I’m so glad you’re here! As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, I’ve historically found myself serving marginalized communities with the following intersected identities: BIPOC, neurodivergent, 2SLGBTQIA+, and what is clinically known as eating disorders and disordered eating. I strive to help clients rediscover their inner body wisdom through client-led, embodied approaches to collaboratively lean into the different ways to heal. Since we know eating disorders do not discriminate, I work from an identity-affirming, weight-inclusive, harm reduction, and anti-oppressive framework, for ALL bodies and ALL embodied experiences. There’s healing in community, and I look forward to being a part of yours.
Jordyn Worby, RD
Hi, my name is Jordyn. I am a Registered Dietitian with a Masters of Science in Nutritional Sciences from Rutgers University in New Jersey. I am passionate about helping my clients and patients navigate and improve their relationship with food through an all foods fit and Health at Every Size (HAES) approach. I understand that your relationship with food and body image can be overwhelming, frustrating, and confusing, and I aim to have you leave our sessions feeling heard and validated. I previously worked at an inpatient level of care for eating disorders at Princeton Center for Eating Disorders at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in New Jersey until I moved out west to San Diego! I now work full-time on the adolescent team at UCSD Health Eating Disorder Center for Treatment and Research at the PHP/IOP level of care. I’m also a Certified Personal Trainer and love helping people incorporate movement into their lives in a safe and healthy way.
Sydney McCune, PhD, RDN (she/her)
Hi, I’m Sydney! I’m a queer registered dietitian with a PhD in Nutrition. I take a weight-inclusive, Health at Every Size® (HAES®) approach, helping people build a sustainable, positive relationship with food. I believe nutrition should feel accessible, empowering, and free from guilt. My goal is to create a compassionate, supportive space where you feel heard and valued. My approach is all about meeting you where you are—focusing on evidence-based, realistic changes that fit your lifestyle and align with your needs and values. I’d love to be part of your journey!
Kelsey Norby, MS, RD
Hi, I’m Kelsey! My work is rooted in self-love, compassion, and helping others build a positive, more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.
I’ve always been drawn to movement—I spent my childhood as an athlete, playing everything from T-ball and volleyball to swimming and cheerleading. While I understood the value of being active, I didn’t always know how to fuel my body in a way that truly supported my health. That curiosity grew when I started college at San Diego State University and transitioned into a less active lifestyle. Like many, I experimented with quick fixes and unsustainable habits, until I began to shift my focus from trying to change my body to learning how to care for it. That shift led me to pursue a deeper education in nutrition. I earned my Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology with a focus on Sports Nutrition from Concordia University Chicago and went on to complete my dietetic internship at Iowa State University. Shortly after, I passed the board exam to officially become a registered dietitian. But more than that, I learned to see food not just as fuel—but as something deeply emotional and personal. It can bring joy, connection, stress, or even fear. And I’m here to help people navigate all of that.
Whether you’re working through a health diagnosis or just trying to feel more confident in your choices, my goal is to meet you where you are using a weight-inclusive approach. I offer a supportive space to explore your relationship with food, your body, and what it means to nourish yourself in a way that’s sustainable and empowering.
I’ve worked with clients of all ages and backgrounds—from kids and teens to adults managing conditions like NAFLD, PCOS, diabetes, IBS, celiac disease, binge eating disorder, ARFID, and more. No matter your story, you’re not alone—and I’m here to help you move forward with confidence and care.
Outside of work, I enjoy staying active with indoor cycling, Pilates, and barre classes. When I’m not moving, you might find me binge-watching the latest Netflix shows, trying new restaurants, or taking my sassy, yet loving Cavalier King Charles Spaniel on an adventure!
Christina Pascual Vang, RDN
I strive to create a supportive, affirming space for anyone navigating challenges with food and body image—including those in eating disorder recovery—as well as queer and neurodivergent folks. My approach is rooted in curiosity, cultural humility, and deep respect for the many factors that shape how we relate to food and our bodies.
I celebrate food from all cultures and create space for clients to explore nourishment without guilt or shame. I believe healing happens through connection, and I’m committed to developing an environment where everyone is treated with dignity, care, and compassion.
I earned my degree in dietetics from San Francisco State University in 2017 and completed my dietetic internship at Bluffton University in 2022. My background is in community-based care, supporting older adults through PACE Programs and Meals on Wheels. I’m thrilled to be joining a team that centers holistic healing and sees each client as a whole person—not just a diagnosis.
When I’m not working, you can find me spending time with my husband, sister, and our pupperoni Mika, playing board games and video games, reading, or exploring local food festivals.
Donya Danialzadeh MS, CNS, LDN
Hi, I’m Donya! I’m a Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist® and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist with a Master’s in Clinical Nutrition from Sonoran University of Health Sciences. I specialize in supporting individuals who are working to heal their relationship with food and their bodies, particularly those navigating disordered eating patterns, body image concerns, and a history of chronic dieting.
My passion for this work grew throughout my internship, where I worked closely with individuals struggling with disordered eating as a meal support specialist at Project HEAL and at an eating disorder treatment center. There, I supported kids, teens, and adults in building a more trusting relationship with food and their bodies. Through these experiences, I witnessed the power of reconnecting with one’s body, honoring hunger and fullness cues, and breaking free from rigid food rules.
My approach is rooted in intuitive eating and the principles of Health at Every Size® (HAES), with a strong emphasis on whole-body wellness and personalized nutrition that respects each person’s unique needs and experiences. I strive to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where all bodies are welcomed, respected, and celebrated.
In my free time, you can usually find me exploring local farmers markets, reading at the park, or drawing. I’m grateful to be part of your journey and look forward to helping you cultivate a more peaceful and empowering relationship with food and yourself!
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