Andria Herron, MSc, RD, LDN
My Journey
Graduated from an esteemed Culinary Arts school in Portland, Oregon in November 1997. While in attendance of Culinary School, I worked at a large bank and obtained a Washington State Life & Health Insurance License along with an SEC Series 6 & 63 license allowing me to sell investment products such as Annuities and Mutual Funds. Following graduation, briefly returned the banking industry for a few years until permanently leaving the industry to become a Sommelier. After almost 2 years as an apprentice Sommelier working under the tutelage of an esteemed Cellar Master at a world renowned Lodge and Spa with the second largest wine list in the state of Washington, I moved on to Las Vegas, a sommelier's paradise and worked for over 5 years at some of the top resorts on and off the strip. Working with some of the highest notable chefs in the culinary world. After leaving the fast lifestyle of Las Vegas, it was time to head to the world renowned Sonoma wine country of California to work as an estate Sommelier for a few years. Although I considered this a unique experience, it was not personally and professionally satisfying. I returned to the Portland, Oregon region for a few years to continue my Food & Beverage experience as a Manager and Sommelier, until finally realizing it was time to leave the restaurant world and return to college to embark on a career change that would utilize my valuable experience and culinary education.
At the age of 40, I returned to school and completed an Associates of Arts, and Associate of science and then a Bachelor of Science and then ultimately completing a Master of Science degree. After completion of the BS at University of Nevada Reno, I gained valuable Hospital experience before heading to Houma and Thibodaux Louisiana to complete a 1200 hour unpaid internship created by Nicholls State University that allowed experience working in several regional hospitals, state agencies and private practice Dietitians both in Clinical and Food Service. It is only after completion of a qualified Internship that a person is eligible to take the exam by the Commission of Dietetics Registration which allows me to be licensed and confirmed as a Registered Dietitian.
There is a large difference between someone who calls themselves a "Nutritionist" and a Registered Dietitian. A Nutritionist does not require any licensing or accreditation and someone can literally take a few weeks long internet course and call themselves a "Certified Nutritionist". This is where misinformation can lead to serious health consequences as I have seen ill-conceived advice from gym owners and personal trainers, tik-tok/instagram nutrition "experts".
OUR CHEF
Loves Wild Horses, Kayaking and Camping
The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and the Virginia Mountain Range are my playground. I hope to start filming videos of camping cooking eventually too.
Andria Herron, MSc, RD, LDN
