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MEET OUR TEAM
ABOUT MATTHEW
Matthew is a licensed dietitian nutritionist who works with patients of all ages and backgrounds to achieve their personal wellness goals. He has a Bachelor's and Master's in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise. His approach combines a foundation of lifestyle changes and setting small actionable goals, while still encouraging patients to explore and enjoy food.
ABOUT KATHLEEN
Kathleen is a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist who works with patients of all ages and backgrounds to achieve their personal wellness goals. She is passionate about food's powerful role in health, athletic performance, and everyday life. She loves working with clients to achieve their unique, personal goals, creating a sustainable way of eating for a lifetime of health and happiness.
Matthew D'Aria
MS, RDN, LDN, CD-N
Matthew is a licensed dietitian nutritionist who works with patients of all ages and backgrounds to achieve their personal wellness goals. His approach combines a foundation of lifestyle changes and setting small actionable goals, while still encouraging patients to explore and enjoy food.
While in an Intro to Nutrition class at Lynchburg college, a magazine was passed around highlighting the impending health epidemic of child obesity. Matthew was astounded to learn about the rate of childhood obesity and felt called to make a difference. It was then, he decided to pursue a degree in nutrition with the goal of educating as many children and their families on nutrition and its importance to a well-balanced life.
Since that revelation, Matthew has completed multiple degrees in dietetics. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 2015 with consecutive degrees, a Bachelor's and Masters, both in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise. He also fulfilled a certificate of training in childhood and adult weight management from the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics.
Matthew opened MJD Nutrition in 2017 and has logged 3,000+ hours of nutrition counseling since its inception. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast, loves to create in the kitchen, and enjoys sharing meals with his extended family.
Kathleen Draper
MS, RDN, LDN
Kathleen is a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist who is passionate about the powerful role food plays in health, athletic performance, and everyday life. She loves working with clients to achieve their unique, personal goals, in the process creating a sustainable way of eating for a lifetime of health & happiness.
In a random honors class entitled Eats 101 at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill, Kathleen first discovered the immense impact food & nutrition have on every aspect of health, life, and culture. Still, she graduated with a BA in Communication Studies and went on to spend nearly a decade in clinical research administration, during which time she found a love of running. After 2 femoral stress fractures sidelined her marathon training, Kathleen delved deeply into the effect of nutrition on health & performance, acknowledging & working through her own disordered eating patterns. She knew then that nutrition coaching was both a passion & a calling.
She earned her Masters of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics from Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. While in school, she researched the effects of protein intake on muscle mass & function during weight loss in older adults at Duke University. She then went on to complete her Dietetic Internship with rotations at UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Health Southeastern, and the Poe Center for Health Education. Since then, she has logged thousands of hours in nutrition counseling & education.
Kathleen is an enthusiastic foodie who delights in creating meals & memories in the kitchen with her little ones. When she isn’t working, you can find her exploring hiking trails, tending her garden, playing with her family, or curled up with a good book.