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Marina Chaparro, RD, CDE, MPH

Certified Diabetes Educator and Registered Dietitian
Hollywood, FL

About Marina Chaparro, RD, CDE, MPH

Marina Chaparro, RDN, CDE, MPH is a pediatric and diabetes nutrition expert who has been living with type 1 diabetes since her diagnosis at the age of 16.

She is a certified diabetes educator and founder of Nutrichicos, a bilingual nutrition practice specializing in children and family nutrition. Marina is a member of the Pediatric Endocrinology team at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, where she provides comprehensive diabetes education to children and families and instructs patients on the latest technological advances in diabetes care.

As a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Marina routinely provides science-based commentary to major media outlets such as The Huffington Post, Univision Media, Miami Herald, Yahoo and Reuter’s Health. On her blog www.nutrichicos.com, Chaparro shares reliable, practical and science-driven recommendations to help families meet the nutrition needs of their children.

In addition, Marina speaks frequently at local and national conferences and serves as a nutrition expert for various health organizations on topics such as infant nutrition, Latino health issues, and diabetes. Marina earned a specialty certificate in pediatric weight management and is a graduate of Boston University (undergrad) and Florida International University (MPH).

Articles Written by Marina Chaparro, RD, CDE, MPH

Lunch Ideas: Fill Their Lunch Boxes with These Healthy Options

One week’s worth of tasty back-to-school lunches from a type 1 mom who is also a certified diabetes educator.
A registered dietitian and T1D mom shares 5 diabetes-friendly lunches to pack for your child. Healthy ideas sure to please even the pickiest eater.

10 Travel Tips for Type 1s from a Frequent Flier and Diabetes Expert

I've always loved traveling but since becoming a mom of 2, it's become slightly more challenging. Here, some tips to help you navigate the friendly skies. Happy travels!

How to Use Technology to Monitor and Improve Blood Sugar Control

Overcoming your fear of technology can be the first step to better diabetes management. Here's our guide to the newest tech products.
Overcoming your fear of technology can be the first step to better diabetes management. Here's our guide to the newest tech products and how they can make your life easier.

7 Products That Make Living with Diabetes Easier

My top recommendations from the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE19) annual conference.
A certified diabetes educator and registered dietitian suggests her favorite new diabetes developments from the AADE19.

6 Ways A CDE Can Help You Live Longer

Do you have prediabetes? The secret to avoiding diabetes may be working with a certified diabetes educator (CDE)
Learn how working with a CDE can help you live longer--even if you don't have diabetes.

Diabulimia: Why Type 1s Are at Risk and How You Can Help

Our culture has a complicated relationship with food and body image. The National Eating Disorder Organization reports that that by age 6, girls start to express concerns about their weight. Young adults with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder.
A certified diabetes educator explains the link between type 1 diabetes and eating disorders, including warning signs and preventative tips.

How Low Can You Go? Expert Advice On the Keto and Other Low-Carb Diets and Diabetes

Can blood sugar be better managed by following a ketogenic diet? An expert explains the benefits and the risks.
Keto diets may be trending as an "easy" way to lose weight fast. Learn what the research shows and why dietitians and other experts aren't big fans of low-carb eating.

7 Ways to Avoid Weight Gain During the Holidays

Americans love snacking—especially at work. Here are some expert tactics for avoiding weight-gain during the Holiday season.
A registered dietitian tells you how to avoid weight gain during the holiday season. Healthy snacking may be the key.

Diabetes and Milk: A Guide to Understanding Milk Choices

A diabetes nutrition expert spells out the pros and cons of 8 different types of "milk". From cow's milk and soy milk to almond milk, hemp milk and more. Non-dairy milk options may not be as healthy as you think.
A diabetes nutrition expert spells out the pros and cons of 8 different types of "milk". From cow's milk and soy milk to almond milk, hemp milk and more. Non-dairy milk options may not be as healthy as you think.

10 Best Survival Tips for Parents of Newly-Diagnosed Type 1s

Learning your child has type 1 diabetes can be an emotional and overwhelming experience for parents. Here are tips from a mom with type 1 diabetes who is also a certified diabetes educator.
If you're the parent of a child with type 1 diabetes you know what an overwhelming experience it can be. Here are tips from a mom with type 1 who is also a certified diabetes educator.

What Is the Best Milk for People with Diabetes?

Low fat? Full fat? Plant based? Low carb? A diabetes nutrition expert reviews the research to help you decide which "milk" choice is best for your health.
Low fat? Full fat? Plant based? Low carb? A diabetes nutrition expert reviews the research to help you make sense of what type of milk is best for you health.

Is a Vegetarian Diet Better for Diabetes?

Research suggests that well planned, vegetarian diets that are rich in whole grains, fiber, legumes, nuts, and unsaturated fats can help improve blood sugar and may even prevent diabetes. Here, a registered dietitian and type 1 tells you what you need to know.
Learn how a vegetarian diet can improve diabetes and how to safely follow one from a registered dietitian with type 1 diabetes.

Why You Should Go Nuts for Nuts if You Have Diabetes

Here's why you should add nuts to your daily diet. Plus, a one day, diabetes-friendly guide to make your menu nuttier.

The Gestational Diabetes Diet: An Expert's Guide to What to Eat

If you've been diagnosed with gestation diabetes you're at increased risk of complications. Eating a nutritious diet can help keep you and your baby healthy. Follow this eating plan developed for OTD by a diabetes nutrition expert and mom.
If you have gestational diabetes, use this healthy-eating plan developed for OTD by a diabetes nutrition expert's. Eating better can help reduce the risk of complications for you and your baby.

Liquid Diet: Beware of the Calories in Your Smoothies, Coffee, and Sports Drinks

Some of today's beverage options are deceptively high in sugar and calories making them almost as bad as drinking a soda. Check out the top 5 beverage offenders and healthier alternatives.
A certified diabetes educator explains the link between obesity and drinks with added sugar. Here's her list of top offenders with better alternatives. Cheers!

10 Tricks to Help Your T1D Child Have a Happy, Healthy Halloween

For parents and kids with type 1 diabetes, Halloween can be a scary time—and not because of the frightening costumes. Here's how to get through the day without having a blood sugar emergency.
A type 1 mom and certified diabetes educator gives her tips for having a healthy, happy Halloween—without any blood sugar emergencies.

Artificial Sweeteners or Natural Sugar: Which is Best for People with Diabetes?

Here's what you need to know to understand the impact of sweeteners—both nutritive and non-nutritive—on your blood sugar.

For Weight Loss and Better Glucose Control Eat a Big Breakfast

New research suggests that eating a big breakfast and a small dinner beats six small meals for weight loss and blood sugar control.

Pasta and Diabetes: 5 Healthy Ways to Eat Pasta

Here's how to put some pasta on your plate without sending your blood sugars soaring!
Yes, you can eat pasta if you have diabetes. Here are 5 healthy ways to incorporate it in a blood-sugar friendly way

7 Hearty, Diabetes-Friendly Breakfasts Created by A Nutritionist Who Has Type 1

Growing up in a Mexican household meant enjoying large meals in the morning. Here's why I continue this delicious tradition plus my favorite morning menus. What I eat may surprise you!
7hearty, diabetes-friendly breakfast menus created by a nutritionist who lives with type 1 diabetes.

How to Eat Rice and Beans When You Have Diabetes

Unfortunately, Hispanics are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than the rest of the population. If you're Hispanic like I am, you probably love your rice, beans, and guacamole. Having diabetes doesn't mean you have to give them up.
Being Hispanics increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But it doesn't mean you have to give up cultural favorites like rice and beans. Here's what you need to know.

8 Last-Minute Healthy Gift Ideas

Thanks to 2-day shipping and plenty of great wellness products, there's still time to give the gift of health this year. Here, top picks from a certified diabetes educator/registered dietician.

Financial Disclosures for Marina Chaparro, RD, CDE, MPH

OnTrack Diabetes, a Remedy Health Media, LLC website, is committed to ensuring that the medical information it presents is accurate, balanced, objective, and trustworthy.

To help achieve this goal, OnTrack Diabetes requires all authors, editors, and reviewers to disclose any financial relationships or affiliations they have with companies whose products or services may be mentioned in the content they author, edit, or review.

The intent of this policy is to identify any perceived, potential, or real conflicts of interest so that readers can make their own judgments about the value of information being presented.

This author has not disclosed any realtionships
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