Vipada Sae-Lao earned a degree in pharmacy in Thailand with an emphasis on nutrition and dietary supplements. She is currently completing a Masterās degree in Nutrition. Based in Thailand, Vipada joined Herbalife Nutrition more than five years ago as a member of our Dietitian Advisory Board (DAB) to educate and train our distributors about nutrition.
Why did you choose nutrition as a career?
What is the best part of your job?
Everyday I am inspired by our distributors who are truly passionate about helping their customers. They attend my trainings and are active participants in their education so they can answer questions and provide their customers with a personalized approach to good nutrition. I also enjoy the opportunity to work with our sponsored athletes and teams to help them understand how our products can help support their training so they can compete at the highest levels.
Whatās your āguilty pleasureā when it comes to food?
Everyone has his or her āguilty pleasureā —even nutritionists! On special occasions with my family and friends I like to share pizza with my family and friends. But, I will say the majority of my meals should beare healthy, balanced and nutrient dense for optimum health in the long run.
If you had just one piece of nutrition advice to give to someone, what would it be?
Be careful not to give into every craving. If you feel hungry, choose nutrient dense foods, not the empty calories. For example, fruits and vegetables, which have vitamins, mineralsĀ and antioxidants, provide very few calories. The average fruit serving has only 70 calories and the average vegetable serving has only 50 calories per serving, but they are among the most expensive foods per calorie.
What are some of the latest nutrition trends in your country?
In Thailand, healthy Japanese food is the top restaurant choice for families. Salad shops have also become popular as a convenient on-the-go option for those people with busy schedules.
If you werenāt a dietitian, what would you be?
My dream is to be a mushroom farmer owner. I love most mushrooms and also have a small mushroom garden in my house.
Do you have a favorite Thai recipe?
My favorite healthy dish is Green Papaya Salad –and it’s easy to prepare!
For 2 servings:
- 6 medium dried shrimp
- 1 pound green papaya
- 2 chili peppers
- 2 clove garlic
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
- Juice from Ā¾ fresh lime
- 5 Cherry Tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons toasted peanuts (optional)
In a small bowl, cover the dried shrimp with hot water. Let stand for 5 minutes, then drain. Chop each shrimp into 3-4 pieces.
Cut the papaya in half crosswise, and peel the skin. Scrape out the seeds. Cut the flesh into very think julienne strips and set aside.
With a mortar and pestle, or in a food processor, combine the chili peppers and garlic into a paste. Add sugar, shrimp and green beans and process until smooth. Add fish sauce, lime juice and tomatoes, and continue processing into a paste. Scrape this mixture into a large bowl. Add prepared papaya and peanuts. Toss well and serve.
Susan BowermanM.S., R.D., CSSD, CSOWM, FAND ā Sr. Director, Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training
Susan Bowerman is the senior director of Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training at Herbalife. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Dietetic Advisory Board (DAB). As a registered dietitian, she educates distributors about our global nutrition philosophy and is responsible for developing nutrition education and training materials. Bowerman earned a B.S. in Biology with distinction from the University of Colorado and an M.S. in Food Science and Nutrition from Colorado State University. She is a fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and holds two board certifications as a specialist in Sports Dietetics and in Obesity and Weight Management. When she is not busy teaching and writing, Susan enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and gardening. Her favorite Herbalife products include Simply Probiotic and Herbalife Formula 1 Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake Mix Banana Caramel.