Meet Luisa Sabogal | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Luisa Sabogal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Luisa, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance has changed over the past 10 years as I have come to realize that work will always be there but time with my family is fleeting, especially time with my kids. Although both work and being with my family fulfill me, time with my children and husband are a must to be the best person and dietitian I can be, and to feel complete. To make sure I am spending enough quality time with my family I schedule in my planner family walks, family bike rides, time in our backyard, family games just like I have my work schedule. This allows me to spend time with my family even when life gets hectic.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart in my career as a Registered Dietitian is not only my passion to constantly educate myself and stay up-to-date with the latest nutrition information, but also my innate desire to help others have better and healthier lives through nutrition education and implementation. As an empath, it is easy for me to feel for others, to put into perspective my patient’s current situation, take a look at all aspects of their life, and meet them where they are at as behavior change is challenging. I am most proud about having the ability to simplify complex nutrition concepts and information for my patients so that they can utilize it in their day to day and meet their health goals. Becoming a well rounded, confident and capable dietitian took time, determination and hard work. Having a positive mindset, focusing on how far I had come and small wins, and dealing with one problem at a time was key to overcoming setbacks. I want the world to know that anything is possible as long as you love it and are willing to work hard for it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my favorite spots in Los Angeles are in nature, I love to go hiking in Fryman Canyon, I also love going to Malibu beach. These two spots are great places to go to when looking to destress and feel more present, and luckily the weather in Los Angeles is wonderful year round making it ideal to go any time of the year. As far as a favorite restaurant, I have to say that True Food Kitchen in Santa Monica is one of my favorites due to their delicious and fresh food and wonderful ambiance. And my favorite coffee shop is Laidrey Coffee Roasters, not only is the coffee freshly brewed and their teas are all delicious, but the ambiance sets the right mood to get things done and at the same time to feel as if you are on vacation.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I would like to give a shoutout to my parents, my elementary teacher Mrs. Dexter, my chemistry professor Dr. Ono, my amazing mentor Dr. Lisagor, and my supportive husband Vartan for being fundamental people in my journey to becoming who I am today, including a registered dietitian. These very important people believed in me, supported me in the most challenging moments and encouraged me to continue working hard to overcome obstacles.

If it were not for my parents’ sacrifices, I would not be where I am today. My parents sacrificed their comfortable life in Colombia to provide my siblings and I a better life in the U.S., they sold everything they owned to start a life in Los Angeles, California. And even from the very beginning my father made sure that we had everything despite not speaking the language nor facing an increased cost of living in LA. Besides them providing all the necessary and most important things in life, they fiercely believed in me,

One of the most challenging times for me as a 10 year-old was my first day of fifth grade, in LA. Having just moved from Colombia and not speaking enough English made going to school daunting, even though I have always loved learning and going to school. Thankfully, I had one of the best teachers, Mrs. Dexter, she always went the extra mile to make sure I was understanding instructions, participating and learning and had the support needed to thrive. Thanks to my wonderful teacher and my welcoming and kind friends Melissa, Sonia, Andrea and Andres, I was able to learn enough English in 6 months and do well in fifth grade.

Chemistry did not come easy to me. But thanks to Dr. Ono, the best chemistry professor I have ever had, I was able to not only excel in all my chemistry courses required for my career, but also to genuinely enjoy the subject. Dr. Ono made learning organic chemistry exciting and his great understanding of the subject made it easy to understand. This solid chemistry background made me a more aware and well rounded dietitian.

While working on my undergraduate and graduate programs at California State University Northridge, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Lisagor, a woman that is exemplary in every aspect, a woman that was key in my journey to obtaining my bachelor’s and master’s. Dr. Lisagor, guided me, encouraged me and believed in me in my most difficult moments, she made me feel confident, capable of it all. I am so grateful for her guidance and for helping me in my toughest times at CSUN.

Lastly, I want to give a shoutout to my life partner of almost 20 years, Vartan, who helped me in my journey to becoming a dietitian by firmly believing in me and my capabilities, being understanding and loving in my most challenging moments, and also for making me feel like I deserve it all and will accomplish it all.

Instagram: DietitianLuisa

Linkedin: Luisa Sabogal RDN, MS, CDCES

Twitter: DietitianLuisa

Image Credits
Angela Mikayelyan Photography Jay Jay Photograpy