meet zarana

Food is the most powerful medicine that can heal as well as nourish.

– Zarana

Hi – I am Zarana. My friends and family call me “Z”. I am the founder and owner of NutrilciousbyZ – a nutrition private practice in Dallas, TX.

Imagine learning to make eating healthy and delicious, so you can effortlessly optimize your well-being, improve your metabolism, and support the health of your gut. Your diet can be delicious, nutritious, simple, and help you achieve your ideal health. I can show you how. 

When we work together, I start by evaluating your individual nutrition needs to find the root cause of your health problems. We evaluate the 4 pillars of health – nutrition, activity, sleep, and stress management to reconnect body and mind. 

Next, we work together to develop a personalized roadmap to help you achieve your optimal health using the healing power of nutrition and lifestyle change. When it comes to nutrition there is no one plan fits all. My 25 years of experience as a practitioner help translate the comprehensive science of nutrition into simple and practical recommendations, to create lasting results. 

My goal is to help you improve your vitality and prevent the onset of diseases, whether that be through weight loss, gut health optimization, or improving your metabolic health. There are many diet plans out there to support temporary goals, but what is missing in most diet approaches is connecting our food to our mind and soul to create a sustainable lifestyle.

About Me:

I became interested in nutrition at a very young age. Growing up in India; I witnessed food being used as medicine every day in my home. Food was a powerful way to improve health and well-being.

My interest in food and nutrition grew as I started to learn about the science behind these practices. In 1996, I was blessed with an opportunity to work on a special research project about using the ketogenic diet in the treatment of intractable epilepsy. Seeing the improvement in kids with this diet therapy played the most profound role in my growing passion for food as medicine.

When I moved to the United States in 2004, I wanted to continue to pursue this passion. I graduated with a BS in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center. This degree helped me advance my learning and clinical knowledge. Today, I am a certified Leap Therapist (food sensitivity) and Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner (IFNCP) with the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy.

At home, I am blessed with a loving husband and 2 beautiful children – my pillars of love and strength. We love to explore different cuisines and cook Nutrilicious meals.

 

My Core Nutrition beliefs

Nutritious food can be delicious.

Let food be your friend again.

Eating healthy should not be complicated.

my qualifications

What is a registered dietitian? 

A registered dietitian (RD) is not the same as a nutritionist. The RD credential is a legally protected title that can only be used by practitioners authorized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Some RDs call themselves nutritionists but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. Virtually anyone can call themselves a “nutritionist” regardless of education or training.

The minimum requirements to become an RD are:

  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with coursework approved by the American Dietetic Association’s Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education. The coursework includes nutrition sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, anatomy & physiology.
  • Complete an accredited, supervised internship.
  • Pass a national exam.
  • Complete continuing education requirements to maintain registration.



Food nourishes the body, mind and soul.

– Zarana

Let’s develop a personalized nutrition plan together.