Turn confusing nutrition advice into a realistic plan you can use at home, at work, and everywhere life actually happens.
Most people who reach out already know a lot about nutrition. They have saved recipes, listened to podcasts, tried meal plans, and made more than one determined attempt to feel better. The problem is not a lack of effort. It is that general advice rarely accounts for your symptoms, schedule, preferences, health history, stress, and relationship with food all at once.
I’m Shanti Pappas, NBC-HWC. I provide one-to-one nutrition coaching in San Diego and virtually, helping clients sort through the noise and decide what deserves their attention first. Together, we create a practical path forward that is specific enough to be useful and flexible enough to survive a busy week.
A provider may tell you to increase protein, stabilize blood sugar, reduce digestive triggers, or improve meal consistency. Those recommendations can still be difficult to apply when you are tired, busy, eating with other people, or unsure where to begin. My role is to help you translate the recommendation into meals, routines, and decisions that work in your actual life.
My training includes National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach credentials and advanced functional medicine education. You can learn more about my background on the About page.
Food is one part of the picture. We also look at how your meals interact with sleep, stress, digestion, movement, energy, work demands, and the recommendations you may already have from your healthcare providers. This helps us identify which changes are likely to make the biggest difference and which rules are only making your life harder.
Meal rhythm, satisfaction, protein, fiber, and hydration
Digestive patterns and foods that appear to worsen or ease symptoms
Energy, hunger, cravings, and concentration across the day
Shopping, cooking, restaurant meals, travel, and family routines
Stress, sleep, movement, and the habits that affect follow-through
Relevant health information and provider recommendations within the scope of coaching
If digestion is dominating your day, explore gut health nutrition support.
If your symptoms are connected to changing hormones, start with women’s health or perimenopause nutrition.
For weight and blood sugar concerns, visit the weight loss, insulin resistance, prediabetes, or Type 2 diabetes pages.
If food rules, stress eating, or guilt are the main issue, emotional and disordered eating support may be the better starting point.
Tailored to You, Not a Template
I tailor every plan to the individual. You won't get a standardized protocol pulled off a shelf.
Different From What You'd Get Elsewhere
Unlike the generic protocols typically handed out by a naturopath or doctor, your plan is built specifically around your body, history, and goals.
Sustainable, Real-Life Strategies
Practical changes that fit your life — not fad diets or rigid rules you can't maintain.
Direct & Supportive Style
Sensitive to what's unsaid, direct with what needs to be said.
Functional Medicine Advanced Certification (SAFM)
Certified Quantum Coach
National Board Certified Health Coach (NBC-HWC)
The Food and Symptom Journal helps you notice what is happening around meals, energy, digestion, hunger, and daily routines. It is a useful first step when you want more clarity but are not ready to schedule a call.
A meal plan gives you instructions. Coaching helps you understand how to apply nutrition goals, respond when the plan stops working, and build skills you can keep using. A personalized plan may be part of the process, but it is not the entire service.
Yes. Happy Belly Health offers local support in San Diego as well as virtual coaching when appropriate. We can discuss the available format during your discovery call.
No. You can begin with the broad nutrition coaching service. We will discuss your priorities and determine whether a specialty page or program is a better fit.
Not automatically. Recommendations should have a clear reason and should consider nutrition adequacy, flexibility, and quality of life. Temporary changes may be useful in some situations, but restriction is not the default goal.
Yes. Coaching can help you carry out nutrition and lifestyle recommendations while your licensed medical providers remain responsible for diagnosis, treatment, laboratory monitoring, and medication decisions.
Start with a free 20-minute discovery call to talk through your symptoms and goals.
Book a Free Discovery Call Choose a time that worksStart with a free 20-minute discovery call to talk through your symptoms and goals.
