Christina Fifer, MS, RD, CLE

	Joined Aug, 1999 Department: Health Education [Map] Family Medicine Services [Map] Title: Registered Dietitian II Degree: MS, RD, CLE Interests: Yoga, biking, walking my Chocolate lab, jogging, swimming, singing with my children, and I love to cook. Languages: Spanish Practitioner Homepage
Bio I have been happily employed as a dietitian for over 10 years, with more than 7 of those being at Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa. I was born in San Diego, CA, and graduated from San Diego State University in 1995 with a B.S. in Food and Nutrition. I then completed my dietetic internship at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino County, CA, and passed the registration exam for dietitians in 1996. I became a Certified Lactation Educator in 1997 while working at the Women Infants and Children program in San Diego, CA. In 2004, I completed my M.S. degree in Human Nutrition at the University of New Haven, CT via a satellite campus in San Francisco. I met my husband in 1997 in San Diego. We moved up to Sonoma County in 1999, and married in 2000. We are now the overly joyous parents of our first child, Nathan, born in October of 2004. We enjoy athletic activities together including exercising our Chocolate Lab Brody, mountain biking, golfing, and hiking. I also enjoy jogging, swimming, singing to my son, cooking, and yoga. I work with all types of health conditions, not specializing in one particular area. I enjoy teaching people about the benefits of food, and how dietary choices can help prevent health complications and treat health problems. As a dietitian my focus is on food first, and then vitamin and mineral supplements as appropriate. It is important to note that dietitians are not herbalists. The education and information I provide is based on scientifically proven research studies approved by the American Medical Association. I believe nutrition is a key component of wellness, joined by exercise, relaxation, and entertainment. I enjoy the culinary aspects of food as well (yes I love being in the kitchen), and encourage wholesome, fresh foods opposed to packaged, processed/refined, or nutritionally depleted foods. I deem myself fortunate to have such an interesting job of meeting new people every day. I enjoy sharing my knowledge, learning from patients, and assisting patients with lifestyle changes that they are ready to make. I look forward to meeting you!
My Medical Specialty
More details about my specialty: I have been happily employed as a dietitian since 1996. My career with Kaiser Permanente started in 1999 here in Santa Rosa, CA. I was born in San Diego, CA, and graduated from San Diego State University in 1995 with a B.S. in Food and Nutrition. I then completed my dietetic internship at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino County, CA, and passed the registration exam for dietitians in 1996. I became a Certified Lactation Educator in 1997 while working at the Women Infants and Children program in San Diego, CA. In 2004, I completed my M.S. Degree in Human Nutrition at the University of New Haven, CT via a satellite campus in San Francisco. My specialty interests and affiliations within my field: I work with all types of health conditions including Weight Management, Type 2 Diabetes, Oncology, Renal Insufficiency, Eating Disorders, Vegetarianism, and Heart Disease to name a few. I specialize in Obstetric Nutrition and Nutrition for Bariatric Surgery. I enjoy teaching people about the benefits of food, and how dietary choices can help prevent health complications and treat health problems. As a dietitian my focus is on food first, and then vitamin and mineral supplements as appropriate. I provide evidence based nutrition information and education. I enjoy the culinary aspects of food as well (yes I love being in the kitchen), and recommend foods from the earth-not from the factory. I believe nutrition is a key component of wellness, joined by exercise, relaxation, and entertainment. Current projects or research: Great health resources that I refer to: Nutrition Action Newsletter http://www.cspinet.org/nah/index.htm Deceptively Delicious http://www.deceptivelydelicious.com Cooking Light Magazine http://www.cookinglight.com You on a Diet The Owner's Guide to Waist Management by Mehmet C. Oz and Michael F. Roizen http://www.realage.com/the-you-docs/you-on-a-diet An interesting story from my training: I first got interested in nutrition in college. While selecting classes for my second semester of college, I needed just one more general ed class to complete my schedule. I came across a general nutrition class, and decided to sign up with the intentions of learning why my uncle chose to be a vegetarian. Midway through the semester I realized that there was so much to learn about nutrition, I decided to declare it my major. Not only could I work with it as a career, but I was excited to apply it to my life as well.
Interests
I enjoy mountain biking and have recently become more interested in cycling since my husband and I opened up Breakaway Bikes bicycle shop in Rohnert Park, CA in 2006. In 2009, I gained the courage to begin commuting to work. I ride a Cannondale comfort bike with flat resistant tubes in my tires to decrease the incidence and stress of getting a flat on the way to work! Our young children have the passion as well. Born in 2004 and 2007, both started riding before the age of two. Although, above riding bikes, my passion is yoga. I once heard that the key to growing old gracefully is to stay flexible--and that I plan to do! In the Spring of 2009, I attended a seminar titled Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives at the Greystone Culinary Institute of America in Napa. I tuned-up some of my cooking skills, worked with the chefs in their kitchen, and came home with numerous healthy and deliciuos recipes that I would love to share with you.	Hobby Photos & Links: Nathan crossing his first finish line. Age 3. Bicycle shop
Family & Friends
People in my life: I met my husband in 1997 in San Diego. We moved up to Sonoma County in 1999, and married in 2000. We are now the overly joyous parents of Nathan, born in 2004, and Elena, born in 2007. We enjoy athletic activities together including exercising our Chocolate Lab, Brody, mountain biking, and playing at the park.	Photos of my Family & Friends: My husband Phil riding at the Dirt Crits in Howarth Park

Travel
Favorite place in the world: My favorite place to be is relaxing on a white sandy beach with the warm sun penetrating my skin, (covered in sunscreen of course) and the scent of the tropics in the air. It is then that I am fully at peace.