Happy National Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day!
Did you know, GNC currently employs 7 Registered Dietitians, and countless others over the years. Registered Dietitians (RD) are truly the nutrition experts. Not just “nutritionists” – call us one, and we’ll fight you! And it’s spelled “dietitian” not “dietician”. So what’s the difference, a dietitian vs nutritionist? An RD goes to school for a minimum of 6 years to study human nutrition. That’s a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Science, followed by a dietetic internship, exam, and annual continuing education to maintain credentials. A couple of us even hold PhD’s. So, we speak from expertise – and science! A nutritionist? Questionable “experience”.
What does that mean to you? GNC’s dietitians are amazing – we are the science behind the products and information you see and hear from GNC.
In celebration of National Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, I took a minute to interview each of our fabulous RD’s to get the scoop on how they stay healthy and their supplement stack. We’re unique in our activities, phases of our careers, and life! But if there’s one thing we have in common, it’s our passion for nutrition and Living Well.
Interested in what products our registered dietitians buy and use? Click below to shop our dietitian picks!
Meet the Dietitians
Rachel Baker, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN – Manager, Scientific Communications
“I’ve been a dietitian for almost 20 years, and a sports dietitian for about 15. Sports nutrition is my passion. So, it’s natural that I love fitness, fueling performance, and hydration! Our bodies can do incredible things when fueled properly!
I stay active by riding my Peloton, lifting weights, yoga, and running. In a former life I ran marathons and raced triathlons. While there likely won’t be another Ironman in my future; I’ve getting back to my endurance roots by training for the Pittsburgh Marathon this May. It’s been a long hiatus (kids!), but as they’re getting older (7 & 10), I’m able to sneak away for my long runs.
The rest of my training occurs early in the morning. Getting my workouts done and out of the way before starting my day is a huge weight off my shoulders. Exercise is a form of therapy for me and has been for many, many years. By exercising in the morning, I’m better able to focus on work, my family, and all the racing around in between.
I admit, my meal planning skills aren’t great. I lean on Trader Joe’s quite a bit, adding some extra protein, and lots of veggies. Thank heavens for bagged salads… and multivitamins!
Find Rachel’s bio and articles written here.
Rachel's Supplement Stack:
- GNC’s Pro Performance Pre-Workout – for the wee hours of the morning.
- GNC Pro Performance Creatine Monohydrate or AMP Creatine 189 – I mix creatine monohydrate with a preworkout, protein, or hydration drink. And when I’m not working out (or forget) I’ll take Creatine 189.
- Collagen – daily in my coffee.
- GNC Pro Performance 100% Whey Protein
- GNC Triple Strength Fish Oil – I don’t get enough fish in my diet!
- GNC Women’s Probiotic
- Vitamin D – my levels are repeatedly low and the sun doesn’t reliably shine in Pittsburgh.
- GNC Women’s Multivitamin
Lauren Green, DCN, RDN, LDN, CPT – Director, Global Product Design
Lauren has her Doctorate in Nutrition and has been working at GNC for over 10 years formulating some of top products. She’s truly an expert and the absolute GOAT of balancing life. She’s a mom of 4! She has a farm… with animals! And, she’s a certified kettle bell instructor. She even teaches classes in her “off time”.
Find Lauren’s bio and articles written here.
Lauren's Supplement Stack:
A former body builder (with more in her future) and advocate for all things wellness, Lauren is a force to be reckoned with. Because she’s currently breastfeeding (her most recent addition is just 5 months old!), her supplement routine is simple. One non-negotiable for her is creatine, plus a multivitamin and fish oil (when she remembers)!
Mary Milstead, MS, RD, LDN – Director, Scientific Communications & Creative
Mary is a doer. She’s brilliant! And she’s been at GNC for just shy of 10 years – formulating products, researching ingredients, making claims, writing content, and directing creative packaging. At home, she’s got twin toddlers, both boys, who are up to nothing but mischief. Her goal is to stay healthy on-the-go for herself and her family.
Find Mary’s bio and articles written here.
Mary's Supplement Stack:
- GNC Women’s Ultra Mega
- GNC Triple Strength Fish Oil
- GNC Probiotics 25 Billions CFUs
- GNC Premier Collagen Powder (in her coffee whenever she remembers)
- GNC Lean Shake 25 Ready to Drink (when she need a quick and easy breakfast or lunch)
Rachel Kreider is in her second stint at GNC and has been a part of the supplement industry for nearly 15 years. She prioritizes her health and wellness everyday as part of her lifelong commitment to Living Well. She also loves helping others see their health potential. She’s an absolute boss, a social butterfly, and has three incredibly active kids. How does she do it all?
Find Rachel’s bio and articles written here.
- “I basically never miss a day of moving my body in some way—I ride my Peloton, run, walk my dog, ski, ride my bike, lift weights, do yoga—SOMETHING!
- I try to eat a ton of protein, fruits and veggies—I love a good protein shake or smoothie and use Pro Performance 100% Whey or GNC AMP Sustained Protein
- I use a targeted assortment of supplements—5g of Creatine (through a mix of Create gummies, Beyond Raw Chem Labs Creatine HCl and Pro Performance Creatine Monohydrate), GNC Women’s Once Daily Multivitamin, Triple Strength Fish Oil Mini Softgel, and the occasional mushroom hot cocoa at bedtime
- I’m trying to work on my sleep—I never get enough, so I’ve been trying to eliminate my exposure to blue light at bedtime and alternate between Preventive Nutrition Tri-Sleep and our GNC brand Melatonin gummies”
Ava Fabriziani, RDN, LDN, CLC – Associate Manager, Product Design
Ava is the newest RDN to team GNC, she’s also a new mom! Here’s what Ava has to say about how she’s staying active in this new phase of life.
“As a first-time mom only 6 months postpartum, intentionality and convenience are necessary when incorporating healthy habits that stick. In this era of my life, I’m fueling up to nourish myself and my baby, all while my supporting my body’s recovery from pregnancy and postpartum. I move through my day focused on nutrient density, ensuring that each meal and snack is deliberate and contributes to my overall health goals.”
“Simultaneously, I’m listening to my body to respect its timely needs and hunger cues. Often, you’ll find me by the blender crafting a concoction of fruits and vegetables plus vanilla whey protein for a mid-day nutrient burst! Since my son arrived, I’ve committed to a supplement regimen that integrates a perinatal multivitamin for added dietary insurance that gives me the extra boost I need to reach my goals.”
Find Ava’s bio and articles written here.
Brittany Johnson, PhD, MS, RDN – Senior Manager, Scientific Affairs
Brittany heads up our Scientific Affairs team and does all things research. She’s such an integral team member – we just love her! Here’s what Brittany has to say about her routine:
“I’ve been a dietitian for almost 12 years now and earned my PhD in Health and Human Performance, so you could say I’m a bit of a nutrition and exercise science nerd. I’m always looking at how we can fuel our bodies to perform our best that’s backed by science —whether that’s foundational wellness, muscle recovery, or pushing through another set in the gym.
That’s why I love GNC’s branded products. I see firsthand the rigorous science and testing that goes into them, so I know I’m getting exactly what I need, nothing extra, nothing questionable. I also have a soft spot for the giant bag of whey protein from Optimum Nutrition because, let’s be honest, I go through a lot of protein!
Find Brittany’s bio and articles written here.
Brittany's Daily Supplement Stack:
- Foundational Supplements: Multi, Fish Oil, Probiotics, and Collagen
- The multi powder is a game-changer—it has fiber, a bit of protein, and most importantly, it saves me from pill fatigue! I also love to put my collagen in my morning coffee.
- Muscle Fuel: Whey Protein + Creatine
- My two non-negotiables for strength. I’m a huge creatine advocate—I have my entire family taking it! (Seriously, my parents, my siblings…everyone.) The research behind it is rock solid. I will either add the powder creatine monohydrate with my protein powder or some days I will using the PEG creatine pills. I like to switch it up.
- Performance & Recovery: Greens Recovery + HMB + Hydration
- Greens Recovery has Cherry Pure and antioxidants—great for bouncing back after a tough workout and recently added in HMB after I did a deep dive into the research. It’s an oldie but goodie, with so much science on muscle power and recovery! It has a bitter flavor, so I mix it into AMP Hydration before my workout to keep me hydrated and support muscle recovery.
- Mood & Skin Support: Hello Harmony
- Started Hello Harmony in November to support my female-specific needs (because hormones matter!) and I noticed Nutroxsun helps support my skin health too!
I love filling my free time with staying active and choosing ingredients proven to support my muscle strength and power on top of my foundations. You’ll find me in the gym lifting weights at least 6 days per week, hiking and paddle boarding on weekends. Plus, I walk a lot! I’m constantly on the move so a lot of muscle strength and recovery supplements are part of my routine. I really believe in the science of supplements and since taking them consistently along with my diet and exercise, I have never felt better!”
Rachel Jones, MS, RDN, LDN – Chief Merchandising Office and VP of Science
Rachel was the first dietitian hired at GNC. Over the past 20 years, she’s been responsible for nutrition research and product development, international merchandising and marketing, establishing and leading the GNC Brand Family of products, and is now our Chief Merchandising and Science Officer. She knows the business better than anyone else! In fact, you can find her traveling all over the world, representing GNC and nutrition science. The ultimate example of a dietitian who’s carved her own career path in a non-traditional RD role. She’s influenced the nutrition and supplement industry from every angle. We’re so lucky to have her as a role model and someone we aspire to be!
Rachel is a busy, on the go, mom of two. Despite her demanding job, Rachel still finds time to prioritize her health. She prefers to run and walk outdoors, but also uses the elliptical, and lifts light weights for about 30-60 minutes three to four times per week. Abs and pushups daily!
Rachel never misses her Women’s Ultra Mega Multivitamin and GNC Ultra Probiotic Complex. If she’s pressed for time and can’t have a full meal after her workouts, she’ll make a fruit smoothie with whey protein or reach for a Lean Shake 25 Ready to Drink. And while she tries her best to get Omega 3’s in her diet, by eating salmon and tuna regularly, GNC Triple Strength Fish Oil Mini helps fill the gaps. And after our teams’ extensive research into creatine and HMB, she plans to add both to her stack – there is so much evidence to support benefits for performance and muscle health!
It’s been so much fun introducing you to our team of wonderful RD’s – we are the people behind our products. At GNC we pride ourselves in everything we do. Be confident that our team of dietitians, scientists, and nutrition researchers stand behind the safety and efficacy of our products.
