Who Am I?

Hi! My name is Daniella Hernandez, the owner of His Daily Bite. I’m a licensed Registered Dietitian who completed my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Dietetics at Texas Christian University, and I’m based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

When I was born, a physician told my mom that I was at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity due to her health. My parents did the best they could to support my older sisters and me, and in a lower-income community, we faced a lot of the same things that are still prevalent to this day, such as the scarcity mindset, finishing the plate even when we're full, a lack of nutrition education, and overconsuming ultra-processed foods.

In Latino communities, we use food for many different reasons. It's a form of love, a time for connection, a way to discover how our parents' parents grew up cooking, a means of passing down traditions, an important piece of our celebrations, and a source of nourishment for our bodies. At a young age, my parents taught me how to cook, and it sparked a passion in me. Cooking for my family and loved ones brought me much joy. It was a way I was able to show my love (if I ever made you a meal, brought you snacks from my house, or offered what I was eating to you - know I have much love for you).

What is Culinary Medicine?

Throughout the years of developing my skills and interests, culinary medicine fell into my lap. Culinary medicine is a field where clinicians bridge the gap between evidence-based nutrition guidelines and patient understanding. It supports the initiative that Food is Medicine (FIM) and supports increasing diet quality to improve health. 

I didn't know God would use my dad as a living testimony of culinary medicine in my life. He developed type 2 diabetes from eating out very often while he was working and drinking multiple energy drinks that contained high amounts of added sugar to stay up. My dad got diagnosed with diabetes with an A1c of 9% (>6.4% = diabetes, >9% raises concern) over a decade ago. A1c is a measure of what percent of your blood contains glucose. Glucose comes from carbohydrates, and in high amounts, causes reduced circulation throughout the body. Reduced circulation can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, obesity, and many other metabolic disorders. I can remember the days I would come home from university and be so excited to tell my family what I had learned. With the education, support, setbacks, successes, meal preps, and counseling, I am pleased to say that his A1c is 6.9% (the standard is to maintain <7%). How great is our God??? Although I had a part in his healthcare, my dad did grunt work. Culinary medicine is personal to me. 

With His Daily Bite, I hope that you feel the same love, from my heart to yours.