Anca-Maria Cunningham

About Anca-Maria

I'm Anca-Maria, a Registered Dietitian in San Francisco with 15 years of experience. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and a Master of Arts in Nutrition Education from San Francisco State University, and a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition from Rutgers University. I have worked in Clinical/Hospital, Research/Academia, and Community Health settings, which helps me tailor care to diverse needs. When I'm not with clients, you'll find me reading, cooking, spending time with my family that includes two teenage daughters and two Siberian cats, or enjoying a good movie.

Approach to care

Nutrition is not a one-stop shop, but a process: regular sessions over months (i.e., aim for 16 sessions in 6 months). I meet you where you are, and we move forward with clear, actionable steps. My approach blends holding space, moving at your pace, nutrition counselling, and education when and if appropriate, so you feel empowered rather than judged. I believe in Health at Every Size and avoid the diet culture, focusing on sustainable habits that fit your life. The public perception is that dietitians put people on diets for weight loss; the reality is that dietitians want to nourish bodies, normalize relationships with food, improve lab tests, mitigate symptoms related to diagnoses, keep plates full of nourishing foods on tables full of colors, that meet needs for sustained energy, wellness, and holistic care. We'll track progress, celebrate small wins, and adapt the plan as your needs or circumstances evolve. We build "atomic habits" for lasting, sustainable change.

Your first session with Anca-Maria

Our first session is a welcoming conversation about you: your medical history, diagnoses, a review of what you want to work on and what you have tried, your food preferences, dietary habits, and we will begin shaping short-term goals that feel relevant to you and are achievable. We'll talk through your relationship with food, daily routines, and any nutrition concerns you have. Nutrition care is not a meal plan, but it may include meal planning support; it is a plan of care tailored to your needs/ situation, including non-food self-care, stress management, sleep, mindful movement, hobbies, and other aspects relevant to your nutrition story. You will gradually gain clarity about food patterns that support your wellness and feel ready to engage in a series of weekly appointments to improve your clinical outcomes.

Location

📍 San Francisco, California

Education

Bachelor of Science Dietetics, Master of Arts Nutrition Education, Doctor of Clinical Nutrition

Hobbies

reading, cooking, board games, traveling, urban walks, nature hikes, pets (cats), movies, other cultures, the public library

Licenses and Certifications