Instructor: Dr. Cynthia Heiss

I moved to Missouri from California (Los Angeles area) to teach at Missouri State in 2005. I'm almost over the culture shock!

As far as my education goes, I received my Bachelor's degree in Dietetics from Texas Christian University in Forth Worth, TX, my Master's in Nutrition from Colorado State University, and my Doctorate in Nutrition from Texas Woman's University.

I am a registered dietitian (RD) and have worked as a clincial dietitian in a hospital, nutrition counselor, and consulting dietitian. I worked as the education director for an internet startup company (DiabetesManager.com), but a few months after taking the job, the company folded when the dot.com industry crashed in 2000. I have published nutrition articles for the public, mostly on websites, and edited Bob Greene's book on eating healthy when dining out. We were going to meet one time at Oprah's mansion in California, but he canceled (darn!)

One thing you should probably know about me are that I don't eat the perfect diet. First, there is no perfect diet, and second, I really, really like M&M's. I usually tell students that if they see me in the grocery store, they aren't allowed to look in my basket (although I've learned to put lettuce in my basket first to hide the candy under). Since most of you don't know what I look like, that shouldn't be a problem with this online class! Bottom line, I think it's important to eat healthy, but it's also important to enjoy food - all things in moderation. Except holidays - then moderation goes out the window. In any event, even though I'm a dietitian, I'm not the food police!