Cara Gourgoumis, RD, LDN, CDCES
About Me
My Story
I became a Registered Dietitian 14 years ago because I wanted to change peoples' lives. What that meant at the time is completely different than what it means now! After putting in years in the more "traditional" realms of nutrition, I realized I was not having the impact I hoped I would, and thus, "Nourished with Aloha" was born! I have seen how many people are impacted by prediabetes, diabetes, weight struggles, and insulin resistance, but there seems to be a lot of confusion and misinformation about how to best address these conditions through our eating habits and lifestyle. I wanted to share with others that it is possible to put prediabetes and diabetes into remission, and lose weight and keep it off without giving up entire food groups or torturing yourself with extreme dieting, which often backfires into weight cycling and disordered eating.
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I have lived on the island of Oahu on and off since 2005, and feel a love and connection to this place and the people who live here. I hope to share that "aloha spirit" with you in our work together, helping you love your body again and trust that ultimately YOU know what is best for it.
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I am also a military spouse and know the struggles associated with this lifestyle all too well! If you have been there, then you know what I'm talking about, and I'd love to help in any way I can.
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In my free time, I enjoy hiking, paddleboarding, OC-6 paddling, exploring Hawaii and its delicious food, and singing at the top of my lungs in my car where no one can hear (much to my kids' embarrassment)!
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Education:
The George Washington University
B.A. Music, 2004
University of Hawaii at Manoa
B.S. Food Science and Human Nutrition, 2007
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Dietetic Internship, 2008
Certifications:
Commission on Dietetic Registration
Registered Dietitian, 2008
Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), 2022
The "Aloha" Philosophy
"Aloha" is a word that you often hear when you spend time in Hawaii, being used more commonly as a greeting and farewell. But the true meaning of aloha is much deeper than this. I often struggle to define it to others, so I will share how one of Hawaii's most treasured kupuna, Auntie Pilahi Paki, defined aloha:
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Aloha is more than a word of greeting or farewell or salutation.
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Aloha means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth and caring with no obligation in return.
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Aloha is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence.
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Aloha means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen and to know the unknowable.
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When we live aloha, we embody patience, kindness, humility, unity, and gentleness. Imagine if we could treat ourselves with these characteristics the way we so often treat others? Showing yourself aloha and learning how to nourish your body and mind, without judgment, providing energy to thrive and spread aloha to others, is what I aim to teach and express in our work together.
