Today we’d like to introduce you to Marina Chaparro.
Hi Marina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey with food and health began long before Nutrichicos. I grew up on the U.S.–Mexico border, surrounded by tortillas, laughter, and long family meals. At sixteen, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a moment that changed everything. Instead of seeing food as the enemy, I learned how powerful it could be. That experience inspired me to study nutrition and led me from my small border town to Boston, where I dove into the science of how we nourish our bodies.
After years of working as a pediatric dietitian and diabetes educator, becoming a mom was my biggest awakening. Despite all my training as a pediatric dietitian, I suddenly understood how complicated feeding kids can feel — the guilt, the pressure, the chaos. I realized that so many parents, especially in Hispanic families like mine, were navigating the same confusion without the culturally rooted guidance they deserved.
That’s why I created Nutrichicos, a bilingual space that blends science with culture, and evidence with empathy. A place where parents can learn, laugh, and feel seen, in English or Spanish. When the pandemic shut down my in-person practice, I brought Nutrichicos fully online. What started as one-on-one work has now grown into courses, podcasts, speaking engagements, and partnerships that reach families around the world — all centered on one belief: food is more than nutrition. It’s culture. It’s connection. It’s love. 💛
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was finding a way to communicate evidence-based nutrition in a way that feels culturally relevant and realistic for families. There’s so much misinformation and fear around food, especially when it comes to children, and my goal has always been to replace that with clarity, compassion, and joy! I’m over fear-based mongering or clickbait titles that make parents feel guilty-we have enough guilt as it is! I want to empower Moms and Parents and transform their kids’ health and nutrition to one that is centered in balance, connection, curiosity, and joy!
Another challenge was balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, and growth. Building something from scratch while raising a family has stretched me in ways I couldn’t imagine, but it’s also given me purpose. Every obstacle, from funding to self-doubt, has shaped Nutrichicos into what it is today: a heart-centered brand grounded in community, not perfection. My motto in life has been “Say yes, even though it scares you!”
As you know, we’re big fans of Nutrichicos. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I’m a registered dietitian with more than 16 years of experience helping families raise healthy, positive eaters without diets, tricks, or guilt. Today, Nutrichicos helps parents, brands, and organizations transform kids’ nutrition by providing online resources, private consultations, and culturally sensitive communication solutions for the Hispanic community.
My philosophy is simple:
✨ Strive for balance, not perfection.
✨ Less guilt, more joy and connection.
✨ Give freedom, with limits — trust your kids.
✨ Nutrition is about adding, not restricting.
I specialize in pediatric and family nutrition, feeding challenges, and empowering parents to feel confident about food choices. What sets Nutrichicos apart is our bilingual, bicultural approach, we understand that food is more than nutrients; it’s identity, love, and family.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Nutrichicos has become a trusted voice in children’s nutrition, one that celebrates diversity, culture, and joy in every meal.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something that might surprise people is that before becoming a pediatric dietitian, I was terrified of public speaking! Now, I speak at national conferences and on TV, but that confidence came with time and a lot of practice.
Another fun fact: Nutrichicos started as a small side project while I was working full-time at a children’s hospital. I never imagined it would grow into a global bilingual community. It’s proof that when you lead with purpose (and a little bit of corazón) amazing things can happen.
And also, I eat chocolate every day! That might surprise people, especially knowing that I live with type 1 diabetes. Oohh, and I will never say no to a flour tortilla from Chihuahua or a chocolate croissant…Life is too short not to enjoy chocolate and tortillas.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nutrichicos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutrichicos
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NutrichicosBlog
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-chaparro/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Nutrichicos
- Other: https://nutrichicos.com/podcast/messy-bites
Image Credits
Photos by @Alecenfoto Photography: Ale Cen
