More about my practice

Why Kaleidoscope Nutrition?

Kaleidoscopes are curious things. After each shake, their pieces change colors and shapes, falling in and out, but always seeming to, as if by miracle, land in the right place, creating something beautiful. 

We can be shaken by life’s circumstances, and even parts of us destroyed. Yet if you take the time, look inside, and hold yourself up to the light, you will see something not only new and different, but equally, if not more, beautiful.

To me, the kaleidoscope represents the idea that as life changes and things may fall apart, we are continuously challenged to put the pieces back together again, in new ways, achieving delightful patterns and sustaining the beauty inside us.

Welcome to Kaleidoscope Nutrition!

You’ve landed in the right place. Let’s step into the light.

Meet your coach

Hi! I am Danni Gheleva, Ph.D., R.D.N., C.D.. I have been a nutrition professional for over 25 years and along with my passion for all things food and sustainable eating, I have deep knowledge of nutrient metabolism, human physiology, nutrition therapy for chronic cardiometabolic disease prevention and management, as well as nutrition and wellness for active people throughout the lifecycle.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics from Texas Christian University and received a Doctorate in Human Nutrition from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. I have been a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist since 1997.

Food and nutrition are my life’s passion and vocation. I have taught nutrition at the college level for 18 years, training future dietitians, nurses, physical therapists, fitness coaches, and other healthcare professionals. I worked for 4 years as a nutrition scientist with a major food company. I have led experiential learning experiences in Mediterranean food culture and sustainable food production in Italy, was a visiting scholar at the Mediterranean Diet Foundation in Spain, and was the founder of the first college-based Teaching (Community) Kitchen in Washington state. I am a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society for Nutrition and the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics.

I am thorough and detail oriented. I have the knowledge, expertise, and skills to help you reach a place of contentment when it comes to your nutrition status and well-being and assist you in making long-term lifestyle changes through support, accountability, and education. Lastly, I am not interested in promoting a narrow definition of health, or trendy diet plans that capitalize on the thrill of newness, and I am not focused on thinness and appearance. I may not always get things perfect, but I promise to be authentic and put you first.

I can’t wait to meet you.

“Eating with the fullest pleasure - pleasure, that is, that does not depend on ignorance - is perhaps the profoundest enactment of our connection with the world. In this pleasure we experience our dependence and our gratitude, for we are living in a mystery, from creatures we did not make and powers we cannot comprehend.”

― Wendell Berry


On a personal note

I grew up in Bulgaria and have fond memories of spending my summers in the countryside, seeing my grandmother tend to her vegetable and flower gardens, watching her create amazing food from humble ingredients, and helping her with endless rows of jars as we canned the harvest of summer. We took long walks in the hills, stopped for picnics and naps by the river, and gathered wild plums, berries, and herbs. I have since lived in 5 different countries and although the US is my home now, I very much feel like a citizen of the world and am deeply affected by the discord at large.

As a long-time vegetarian (pescatarian) and whole foods eater, I am passionate about culturally-inclusive plant-based eating. I believe food is medicine and it was my desire to help others experience the power of food to transform, that led me to become a nutrition and wellness coach and therapist. We humans are intricately connected with the natural world, so I am an advocate for sustainable food systems and lifestyles that honor not only our bodies, minds, and souls, but also the earth and everyone else in it.

I am a nature lover, an urban dweller, bike commuter, and an adventurous traveler. I love to move, and especially to hike/trek/backpack, do yoga, lap swim, and poke around our small backyard garden. I love mountains, jazz, miniatures, poetry, sun-ripe tomatoes, a good cup of tea, home cooking, and time with friends and family. I am a curious, authentic, and resourceful human who is ever seeking growth, balance, and joy. I am also a solo parent of two young children and as a working parent I get what it is like to juggle things daily and the challenge of time and creating space for quieting your mind.

Chris van Tulleken

“In the modern world, eating lunch at a table is a sign of health and a good life.”

Wendell Berry

“Better than any argument is to rise at dawn and pick dew-wet red berries in a cup.”