Kala /kā-la/ Nutrition was founded by dietitian Malou Aragon Nichols. We chose the name “Kala” in affinity to pamilya [family] stories working alongside the kalabaw /kā-la-bau/—water buffalo endemic to the Philippines. Kalabaw are dependable farm companions—trusted besties who provide food security, hardworking partnership, and a deep connection to nature. These qualities inspire our approach to nutrition care work.

Our team joins the community conversation around food access, body size inclusivity, and the industrialization of health care. We are concerned about the hyper-focus on numbers and “risk factors,” rather than one’s inherent wholeness and well-being. We approach nutrition in a holistic, whole-person way and believe cultural foods are part of “a healthy diet.”

With intersectionality in mind, we bring cultural humility, lived experience, and radical compassion to our nutrition care. We’d love to help you explore practical, meaningful ways to nourish and fuel your body. Moving beyond strict meal plans, we partner and meet with clients regularly (weekly) to begin building an individualized plan that honors their strengths. As clients gain confidence, we meet less often to encourage ongoing attunement.