Whole Foods Research Lab
We are on a mission to help families adopt a healthy diet pattern to support metabolic health from childhood to adulthood.
Our Goal
Our lab is focused on helping individuals stop counting calories or restricting meals, and instead use “whole foods” to improve the diet-quality of families at risk of diet-preventable conditions like type 2 diabetes and obesity. We use a family-centered approach to tailor our recommendations and support the unique needs and preferences of all families, one meal at a time.
Meet Our Team
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Bennie Damul, BS
Research Assistant
Bennie Damul is a Global Health MPH student at Vanderbilt University, with research interests in behavioral sciences and how social determinants of health and inequities affect healthcare outcomes in marginalized communities. Before starting the Public Health program at Vanderbilt, she was a program assistant at Family Health International (FHI360) where she was awarded the prestigious Lynda Cole Award for Excellence in Leadership. She graduated from Xavier University with a BSc in Psychology, and while at Xavier, she was a Community Engaged Fellow and a Brueggeman Research Fellow. In her free time, Bennie can be found nose-deep in a book or working on a sustainable fashion design project.
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Margaret Green, MS, RD, LDN
Registered Dietition Nutritionist
Maggie Green is a registered dietitian with experience in clinical nutrition care and nutrition counseling. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Dietetics from the University of Georgia and a Master of Science in Nutrition from Lipscomb University, where she also completed her dietetic internship. Her work at Vanderbilt University Medical Center includes the development and execution of pediatric clinical trials aimed at promoting healthy childhood growth and weight management. She is dedicated to helping improve the health and well-being of children and families through evidence-based nutrition interventions. In the Whole Foods Lab, she serves as the study dietitian working closely with participating families to offer nutrition education and support on diet adherence.
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Isabella Peng
Research Assistant
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Pranoy Sangowder
Research Assistant
Publications
Sneed, N.M., Kelley, R., Turner, H. et al. The development and testing of a single-arm feasibility and acceptability study of a whole foods diet intervention for adults with prediabetes and their offspring. Pilot Feasibility Stud 10, 130 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-024-01554-9
Funding
- Vanderbilt Faculty Research Scholars Program
- Vanderbilt Digestive Diseases Research Center Pilot Project Program
- Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Health Equity Fellowship Program