NUTRIGIRL

About NUTRIGIRL: Real Food, Real Power

Volume 1

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NUTRIGIRL: Real Food. Real Power. is a middle grade graphic novel that brings food, friendship, and science to life through humor and superhero adventure. It invites readers to discover how food fuels their bodies, explore where it comes from, and question the advertising messages around them.

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Written by registered dietitian Stacey Weiss Bender, this first volume encourages curiosity, confidence, and a balanced relationship with food. 

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The Story Behind Nutrigirl

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My inspiration for NUTRIGIRL began with my own childhood experiences with dieting, food, and body image. Those struggles continued into young adulthood and eventually shaped my desire to help children feel more confident about food and their bodies.

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Before becoming a registered dietitian, I spent eight years selling advertising for children’s television. That experience gave me an inside look at how food marketing reaches young audiences—and sparked my interest in helping children become more informed, curious consumers.

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My career change began at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and continued through graduate studies at New York University and my dietetic internship at NYU Langone Medical Center. Along the way, Nutrigirl took shape in an illustration class, and her story grew during graduate school.

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Today, as a dietitian and mother of three, I’ve brought those experiences together in NUTRIGIRL: Real Food, Real Power. My hope is to give children an adventure they’ll enjoy while encouraging them to ask questions, try new foods, and appreciate what their bodies can do.