Virginia Messina

Last updated
Virginia Messina
Born
Virginia Kisch
Education University of Michigan (MPH, 1981)
Occupations
  • Activist
  • author
  • dietitian

Virginia Messina (also known as Ginny Messina and The Vegan RD) is an American registered dietitian and veganism activist, best known for her research on plant-based nutrition. She has twice co-authored the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics position paper on vegetarian diets.

Contents

Career

Messina became a vegetarian in 1970s after reading the cookbook Laurel's Kitchen . [1] She became interested in animal rights and veganism in the 1980s. [1] She obtained a Master of Public Health degree from University of Michigan in 1981. [2] She was director of nutrition services at George Washington University Medical Center from 1987 to 1989 and a dietitian for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) from 1989 to 1992. [2] She was on the PCRM Board of Advisors from 1997 to 2012. [2] Messina is an adjunct assistant professor at Loma Linda University. [2]

Messina is a member of the Vegetarian Resource Group and has been on their board of advisors since 1997. [2] [3] Messina and her husband founded Vegetarian Nutrition: An International Journal. [4] She is a founding member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group. [2] [3] Messina co-authored the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly American Dietetic Association) position paper on vegetarian diets in 1997 and 2003. [5]

In 2011, Messina co-authored Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to Be Healthy on a Plant-Based Diet with Jack Norris. [6] It was updated in 2020. [7] [8]

In 2018, Messina was a speaker at the Boston Veg Food Fest. [9]

Personal life

Messina is married to Mark J. Messina, a nutritionist and soy researcher. [10] They reside in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. [3] She is an animal rights activist and vegan who volunteers with Berkshire Voters for Animals. [3] Messina serves on the board of directors of Alley Cat Rescue. [11] [12]

Her father William Joseph Kisch died in 2003. [13]

Selected publications

References

  1. 1 2 "Vegan dietitians for life: Interview with Jack Norris & Ginny Messina". Vegan News. 2013. Archived from the original on June 20, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Virgina Messina, MPH, RD". The Vegan RD. 2025. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Nutrition myths in the vegan community with Ginny Messina". The Proof. 2022. Archived from the original on July 25, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Vegetarian Action: Profiles of Three Leaders in Vegetarian Nutrition". Vegetarian Journal. 1997. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Mangels, Reed; Messina, Virginia; Melina, Vesanto (2003). "Position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada: Vegetarian diets" (PDF). Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 103 (6): 748–765. doi:10.1053/jada.2003.50142. PMID   12778049.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Hoffman, Piper (2021). "Book Review: "Vegan for Life" by Jack Norris & Virginia Messina". Our Hen House. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to Be Healthy on a Plant-Based Diet". Blackwell's. 2025. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Vegan For Life: Updated, Revised, Expanded, and All-New". The Vegan RD. 2020. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025.
  9. ↑ "2018 Boston Veg Food Fest Speakers" (PDF). Boston Vegetarian Society. 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 18, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Mark J. Messina, Ph.D." 2025. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Board of Directors and Advisory Board Members". Alley Cat Rescue. 2025. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Ginny Kisch Messina, MPH, RD". The Vegan RD. 2025. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025.
  13. ↑ "William Joseph Kisch". Legacy.com. 2003. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025.
  14. ↑ Storey, Meagan (2014). "Never Too Late To Go Vegan: The Over-50 Guide to Adopting and Thriving on a Plant-Based Diet". Library Journal. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025.
  15. ↑ Messina, Mark; Messina, Virginia (2025). "Nova Fails to Appreciate the Value of Plant-Based Meat and Dairy Alternatives in the Diet". Journal of Food Science. 90 (2) e70039. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.70039 . PMC   11810565 .
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