our dietitian, Sarah, and our director of culinary innovation, David, in the kitchen together
Behind The Scenes

Meet the Snap Kitchen Culinary Team

August 26, 2018

The world of nutrition and wellness can be really overwhelming, with constantly evolving trends and information overload. That’s why we’re so proud of the Snap Kitchen culinary team. They’re here to obsess about the food so you don’t have to, crafting meals with high-quality, nutrient-dense ingredients that help you thrive. Meet the team that’s helping you get the most out of your food!

 

The Snap Kitchen Culinary Team

 

Sam Presicci, Lead Dietitian

Sam works closely with both our culinary and marketing teams and acts as the liaison between them. She runs our culinary partnership program, writes for our blog, social media and email channels, writes all product descriptions and more.

Here’s a little more about her background:

I was born and raised in New York and found my way to Texas by way of North Carolina. I got an undergraduate degree in English at NC State before deciding that I needed to pursue my passion for sustainable, real food. So back to school, I went, first for pre-requisite courses and then to graduate school at UT Southwestern Medical Center. My goal has always been to get actionable and accurate nutrition information into the hands of the largest number of people possible, and I believe my role as Lead RD at Snap Kitchen truly gives me that opportunity. I’m also a Whole30 Certified Coach and a Certified Personal Trainer through NASM. I have two rescue dogs and love spending time outdoors with them.

When it comes to my food philosophy, I operate from a very holistic perspective. I believe in real, unadulterated food and in not overcomplicating nutrition. Personally, I feel my best when I’m eating a paleo, real food-based diet. I’m passionate about food quality and sourcing and one of my favorite things to do is shop directly from my local farmers. I’m also a big proponent of mindful eating. While it may seem simple, making sure that we’re eating meals seated and without distraction (phone, tv, books, etc) can go a long way in helping us feel more satisfied and even helping us to better digest our food!

 

Sarah Pettry, Registered Dietitian 

Sarah runs our meal plan program and is responsible for all of our nutrition labels. No easy feat! She wears lots of other hats too, just like Sam!

Like Sam, I am also not originally from the great state of Texas. Born and raised in Alabama, my journey to Texas began after graduating from The University of Alabama. There, I received my bachelor’s in Food and Nutrition, completed the Coordinated Program in Dietetics, and received my master’s in Human Nutrition. My passion for food and healthy living began very early in my life, and it is very important to me to educate our community on living a balanced life while listening to our body’s reactions. Soon after school, my husband and I headed to Austin in hopes of fulfilling our dream of living in a vibrant city full of outdoor activities, delicious food and ‘weird’ people (it’s totally a compliment).

My personal food philosophy is everything in moderation. It is important to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet while engaging in regular exercise. But it is also important to treat your cravings periodically and understand that all bodies are different. I love being able to educate people about the confusing world of nutrition and inspiring them to find what works for them as an individual. Outside of Snap, I enjoy reading a good mystery novel in a tranquil coffee shop and hiking the trails with my dog. On the weekends you’ll find me riding my bike around Austin and exploring new restaurants with my husband and friends.

David Vigil, Director of Culinary and R&D

Born and raised in Denver, Colorado I found my way to Austin to work for Snap Kitchen. I helped open our markets outside of Texas, and still support Philadelphia.  I’ve worked in a range of kitchens from the gourmet hot dog stand that went to brick and mortar locations, a small hotel restaurant and also a combined 14 years at 2 restaurant chains that were the polar opposite of Snap Kitchen.  I’ve always been curious about how food changes or reacts based on recipe and ingredient treatment. This fits my current role perfectly – I help translate the original recipe idea to something that works in the Snap prepared cook-chill delivery system.

I tend to cook a lot at home, and if it’s going out it follows my same principles of whole food as often as possible. I don’t follow any particular diet – I do avoid overly processed ingredients as a whole. I attempt to grow as many veggies as my garden and time allow. I’m still learning how different the growing seasons, so I also support farmers markets to get local produce.

 

Want to nourish yourself without the cooking, prep, or cleaning? Try one of our meal plans, curated by our dietitians to fit a variety of lifestyles.

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1 Comment
  • Reply Marlene Smith January 25, 2018 at 12:37 am

    Love the concept

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