Parul Kharod, RDN MS LDN

Nominating Committee Chair, Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Former North Carolina Coordinator, Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Clinical Dietitian, Outpatient Nutrition Services, WakeMed Cary Hospital

Member of the Board of Directors, Plant-based Prevention Of Disease, Inc.

Parul Kharod, RDN MS LDN LDN is a Registered Dietitian and licensed nutritionist, and works as a Clinical Dietitian with Outpatient Nutrition Services at WakeMed Hospital in Cary and Raleigh, where she counsels the adult and pediatric population via an integrative approach, and teaches group classes for the Diabetes Management program.  She also advises at the hospital’s Kidney Stone Clinic, is active with its Corporate and Community Health programs, and is a frequent contributor for the its nutrition blog.  She is a member of the National Hospital Coalition for Meatless Monday, and was instrumental in the launch of this program at WakeMed Cary Hospital in January 2013.

Parul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Food and Nutrition, and a Master’s degree in Dietetics, from Maharaja Sayajirao University in Baroda, India.  She subsequently earned her RDN while attending Meredith College in Raleigh NC.  She has received a Certificate of Training in Food Allergies from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and runs a support group for people with celiac disease and gluten intolerances in collaboration with the Celiac Disease Foundation and the Gluten Intolerance Group.  She writes a monthly health column for a regional magazine, and has also written articles for the local newspaper, and guest columns for various blogs.

Parul was one of the Founding Endorsers of Plant-based Prevention Of Disease (P-POD), has actively contributed to the evolution of our North Carolina conferences, and has long served as a member of our nonprofit Board of Directors.  She is the Nominating Committee Chair for the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group (VNDPG), and served as the VNDPG State Coordinator for North Carolina from Aug. 2011 to Jan. 2015.  She has also earned the Certificate of Training in Vegetarian Nutrition from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Growing up in Mumbai, India with a family that has been vegetarian for generations, Parul has a true understanding of a plant-based lifestyle.  Having lived in various states of India, as well as Kenya, France and several states across America, she has a global perspective about ethnic cuisines and diverse eating habits, and is able to assist people in making appropriate changes to their diets while still conforming to their cultural preferences.  Being an avid cook, Parul loves experimenting in the kitchen with tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes.