An MTSU alumna whose passion for healthy eating has taken her to new heights within her profession was the guest on a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Monique Richard, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, first aired Aug. 23 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org.

You can listen to their conversation via the SoundCloud link below.

Richard, who graduated summa cum laude in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from MTSU’s Nutrition and Food Science Program, was selected for her spokesperson role in June.

She represents a group of more than 112,000 members that touts itself as the world’s largest association of food and nutrition professionals.

Richard was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2005. She said her minor in psychology helps her stay focused on everything she can do with her diet instead of concentrating only on what she cannot eat.

“It’s not what you should take out of your diet,” Richard said. “It’s all the things that you can put in and all the extras you can have and the abundance of more fruits and vegetables, bigger portions of certain things.”

Richard balances her responsibilities to the academy with her own nutrition counseling and consulting service, which includes yoga.

“It really helps you to practice grace, tolerance and acceptance,” Richard said of the discipline. “There’s not really a restrictive component to it.”

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com. 

For more information about the radio program, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.