About Melissa Halas, MA, RDN, CDCES
PRESIDENT / BOARD OF DIRECTORS
“Food isn’t just fuel—it’s a biological language. Each bite of minimally processed food delivers a rich matrix of nutrients, phytonutrients, and fibers that work together to power our health span, not just our lifespan. Food also impacts our emotional and cognitive well-being. My mission with the Non-UPF Program is to guide consumers toward sustainable, practical eating patterns rooted in whole foods—not industrial formulations—so they can thrive with energy, clarity, and resilience in everyday life.”
Melissa Halas, MA, RDN, CDCES is a nationally recognized registered dietitian, functional nutritionist, and author with over 25 years of experience helping individuals, families, and communities thrive through better nutrition. She is the founder and president of The Non-UPF Program, leading a science-backed movement to reduce ultra-processed foods through education, advocacy, and consumer product certification.
Through her private practice at MelissasHealthyLiving.com, she provides nutrition counseling to help clients reach their best health potential, using a whole-body approach that integrates clinical nutrition, functional medicine, and sustainable lifestyle strategies. Her clients have reversed type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, lost over 50 pounds and kept it off, lowered autoimmune markers, and transformed their family’s eating habits, all through practical, realistic changes.
Melissa has taught courses on functional foods and public nutrition, with a focus on phytonutrients, micronutrients, and brain health, for over 18 years. With experience in clinical nutrition and clinical trials, she blends research, innovation, and compassionate care to address the root causes of chronic disease. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with major food brands and startups to improve ingredient sourcing, reduce additives, and create more nutritious products.
A lifelong educator and advocate, and trained pediatric dietitian, she founded SuperKidsNutrition.com, the first childhood nutrition mega-site (2006), and created the beloved Super Crew®, a group of characters who inspire children to eat colorful, plant-powered foods. The Super Crew® received CDC SBIR funding in its early development. Today, the team is in development on an animated TV series designed to reduce children’s intake of ultra-processed foods while making nutrition education fun, relatable, and science-based.
Melissa believes that every small choice contributes to a healthier you and a healthier planet. She is passionate about mentoring others, cooking, environmentalism, and helping people overcome the challenges of modern ultra-processed food environments through the use of science, creativity, and compassion.