For over a year, registered dietitian Elle Penner, MPH, RD, has been heading up the nutrition department at MyFitnessPal. And as she says herself, “Working with such an amazing group of health-centered people on the best health app out there—that’s a registered dietitian’s dream!” Thanks, Elle! We’re thrilled to be your dream job, and we’re thrilled you’ve agreed to sit down and answer some of our questions!
First, tell us a bit about yourself: Where did you grow up? Do you have any hobbies outside of work? I grew up about 30 minutes outside of Boston in North Andover, MA. And yes, I do have a hobby of sorts. I write a healthy lifestyle blog, According to Elle—it’s a creative outlet that gives me a great excuse to cook!
So you love to cook, tell us then, what’s your favorite food? I love steak burritos, with a little bit of rice and heavy on black beans—yum! But I also love mushroom pizza. Oh, and cheesecake, preferably pumpkin. Sorry, I can’t choose just one food—it’s the dietitian in me.
Do you have a favorite workout? Yes, I do! I fill my week with a combination of running, intense power yoga, and boot camp-style workouts—I know I just gave you more than one, but I’m all about balancing cardio, strength, and stretching!
And do you use the MyFitnessPal app for your own fitness? Yes, I love logging runs with a partner app that syncs right into MyFitnessPal! And I love MyFitnessPal because it makes healthy living doable and fun!
What’s your favorite thing about working at MyFitnessPal? The people. We’re seriously like a big family—a big family of talented, athletic, fun people. Plus, I love knowing that what I’m doing can improve the lives of millions of people. That’s powerful stuff. We’re a dedicated team, driven to create ways for people to enhance their lives—I can’t imagine anything better.
Do you have any healthy tips or tricks you’d like to leave us with? You know it! First, I recommend adopting a stair-only policy, especially if it’s 10 flights or less and you’re not carrying something super heavy. Also, I suggest drinking water only, sparkling or flat, at mealtimes and throughout the day. Save soda, beer, wine, and cocktails for occasions—not necessarily special events, but weekly ones like dinner at your favorite restaurant.
Elle’s not the only one with insight on life at MyFitnessPal. Stay tuned for future interviews with staffers, and let us know what you’d like to learn next about our workplace!
