Alicia Braun, RD, LD

Please share a little of your K-12 school nutrition journey.

After completing my dietetic internship, I was still unsure what direction I wanted to pursue. I knew clinical nutrition wasn’t the right fit for me, and while I’ve always loved working with children, my K–12 rotation was so short that I didn’t get a true sense of what the work would be like. Then a friend shared a job posting for a CN Supervisor position, and the moment I walked into the interview, I knew that was where I wanted to be. After a few years in the field, I moved to Coppell ISD, my current district, first as a dietitian and now as the assistant director. My experiences over the past 12-plus years in child nutrition have strengthened my commitment to the field and my desire to continue growing in this profession.

Did you eat school lunch as a child?

Truthfully, I rarely ate in the cafeteria as a kid. I was pretty picky, so the only time I’d really eat school lunch was on chicken nugget day. Maybe that’s why I’m so passionate about menu planning—I want to ensure we have something even the pickiest eaters will want!

What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Don’t be so shy! Lift up your head and talk to people! You’ll make some amazing friends along the way.

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?

I’m a total homebody, so the perfect day off for me usually involves staying in with family and friends. But if I’m craving a little adventure, I’ll head to my family’s lake house, spend time on the boat, grab a delicious dinner and browse the shops around the square.

What is your favorite season?

Winter! It’s cold outside (though in Texas, that can be unpredictable!) but cozy inside. There are twinkling lights everywhere, you get to spend time with family, eat lots of yummy food and there are presents… and who doesn’t like presents?

What’s one food you’ll never get tired of eating?

Queso! I could make chips and queso my entire meal.

What would your superhero name and power be?

My nickname at work is “Smiley” because I always wave and smile at everyone when I walk down the halls, so it feels like the perfect super-hero name. My superpower? Turning frowns upside down and brightening someone’s day with just one smile. Cheesy, I know. But as I said, I DO love queso!

What’s one activity on your bucket list?

I would love to travel across Europe and visit all the beautiful Christmas markets. Soaking in the charming lights, sampling yummy treats and browsing the incredible handcrafted gifts that make each market unique sounds like a dream!

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I love home décor! A few of my projects have been featured in magazines and online, which is super exciting! Now that I have a toddler who “redesigns” the house with her toys and has a radar for all things shiny and breakable, my interior design hobby is temporarily under new management