About Drakaki Nutrition
Who is Mariella Drakaki?
Mariella Drakaki
Sports Nutritionist–Dietitian, MSc, RD
Founder & Lead Nutritionist, Drakaki Nutrition
Education
I hold a BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics from the International Hellenic University in Thessaloniki, Greece. Motivated by my background in competitive powerlifting and my interest in optimising athletic performance through nutrition, I pursued an MSc in Human Movement Sciences, specialising in Sports Nutrition, at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. As part of my Master's, I completed an internship within the M3 Research Group, where I gained research experience in protein metabolism and tracer methodologies.
Further Training
I furthered my education by completing the Master Practitioner in Eating Disorders & Obesity programme at the Centre for the Education and Treatment of Eating Disorders (KEADD). I pursued this training because I believe our relationship with food can be complex, and nutritional support should be about more than just what goes onto our plates. I wanted to acquire the skills to provide compassionate, meaningful nutritional care and support people in developing a healthier relationship with food and their bodies.
My approach
Nutritional education is key to my approach.
My goal is to give you more than a plan. I want to give you the knowledge to make informed decisions about your nutrition. By combining current scientific evidence with a 100% personalised approach, my goal is not simply to tell you what to eat. I want to teach you how to understand and implement practical nutrition strategies that support your goals, in a way that is realistic, sustainable and relevant to your everyday life.
I want you to leave our work together with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed nutritional choices for yourself.
Online Nutrition Coaching
How does it work?
We start with an initial consultation, where we take the time to understand your full nutritional history, lifestyle, preferences, goals and current challenges. Based on this, I create your first personalised meal plan and we establish the foundations for our work together.
From there, we have a 30-minute video check-in every two weeks to assess your progress, discuss what is working and what may need adjusting, and decide on the next steps.
Personalised meal plan: Your plan is tailored to your nutritional needs, preferences, lifestyle and goals, with flexible options that can realistically fit into your everyday life.
Body composition tracking: We monitor changes over time using a combination of progress photos, home weigh-ins and tape measurements, allowing us to look at progress from more than just the number on the scale.
Ongoing WhatsApp support: You can contact me throughout the week via WhatsApp with questions, concerns or anything you need help navigating between check-ins.
Nutrition education: Alongside the meal plan, we focus on understanding nutrition and building practical skills. The aim is for you to understand the why behind your choices rather than simply following instructions.
Continuous adjustments: Your plan evolves as you do. We make adjustments based on your progress, feedback, lifestyle changes and what you find realistic and sustainable.
