The Sprout Sisters are MICHELLE APPLEHANS and DENISE VEGA, sisters in real life–only 15 months apart–and best friends! We love all things health and wellness but even more than that we LOVE supporting people on their way to feeling fabulous. As Nutrition Therapist Masters–along with other certifications (see below)–we are ready and willing to help you achieve your health goals.
Both of us are whole food plant-based eaters and cooks and we have studied–and received certification–on the benefits of including more plants into any dietary pattern. We are here to support you and help you add more fruits and vegetables into whatever dietary pattern is best for you.
We LOVE to cook! One of our favorite things to do is make a delicious, whole food, plant-based meal and watch eaters enjoy and get excited about it. “This is SO good. Is it really healthy for me?” is a question we often hear and the answer is YES!
And we can talk about the benefits of sprouts too, being that we are the Sprout Sisters.
We are schooled in the benefits of whole, nutritionally dense foods to support the prevention/reduction of chronic diseases and metabolic disorders.We also have areas of interest that we like to focus on together and individually.
Together we are both very interested in gut health and the power of plants and fiber to improve our microbiomes, though Michelle’s final project was on gut disorders and nutritional approaches for improvement–she knows her stuff! A healthy gut microbiome is key to so much of how we feel.
Denise’s Special Interest Areas
- Food addiction
- Weight management and maintenance
- Lipoprotein(a) and lowering cholesterol and APOB
Michelle’s Special Interest Areas
MICHELLE APPLEHANS
NUTRITION THERAPIST MASTER (NTM)
NUTRITION. I received my Nutrition Therapy Master certification in 2025. I also completed a short program certificate in Nutrition, Chronic diseases and Health promotion, the Stanford Nutrition Science short course, and I am currently progressing through The Big Swich online plant-based cooking program.
PROFESSIONAL. I have been passionate about nutrition, fitness and preventative care since I was eighteen. I am excited to be able to put this passion into helping others. I spent the majority of the last several decades raising kids and working in a hospital performing newborn hearing screens.
ACADEMIC. I received my BS in Business Finance from Colorado State University.
DENISE VEGA
NUTRITION THERAPIST MASTER (NTM)
Here you’ll find the relevant and not so relevant but fun stuff about me.
NUTRITION. As noted above, I received my Nutrition Therapy Master certification from the Nutrition Therapy Institute in 2025. I also completed the T. Colin Campbell Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate Program, the Stanford Nutrition Science Online short course, and Rouxbe’s online professional plant-based cooking course.
PROFESSIONAL. In addition to my passion for good nutrition and health, I am a children’s book author, writing instructor/coach and have taught at various locations. I have experience teaching small and large workshops, speaking at conferences, as well as developing courses and workshops.
ACADEMIC EDUCATION. I received my B.A. in Motion Picture-Television from UCLA, and a Masters in Education from Harvard University.
