Welcome to the latest round of “10 Words or Less,” in which I ask brief questions and ask for brief answers. This installment is part of a group of interviews in advance of the Boston Museum of Science’s “Let’s Talk About Food” festival this weekend. Today’s subject is a nutritional epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health who will participate in the “Let’s Talk About Nutrition” panel, a part of the festival’s Endless Table of discussions. Remember, please: No counting. 10 words is a goal, not a rule, and it’s not that easy!

Name Stephanie Chiuve (“cue-vee”)
Age 33
Residence West Roxbury
What’s your passion? “My work, identifying healthy diets to promote good health and prevent disease.”
Why did you choose this field? “I’ve always been interested in nutrition and how what we eat makes us what we are.”
What choice is more important: What to eat, or how much? “I would say how much. You can eat healthy food, but if it’s too much, it’s still too many calories.”
Do you think food addiction exists? "Yes."

What’s the first thing that has to happen to improve US nutrition? "The Dietary Guidelines need to be slightly modified, to reflect the research."
Can you give an example? “They recommend eating half of your grains as whole grains, and they should be recommending that all of your grains be whole. ... If you recommend half, you’re saying that refined grains like flours and sugars are OK for the other half, and we know those aren’t healthy.”
The second? “Better education in the schools. The right education.”
In the macro view, what is nutrition’s worst trend? “The availability of food wherever you go. It makes it easy to overeat and not realize.”
Is government involvement the best way to improve our nutrition? “No.”
What is? "I’m a strong believer in personal choice, but an educated choice."
How is personal choice working out so far? “You’re right, but I don’t think the education is ideal. People’s personal choices aren’t based on all the facts.”
Does government have any role? “Yes.”
What is it? “I think the main role is through the Dietary Guidelines.”
Has your research influenced your personal choices? “I always ate brown rice, but I’ve really discovered ancient grains. Quinoa, barley, and farro."
Do you eat any processed grains? “Yes, but I try not to make it the main source of calories in my diet. I try to eat whole foods most of the time.”
Name a force in nutrition who ought to be better known: Dr. Thomas Halton. He’s a highly successful nutritionist/weight loss consultant and author of the "Weight Loss Triad."
What’s the one thing you wish everyone would just get right? “Move into the middle of the subway car.”

The “Let’s Talk About Food” festival, which features discussions, cooking demonstrations, dozens of exhibitor booths, an authors' tent with signings, and a food-truck food court, runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday along the Charles River in Cambridge, in back of the Royal Sonesta Hotel.

This link may be of use to you: http://medassisting.org/learning-resources/foundational/#Nutrition