Mankato Clinic Thrives Summer 2025

April Graff Make Me A Thriver: One plate at a time

By HOLLY DODGE

April Graff is leading a shift in how we approach food, one rooted not in fads or fear, but in empowerment, education, and real-life practical tools for healthy living. A registered dietitian at Hy-Vee Mankato Hilltop, and now published author, April thrives by helping individuals and families find freedom from food confusion.

Growing up in northwestern Iowa, April always had a practical, people-first approach to life and food. Even as a young child, she questioned the science behind nutrition. “I was drawn to dietetics because it combines science with human connection,” she says. “Food is something we all need and talk about, but there’s so much noise around it. I wanted to help cut through that.”

After moving to Mankato in 2001 to attend Minnesota State University, April earned her degree in dietetics, followed by a master’s degree in human nutritional science from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. As her academic career progressed, so did her vision for a more personalized, empowering approach to nutrition.

“I didn’t want people to feel overwhelmed by food,” April says. “I wanted to give them tools they could actually use.”

As April was finishing her master’s degree, she visited Mankato on her spring break. While shopping in Hilltop Hy-Vee, she had a bold idea that would change her life and the health of her community.

“I thought this would be a really cool place to work. Teaching people about food and not just vilifying food. They didn’t have a dietitian on staff at the time,” she remembers.

April put on a suit, a few extra pumps of hairspray, and contacted the store directors. “I pitched the idea and explained how I could help customers make better food decisions right there in the store.”

Her boldness paid off. A few months later, she was hired as Hy-Vee’s first registered dietitian in Mankato.

Over nearly two decades, April has built a wellness program from the ground up, offering store tours, workshops, and one-on-one consultations. “It’s not just about weight loss or counting calories,” she says. “It’s about understanding your body and what makes you feel good.”

Kitchen Table Book

April realized she had more to say and a broader audience to reach. The result was her book, Uncomplicate Your Plate, a guide to making nutrition simpler, practical, and more sustainable.

“I wanted it to feel like I was talking to someone across the kitchen table,” she says of the book. “So many people come to me feeling shame or frustration around food. They’ve tried diet after diet. They’re tired. They’re busy. My goal was to give them clarity and confidence.”

Uncomplicate Your Plate tackles the common pitfalls of the diet culture: restrictive rules, perfectionist thinking, and the

overwhelming pressure to eat “right.” In her book, April offers mindset shifts, practical tips, and real-world strategies.

“There’s no one perfect way to eat,” she explains. “The best plan is the one that fits your life, your needs, and your values.”

It was her experience as a busy working mother that inspired the book and many of her recipes. With three active children, she often found herself going directly from work to her Subaru to drop her kids off at soccer, lacrosse, or hockey. Even as a dietitian, meal planning for an active family was difficult, so April got creative and found practical solutions.

Her book has a chapter dedicated to mobile meals. “Having food that travels with you is so important and so crucial to be successful,” April says.

The book has resonated with readers, and people are finding peace in April’s message: nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective.

She meets people where they are, celebrates small wins, and rejects guilt-based messaging.

“So many people tell me they feel like they’re failing at food,” she says. “But food isn’t a test. It’s not something you pass or fail. It’s a part of life, and it should support your well-being and not stress you out.”

This philosophy has made her a trusted voice within Hy-Vee and across Greater Mankato. Working with many individuals, she has helped shift the narrative from restriction to empowerment.

“I’ve had clients tell me they finally enjoy grocery shopping again, or that they’ve stopped fearing food,” April shares. “That’s what it’s all about.”

Despite her busy schedule, April remains grounded in her most important roles: wife, mother, and community member. She and her husband Jon are raising their children in Mankato, a town they both love.

“We love it here,” April says. “It’s a place where we feel connected, supported, and inspired to give back.”

That sense of connection is evident in everything she does. April shares, “People fill my cup. I get to spend time with a lot of different people and listen to their stories and their challenges while working through solutions.”

April’s advice for THRIVING? “Take bold, bold risks. Step into the book, step into the job. That has helped me thrive for sure.”

You can find April’s book Uncomplicate Your Plate at Hilltop Hy-Vee, Sota Sisters, J. Longs, or Amazon. Learn more about Hy-Vee’s dietitian services at hy-vee.com. ■