About me
I like to think that when you meet me, you can instantly tell that I LOVE what I do.
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I first heard what a dietitian was in my 9th grade Life and Careers class. All 3 of my interests, food, science, and helping others, tied into one career? Sign me up! It is ironic now, which you will learn more in a bit, that one of the reasons I really wanted to pursue a career in dietetics was to understand how to lose weight and keep it off so that I could help myself and others do the same to ultimately live a “healthier life” [this is in quotes because weight is not a behavior and therefore, does not improve health].
I went on my first diet in 10th grade with the sole purpose of losing weight (as how most diets begin). At the time, my body was changing, and I did not understand why. Rather than having someone tell me I am 16, my body is supposed to change, I was encouraged and praised for wanting to diet. Ahh, diet culture. While on this diet I lost a lot of weight, fast. I became obsessed with weighing myself, constantly body checking, feeling hungry, moody, and tired all the time. I have a vivid memory laying on the couch in my parent’s living room miserable and hungry not understanding why I was not feeling great on this very restrictive diet with my grandma in the other room upset with me because I would not eat what she cooked. As with all diets, you can probably guess what happened. The diet did not last and neither did my weight loss. I was miserable. My passion for dietetics grew even fonder at this point. I felt like I needed the answers! |
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My degree in Nutritional Sciences gave me the foundation and confidence to help others improve their health and manage their chronic conditions through nutrition counseling and medical nutrition therapy. Unfortunately, what came with this expertise in nutrition was the obsession to be doing everything “perfect” and be a really “healthy” eater which eventually led me to years of, what I later found out was, disordered eating behaviors.
I was first introduced to Intuitive Eating in 2017 and for that I am forever grateful. What I did not realize was that what I knew all along from my own experience back in high school, had research to back it up from as early as the 1940s. Diets do not work, intentional weight loss is not sustainable for majority of people, and most dieters gain back significantly more weight than they lost.
When you learn this, you cannot unlearn it. Intuitive Eating completely changed my life both personally and professionally. Intuitive Eating is a self-care eating framework that integrates instinct, emotion, and rational thought to help you break free from chronic dieting and rediscover the pleasures of eating. It is about making peace with food and ending the war against your body.
It is important for me to share my story with you because I get it. I get how you may be feeling right now, stuck in this diet/weight loss cycle. However, I want you to know that my story is not your story. You are the expert of your body and your life experiences. I am here to learn more about your story to help you break free from dieting and learn how to nourish your mind and body with confidence through Intuitive Eating.
If I could go back in time, I would hug my 9th and 10th grade self and say you made it. You became a dietitian, but you had your reason for wanting to be a dietitian all wrong.
Nutrition is important but stressing about nutrition is simply not healthy. Nutrition is *ONE* piece of your health puzzle. Let me help you re-define how nutrition plays a role in your life through an Intuitive Eating approach.
I was first introduced to Intuitive Eating in 2017 and for that I am forever grateful. What I did not realize was that what I knew all along from my own experience back in high school, had research to back it up from as early as the 1940s. Diets do not work, intentional weight loss is not sustainable for majority of people, and most dieters gain back significantly more weight than they lost.
When you learn this, you cannot unlearn it. Intuitive Eating completely changed my life both personally and professionally. Intuitive Eating is a self-care eating framework that integrates instinct, emotion, and rational thought to help you break free from chronic dieting and rediscover the pleasures of eating. It is about making peace with food and ending the war against your body.
It is important for me to share my story with you because I get it. I get how you may be feeling right now, stuck in this diet/weight loss cycle. However, I want you to know that my story is not your story. You are the expert of your body and your life experiences. I am here to learn more about your story to help you break free from dieting and learn how to nourish your mind and body with confidence through Intuitive Eating.
If I could go back in time, I would hug my 9th and 10th grade self and say you made it. You became a dietitian, but you had your reason for wanting to be a dietitian all wrong.
Nutrition is important but stressing about nutrition is simply not healthy. Nutrition is *ONE* piece of your health puzzle. Let me help you re-define how nutrition plays a role in your life through an Intuitive Eating approach.
education
B.S. in Nutritional Sciences from Penn State University
M.S. in Dietetics from University of Rhode Island
Dietetic Internship at Sodexo, Philadelphia location, with a Diabetes concentration (which includes 1,200 supervised hours in a clinical rotation, food service rotation, diabetes rotation, and community rotation)
M.S. in Dietetics from University of Rhode Island
Dietetic Internship at Sodexo, Philadelphia location, with a Diabetes concentration (which includes 1,200 supervised hours in a clinical rotation, food service rotation, diabetes rotation, and community rotation)
qualifications
Registered Dietitian from Commission on Dietetic Registration
Licensed Dietitian in PA, TX, NC, DE, OH, and MD (not all states in the US require licensure; if your state is not listed but you are interested in working with me, send me an email!)
Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor
Licensed Dietitian in PA, TX, NC, DE, OH, and MD (not all states in the US require licensure; if your state is not listed but you are interested in working with me, send me an email!)
Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor
trainings
Monash trained in the Low FODMAP diet for IBS
Member of Eating Disorder Registered Dietitians and Professionals (EDRD Pro)
Member of Weight Inclusive Nutrition and Dietetics (WIND)
Help Your Clients Feel Fabulous about Food course by Jennifer McGurk, RD
Body Image Training: The Missing Piece of Whole Body Healing by Marci Evans, RD and Fiona Sutherland, RD
Expanding, Elevating, Embodying: Nutrition Professionals as Body Image Counselors by Marci Evans, RD and Fiona Sutherland, RD
Body Image 101 by Bri Campos (Body Image with Bri)
Weight Inclusive Nutrition and Dietetics (WIND) Fall Conference 2020
WIND Spring Symposium 2021 and 2022
Center for Mindful Self-Compassion by Dr. Kristin Neff
Member of Eating Disorder Registered Dietitians and Professionals (EDRD Pro)
Member of Weight Inclusive Nutrition and Dietetics (WIND)
Help Your Clients Feel Fabulous about Food course by Jennifer McGurk, RD
Body Image Training: The Missing Piece of Whole Body Healing by Marci Evans, RD and Fiona Sutherland, RD
Expanding, Elevating, Embodying: Nutrition Professionals as Body Image Counselors by Marci Evans, RD and Fiona Sutherland, RD
Body Image 101 by Bri Campos (Body Image with Bri)
Weight Inclusive Nutrition and Dietetics (WIND) Fall Conference 2020
WIND Spring Symposium 2021 and 2022
Center for Mindful Self-Compassion by Dr. Kristin Neff