Our Vision: To support the people of our community in their pursuit of health and a healthy relationship with food
Our Mission: We help people improve their health and wellbeing by empowering them to relearn how to trust the wisdom within their bodies. As a result, our clients establish lifelong healthy habits and experience peace of mind around food.
Our Core Values
Our Mission: We help people improve their health and wellbeing by empowering them to relearn how to trust the wisdom within their bodies. As a result, our clients establish lifelong healthy habits and experience peace of mind around food.
Our Core Values
- Integrity - We have a moral compass that drives our professional work
- Respect - We recognize and honor the unique perspective of each individual
- Compassion - Understanding our clients' experiences without passing judgment is our goal
- Service - It is important to us to be of service to our clients and to our community as a whole
- Empowerment - Something we strive for in our work with clients is to help them realize the power they hold within
- Peace - Our hope for our clients is that they find peace with food, with exercise, with their bodies, and within their lives in general
My Story
People often think of registered dietitians (RDs) as “the Food Police” or perfect eaters who never eat dessert. I’m neither of those things. Most dietitians I know went into this field because they overcame a struggle with eating which sparked an interest in nutrition. We RD’s are taught not to be judgmental about our clients’ food choices, and most of us aren’t because we know how hard it can be.
My struggles with eating started around puberty. I didn’t like how my changing body and I developed a disordered eating pattern of restricting and bingeing. As a teen, I had a short “success” with Weight Watchers, but once I stopped, I regained the weight I lost and then some. Instead of learning healthy eating habits, the message I got was some foods are “good” and some foods are “bad.” This way of thinking did nothing for the guilt and shame I felt when I overate and made poor food choices – in fact, it amplified it. My negative body image and disordered eating continued through college, during which time my weight climbed to an all-time high despite regular physical activity and attempts to control my eating.
During my first nutrition class, I heard a lecture by Terry Garrison, author of the book Fed Up. Terry talked about getting away from the diet mentality through size acceptance. Though it took me a few years to really internalize this message, I never forgot it during my years of study.
The concept of size acceptance was what finally helped me break the cycle of disordered eating and start enjoying food without guilt. Armed with the knowledge of nutrition I gained in college, I worked on developing healthy eating habits that made sense to me and allowed for treats as frequently as I wanted to prevent that feeling of restriction. Now I love food as much as I always have, and I enjoy it more!
I am by no means a perfect eater (whatever that means), but the difference now is how I handle indiscretions, poor choices, and weight changes. I’m no longer obsessed with the number on the scale or the parts of my body I like the least. Instead, I choose to focus on what I like the most, and that motivates me to take care of my body by staying active and making healthy choices most of the time (and being ok with it when I don’t do either of those things).
My transformation from disordered eating, weight-obsession, and negative body image to a healthy lifestyle, positive body image, and freedom from guilt about food is something I don't take for granted. I worked hard to put food in its proper place in my life, and I wish for the same for all women suffering the way I did. I'm so lucky to be in a position to help others!
If anything you've read about my story rings true for you, please schedule a call with me today to find out about getting started on the path of enjoying food more and stressing about it less!
People often think of registered dietitians (RDs) as “the Food Police” or perfect eaters who never eat dessert. I’m neither of those things. Most dietitians I know went into this field because they overcame a struggle with eating which sparked an interest in nutrition. We RD’s are taught not to be judgmental about our clients’ food choices, and most of us aren’t because we know how hard it can be.
My struggles with eating started around puberty. I didn’t like how my changing body and I developed a disordered eating pattern of restricting and bingeing. As a teen, I had a short “success” with Weight Watchers, but once I stopped, I regained the weight I lost and then some. Instead of learning healthy eating habits, the message I got was some foods are “good” and some foods are “bad.” This way of thinking did nothing for the guilt and shame I felt when I overate and made poor food choices – in fact, it amplified it. My negative body image and disordered eating continued through college, during which time my weight climbed to an all-time high despite regular physical activity and attempts to control my eating.
During my first nutrition class, I heard a lecture by Terry Garrison, author of the book Fed Up. Terry talked about getting away from the diet mentality through size acceptance. Though it took me a few years to really internalize this message, I never forgot it during my years of study.
The concept of size acceptance was what finally helped me break the cycle of disordered eating and start enjoying food without guilt. Armed with the knowledge of nutrition I gained in college, I worked on developing healthy eating habits that made sense to me and allowed for treats as frequently as I wanted to prevent that feeling of restriction. Now I love food as much as I always have, and I enjoy it more!
I am by no means a perfect eater (whatever that means), but the difference now is how I handle indiscretions, poor choices, and weight changes. I’m no longer obsessed with the number on the scale or the parts of my body I like the least. Instead, I choose to focus on what I like the most, and that motivates me to take care of my body by staying active and making healthy choices most of the time (and being ok with it when I don’t do either of those things).
My transformation from disordered eating, weight-obsession, and negative body image to a healthy lifestyle, positive body image, and freedom from guilt about food is something I don't take for granted. I worked hard to put food in its proper place in my life, and I wish for the same for all women suffering the way I did. I'm so lucky to be in a position to help others!
If anything you've read about my story rings true for you, please schedule a call with me today to find out about getting started on the path of enjoying food more and stressing about it less!
My Experience
I spent 12 years working with families of children with diabetes and those at risk for developing diabetes. I have helped families to establish healthier habits to prevent disordered eating, poor body image, and negative health effects of excess weight. Additionally, I have experience working with pregnant teens, pregnant adults, college students, older adults and many other populations.
I spent 12 years working with families of children with diabetes and those at risk for developing diabetes. I have helped families to establish healthier habits to prevent disordered eating, poor body image, and negative health effects of excess weight. Additionally, I have experience working with pregnant teens, pregnant adults, college students, older adults and many other populations.
My Training
With more than 20 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian, I have a passion for nutrition. I received my undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University and later completed a Masters of Science in Health Education at SUNY Brockport. I received specialized training in adolescent nutrition through the interdisciplinary Leadership Education in Adolescent Health program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. I am also a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and licensed in the states of Kansas and Missouri to practice dietetics.
With more than 20 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian, I have a passion for nutrition. I received my undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University and later completed a Masters of Science in Health Education at SUNY Brockport. I received specialized training in adolescent nutrition through the interdisciplinary Leadership Education in Adolescent Health program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. I am also a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and licensed in the states of Kansas and Missouri to practice dietetics.
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More About Me
I moved to Lawrence in the summer of 2016 with my husband (Professor of Genetics at KU) and two children. We have 2 cats and a bearded dragon. I started my practice in April of 2017. In addition to my private practice, I teach group fitness classes at Genesis Health Clubs. I am also an independent consultant for Beautycounter, a company whose mission is to get safer products into the hands of everyone. |
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