Our Approach

From Whole 30 to intermittent fasting to keto, the latest dietary crazes are enough to make you crazy. And the internet is full of nutrition “experts” who are keen to help you meet your goals, so how do you find your way?

What sets me apart is my compassionate approach and commitment to evidence based nutrition practice. My clinical work at UVA has given me invaluable experience working with clients of all walks of life and many different health conditions. I appreciate that everyone has their own story, and that’s why no single approach (like cutting gluten, or dairy, or carbs, or adding juice, or fiber, or protein) will ever work. These so-called solutions are appealing because they are straightforward to understand, but they are rarely easy to follow, much less enjoy. 

I take the time to listen to you so that we can work as partners to craft a plan that will never feel overwhelming, but will immediately improve your health. Together, we can hone in on how we can advance your well being today through small changes in your dietary patterns. I will never recommend an approach that requires a complete overhaul in your eating, because the evidence does not support radical changes as sustainable or effective in the long term. It took you a lifetime to develop your eating patterns, so they can’t be turned upside down and “fixed” overnight.

And most importantly, I'll never "put you on a diet" that makes you unhappy. Food should be, above all, something we all enjoy. What that means may change over time, and for many people, it needs to. But we will move at a pace together that is comfortable and manageable. 

There are occasionally times when big shifts in diet need to happen for good reasons. Some examples are new diagnoses of food allergies (including in a breastfeeding infant) or diseases that can be controlled through diet, such as celiac disease, diabetes, or eosinophilic esophagitis. I know how scary and overwhelming this time can feel, and how important it is to have a knowledgeable helper to guide you. If you think a food or foods may be interfering with your quality of life, I can guide you in your search for offending foods and teach you how to safely eliminate it. I’m excited to bring these skills to our work together.

Who I can help

Parent/baby/child

I have a special interest in helping new mothers meet their health goals during the challenging perinatal and postpartum months. It brings me so much joy to help new mothers navigate this time of profound learning: about the new baby, about your changed body, and about how to feed them both effectively. I have found that a common refrain is, “My baby seems fussy/gassy/colicky, should I eliminate _____ from my diet?” With so many other things on her metaphorical plate, the last thing a new mother needs to stress about is what to put on her actual plate.

And how quickly those little infants turn into toddlers, preschoolers, and children with their own preferences! When it is going well, feeding your child and watching them eat is one of the simplest joys of parenthood. It feels almost magical to see them enjoying something you prepared for them to eat! At the same time, nothing can cause greater worry and frustration than your child’s food rejection, whether it’s because of food allergies or intolerances, aversions, or plain old pickiness. 

We eat three, four, up to six times a day; when every meal is a struggle, days are long and stressful. This is no way to live, and it doesn’t have to be so hard. I will assess your child’s nutrition status, clarify their nutritional needs, and give you an action plan to get on course.

Adults

I am well versed in the nutrition care of adults with the gastrointestinal disorders listed below:

• Food allergies and intolerances (including EOE)

• IBS/functional GI disorders

• Gastroparesis

• Liver disease

• Weight loss/malnutrition due to IBD (Crohn’s or UC)

I can also help with general nutrition care of common chronic diseases:

• Malnutrition and weight loss, especially related to cancer or other illness

• Cardiovascular disease

• Diabetes

• Desire for weight loss and/or improved food relationship

Nutrition Support

I am a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician, so if you or a loved one rely on a feeding tube or TPN for all or part of your nutrition, I can help. Whether you are new to the world of tube feeds or are an old pro, I can assess your nutrition status, make sure your plan is complete, and troubleshoot any problems you are having. Depending on your type of tube, I can even help you explore whole food alternatives to commercial formula if you are interested.