Why is prenatal care important? As I learned about two years ago when I was pregnant with my son, the quality of that care matters just as much as receiving it. “You need to buy a scale” were some of the first words out of my new gynecologist’s mouth before I even conceived him. I had told my doctor I didn’t know my weight but that I did know and trust my body. Instead of inquiring more, he judged my explanation and insisted I start weighing myself. Little did he know, I spen

The benefits of dessert may surprise you. When people learn I am a registered dietitian, they automatically assume that I must eat a very specific way. They think I must not enjoy diet culture’s latest nutrient victims, namely carbs, and certainly not anything sweet, soft and gooey (the way I like my chocolate chip cookies). I love the surprise on their faces when I share I eat everything, including an abundance of carbs (it’s our body’s preferred fuel source, after all) and

Most agree—the dating world is already daunting and confusing—but dating with an eating disorder or in recovery adds another layer of complexity. I always remember the time a guy I had just started dating invited me over for dinner and said he was making chicken and salad, but was intentionally leaving carbs out of the meal. Then there was another guy who, while enjoying a hearty Mexican meal, admitted his biggest fear in life was gaining weight. At that point, I was many yea

Did you have to cancel your dream vacation before the world shut down in 2020? Chances are good there was at least one trip the pandemic prevented you from taking. Although COVID is still with us, it is now much safer to travel, international borders are open, and world travel has a proceed-with-caution message, since places have different risk levels and entry/exit testing requirements, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Whether you are staying nea

Navigating emotions may be the hardest part of being a human. Over the last couple of years, it's safe to say we have been collectively living in a particularly emotionally turbulent time. In my work as a registered dietitian and nutrition therapist, I have certainly seen the use of disordered eating behaviors increase in attempts to manage hard emotions since the pandemic started. Today, I'd like to talk specifically about emotional eating, a concept that is often misunderst

Hi there & thanks for reading. This is a post for any human, and particularly those who are in the midst of healing relationships to...

Hi and thanks for reading! I have taken a hiatus from blogging over the summer and I’m happy to be back writing about the things I’m...

Hello, Happy June, and thanks for reading. Today’s blog topic is one that has been on my mind for quite some time – even well before this global pandemic, which has undoubtedly amplified pre-existing anxiety in many people, and created the perfect storm for brand-new cases in others. As a believer in a collaborative approach, and the merging of Western & Eastern medicine, I am certainly not suggesting that nutrition is to be used in place of therapy, and/or medicine to manag

I feel very fortunate to share that I just got back from a freakin’ awesome vacation last week – spent two weeks in Europe. Ate all the food and drank all the wine – the photo on this post is the most amazing cheesecake I’ve ever eaten in San Sebastian, Spain (visit my IG page to see some photos of more delicious-ness). Food was absolutely one of the best parts of the trip. Now, back to reality. If I was still entrenched in a diet/disordered eating mindset like I was many ye

Hands-down, the number one macronutrient (carbs, fats, protein) that I hear people say they’re avoiding are carbohydrates. From my clients – with AND without eating disorders – to family members to friends and next-door neighbor, this fear and avoidance of carbs does not discriminate. Constantly, I hear statements like, “My weakness is English muffins,” “I’m afraid of how many calories are in grains,” or “I’ve just always heard carbs aren’t good for me.” I’ve also noticed th

D oes your relationship to food get in the way of you living your best life? If your answer is yes, please know it is really common in our culture to get distracted by the latest diets and fitness obsessions, and then led down into a rabbit hole of life-sucking behaviors that certainly don’t help us live into our values. They actually do the opposite, and take us away from what is really important in life. That’s why, today, I want to talk life values – the reasons why we fe

Wondering how can I stop craving sugar? You’ve heard it all: Sugar is bad. Sugar is toxic. Sugar will destroy your health. Fear-mongering messages around sugar abound. They are extreme, unhelpful, and take the joy out of eating dessert. Truthfully, nutrition science is just not that simple – cutting out one ingredient (like sugar) or groups of food is not what will lead to better health. In fact, it can be detrimental to health. I know from experience. I used to avoid sugary