Who are my clients? 

​

My clients are busy adults who need a little extra help figuring out how to eat better. I see lots of different types of people: teachers, nurses, attorneys, stay at home parents, tech workers, executives, you name it.  What my clients have in common is they don't have a ton of time for lengthy food preparation and meal planning.  Regardless of cooking skill level, time, and budget, everyone deserves to be able to eat foods that are good for their body.  I am here to help you simplify your nutrition in a way that fits your life.

​

What medical conditions can I help with?

 

Nutrition counseling is very effective in helping improve chronic conditions like diabetes, insulin resistance, and heart disease.   I have had many successes in helping my patients get their numbers (blood sugar,  blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. )  into healthier ranges.  

​

​

What does an appointment look like?

​

I take the time to get to know you.  We will discuss your health history, your typical routine with food, sleep, activity levels, and lifestyle.  I want to know how food is integrated into your life, understand your priorities, and collaborate on a plan. We will get into specific nutrition topics, recipes to try, menu planning, and focus in on specific goals that you’ve set for yourself.

​

Do I prescribe a specific diet or meal plan?

​

My approach to meal planning with clients is a collaborative process. I tailor my guidance based on what will likely work best for your body, and also what is doable for you. If you hate to cook, I’m not going to give you complicated recipe ideas for scratch cooking.   We come up with a plan together based on what you like and what you will most likely be able to do.

​

How often do we meet?

 

Most patients see the best results when we meet frequently in the beginning (every 1-2 weeks for a few months).  Depending on the level of support that you need after that, we will make a plan that makes sense for you.

​

How long are appointments?

​

The first appointment lasts 60-75 minutes. 

Follow-up appointments are 55 minutes. 

​

Do I provide virtual visits?

​

Yes! Most of my appointments are virtual.  In-person appointments are also available upon request at my office location on Broad St.

​

What will it cost?

​

If you have the North Carolina State Employees Health Plan (public school teachers and state employees), or Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC, Blue Options, there are no out of pocket costs to you!

​

If you have Aetna or United Health Care, cost depends on your plan's copay or deductible and we would need to check with them.

​

If you are uninsured or not in-network with me, my self-pay rate would apply: $150 for an initial appointment (75 minutes), and $120 for follow-up appointments (55 minutes).

​

Do I work with pregnant patients?

​

Yes!  Prenatal nutrition is a special interest of mine.  I see a lot of patients for the dietary management of Gestational Diabetes.  I have worked with hundreds of pregnant women with Gestational Diabetes keep their blood sugar levels in the normal range and avoid complications at birth. I continue to work with many of my patients after they have given birth.

​

Do I work with kids?

​

I do not work directly with kids under 18.  There are lots of wonderful pediatric dietitians in our area that I can connect you with if needed.  I do, however, work with parents.  I have two young children of my own and I like to think creatively on how to bring the whole family into meal planning and eating nutritiously.

​

Can I help with weight loss?

​

Weight loss may come easily for some and incredibly difficult for others.  Genetics, age, personal health history, and many other factors play a role in our unique body size  and the weight changes we experience over our lifetime.  From a wealth of long term studies, we have learned that when we engage in rapid weight loss from intensive forms of dieting, our bodies are statistically very likely to regain a lot of the weight lost within 1-2 years, and sometimes more than what was initially lost.

 

We have also learned from research that a personal history of repeat dieting and restricting is a strong risk factor for developing an eating disorder.   

 

I take a gentle approach to the subject of weight and encourage my clients to focus on the many  benefits of improving  nutrition habits and physical activity: more energy, better sleep, better digestion, better mood, longevity.  

 

I've found that my patients are more successful long term and less likely to get discouraged when they focus on their habits, and how eating better helps them feel and function better.

 

Do I see patients with eating disorders?

​

In most cases I recommend patients struggling with an eating disorder see a Registered Dietitian who specializes in this area of practice (CED-RD). There are many skilled professionals in this area.

 

If you don’t see your question addressed here, please reach out! I’d be happy to connect with you. -Leah

​

​