Nutrition With Meredith: HAES Dietitian and Menopause Specialist in Seattle

 

Meredith is a Nutrition Therapist and Body Image Coach committed to empowering women to abandon restrictive dieting and start living life on their own terms. She firmly believes that a “lack of self-control” or willpower is not the problem. Instead, Meredith guides helps clients understand the detrimental effects of dieting on both mental and physical well-being. One of her specialties is providing support to women navigating weight gain and body image challenges during perimenopause and menopause.Through her transformative approach, Meredith helps women achieve genuine, holistic wellness without sacrificing their favorite foods or compromising their health.

1.     What led you to decide to open your nutrition therapy business for women in Seattle?

Since I was a teen, I’ve been drawn to supporting individuals who struggle with body image and relationship to food. Many women face these struggles in isolation. After earning my Master of Science in Nutrition, I began working as a HAES dietitian in a treatment center specializing in eating disorders. Eventually, I knew I could make a greater impact on my community if I opened my own practice, so I took the leap. By focusing my services on supporting these individuals, I’ve been able to connect with my community and expand into underserved specialty areas, such as helping women navigate these challenges during perimenopause (peri) and menopause.

2.     What kind of services do you provide?


I provide one-on-one food and body therapy, which goes beyond the traditional "nutrition counseling" we hear about. That’s because nutrition therapy encompasses much more than just discussing food intake and health behaviors. Each session offers a compassionate space for clients to explore their relationship with food, learn to truly nourish their bodies, build self-trust, and overcome body dissatisfaction and unhelpful eating patterns that have been keeping them stuck. My clients gain clarity about their body's needs and walk away from our work together with the ability to make informed food and lifestyle choices that support their overall well-being. I also offer group sessions where clients can connect with peers facing similar challenges. Additionally, I provide one-on-one coaching for colleagues seeking support in building their own private practices.


3.     How do your services help women experiencing perimenopause and menopause?


Peri and menopause are unique phases in a woman’s life, marked by significant hormonal and physiological changes. It’s common for women to experience weight gain in the belly area during this time, and traditional dieting approaches like “eating less and moving more” are ineffective, and often makes things worse. Additionally, shifts in mood, increased food cravings, and symptoms such as joint pain can severely impact body confidence, self-trust, and one's relationship with food. For these reasons, it’s also quite common to develop an eating disorder during this time. Many clients come to me feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, confused, and defeated, often exacerbated by inadequate support from the medical community, which can leave them feeling dismissed by their providers. I validate and address their discomfort, helping them understand these changes, and how to navigate them with less fear and anxiety. Together, we work with their evolving physiology to foster a greater sense of control over their health and wellbeing and achieve clarity, confidence, and an easeful relationship with food and their bodies.


4.     What does Heath At Every Size mean to you?


In my nutrition practice, Health At Every Size® (HAES) involves rejecting the prevailing weight-centric health model, which incorrectly assumes that weight is: 1) entirely within an individual’s control, 2) simply the result of an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, and 3) that intentional weight loss is safe, effective, and sustainable. (I won’t even begin to detail the negative impact that weight loss can have on our relationship with food!) Instead, I support each client, regardless of their body size, with tools to achieve their health goals without focusing on intentional weight loss. This means no diet plans and no prescribed exercise regimens. It means guiding clients through a profound shift in their approach to self-care. Supporting them in embracing their power during a time when anti-aging and anti-fat messages prevail is incredibly meaningful to me!


5.     What kind of people do you love working with?


I love working with women who are concerned about weight gain, are frustrated with the on-again-off-again dieting cycle, and have first-hand experience with failed approaches in the past. They recognize their relationship with food and their body is causing significant distress. They’re tired of negative self-talk and quick fixes. Instead, they seek to understand what’s happening in their bodies and care for themselves with kindness and compassion.


6.     What happens during a first appointment with you?


In our initial appointment, I take time to understand your intimate concerns with compassion and without judgment. We’ll discuss your medical and mental health history, as well as any physical symptoms you hope to address. Together, we’ll explore your past and present relationship with food and your body, and identify the changes you wish to make in your eating patterns and feelings about your appearance. If you’ve arrived with specific goals in mind, we’ll explore how to best support you in achieving those goals.


7.     What do you wish people knew about nutritional therapy services with you?


So many things! But to keep it short: Even if you don’t have a diagnosed eating disorder you can benefit greatly from food and body therapy, *especially* during peri and menopause. When your body seemingly changes overnight, it’s easy to feel compelled to make choices to regain that sense of control. The decisions you make about food are deeply connected to the way you think about food, your body, and the way you feel about yourself. If you’ve read this far and this is hitting home for you, you’re ready for a change and I’d love to hear from you!


8.     How can people contact you to learn more about your services in Seattle?


To inquire about space for new clients or set up a FREE 20 minute phone call to see if we’d be a good fit, email me at meredith@nutritionwithmeredith.com or call/text my confidential phone: 206.603.8160. You can learn more about my work and contact me directly via my website: www.nutritionwithmeredith.com. You can also follow me on IG @nutritionwithmeredith to see what I’m up to!

About the Author: Seattle Therapist Chelsea Kramer LMFT

Chelsea Kramer is a Seattle Therapist who works with individual and families facing grief, anxiety and trauma, with special focus on medical challenges, reproductive health, and life transitions.

Learn more about Chelsea’s specialties: grief, anxiety, infertility, pregnancy loss, chronic illness, menopause, medical trauma

Learn more about Chelsea

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