I am a Registered Dietitian and Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics with more than 20 years of experience providing sports nutrition counseling, team presentations, corporate and community wellness seminars, and medical nutrition therapy.  I am passionate about helping athletes of all ages, levels (youth, high school, collegiate, professional, and recreational) , and sports achieve their optimal overall health, well-being, and performance through nutrition education and counseling.
 
Philosophy
I believe in using realistic, doable, science based nutrition strategies to improve health and performance.  Let's face it we are all at different places and levels in our training, health, and lives.  My approach is tailored to each client and situation because there isn't just one way to eat and fuel that works for everyone.   I strive to empower clients with the necessary education, skills, support, and motivation to achieve and maintain their nutritional goals. Nothing is more rewarding to me than to see a client reach their goals through the work we do together! Let's DO this!
 
Where It All Began
My interest in sports nutrition came about as my own participation in sports became more serious.  As a scholarship Division 1 collegiate cross country and track athlete I saw firsthand how nutrition affected my performance.  I trained hard day in and day out, but never truly thought about the impact of what and when I ate had on my training and performance.  It wasn't until early in my collegiate career, when suffering an injury during a championship season, that  I truly understood and embraced the role nutrition played on my recovery,  performance, and competing at my best.  That was my  aha moment.

Experience
I have been fortunate throughout my career path to truly focus and work in the areas I'm most passionate about-sports nutrition, fitness, and wellness.  Here are some of my previous work experiences:
 

• Northwestern University Consultant Sports Dietitian - 2008-2014

• Sports Dietitian for Chicago based fitness centers, triathlon and marathon training groups

• Outpatient Dietitian at the Wellness Institute Northwestern Memorial Hospital-specialized in sports nutrition, weight management, and cardiovascular health

• LifeStart Wellness Network- Director of Wellness

• Jim Karas Personal Training- Sports dietitian and personal trainer