Long Island Holistic Nutritionist, Registered Dietitian
Holistic nutrition takes into account an individual’s unique needs, lifestyle, and environment to develop a personalized approach to eating. It views food as both medicine and nourishment for the whole self, acknowledging that what we consume impacts both physical and mental health. Unlike a one-size-fits-all program, holistic nutrition emphasizes a tailored approach to optimize health.
What is a holistic nutritionist?
A holistic nutritionist offers dietary and lifestyle recommendations by considering all aspects of the patient, including their overall well-being and capacity for change. The focus is on enhancing lifestyle factors rather than merely prescribing a diet.
This holistic approach begins with an evaluation of an individual’s eating patterns, behaviors, lifestyle, and goals. The nutritionist then explains the assessment, provides nutrition education, and develops a personalized program. Additionally, they assist patients in building healthier habits in various areas of their lives, such as increasing physical activity, managing emotions without food, and practicing mindfulness.
A holistic dietitian nutritionist will help you:
- Implement mindful eating
- Reduce inflammation
- Meal planning
- Identify macronutrient and micronutrient needs
- Learn the constituents of a healthy meal plan
- Identify possible food sensitivities or intolerances
- Understand food labels
- Attain and maintain an optimal weight
- Promote good health and prevent disease
- Manage diseases such as autoimmune disorders, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease (refer to website)
A holistic nutritionist will educate patients on improving their diet to optimize their health. They will assess the current meal plan of each patient and make recommendations on which foods to increase, which to limit, which foods to avoid, and why. The goal is to develop a nutrition program that is not just effective in attaining goals, but a plan that is comfortable and enjoyable.
Be aware that the term “holistic nutritionist” is not a credentialed title. Both dietitians and nutritionists can practice holistic nutrition, but only dietitians are required to be credentialed and hold a legitimate degree. To become a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), one must earn a degree in nutrition, complete 1,000 supervised hours in an internship or coordinated program, and pass a national licensing exam. In contrast, becoming a nutritionist in most states requires no formal education or certification and can be a self-designation. For more information, visit the CDR website.
What is holistic nutrition?
The term “holistic” in medicine is defined as being concerned with the care of the entire person in all aspects of well-being, including the physical, psychological, and social, rather than focusing solely on diseases and symptoms in isolation. It often incorporates natural or traditional remedies.
Holistic nutrition, which has become a popular concept in recent years, is an all-encompassing approach to disease management and health promotion. The philosophy behind holistic nutrition is that health results from a complex interplay between physical, mental, and emotional components, with the mind and body being interconnected.
Since each individual is unique, there is no one-size-fits-all holistic nutrition plan. Health and healing must be approached from a whole-person perspective. A holistic nutritionist educates patients on how to improve their diet to optimize health. They assess each patient’s current meal plan and make recommendations on which foods to increase, limit, or avoid, explaining the reasons behind these suggestions. The goal is to develop a nutrition program that is not only effective in achieving health goals but also comfortable and enjoyable.
As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) on Long Island, Nancy practices holistic nutrition, offering online and virtual nutrition counseling to patients throughout New York. She adopts an all-encompassing approach to diet and lifestyle, working with patients to build new habits and sustain them in a manageable way. Regardless of the goal, as a holistic nutritionist, she creates plans aimed at long-term success.
What is the difference between a holistic dietitian and holistic nutritionist?
- The terms “dietitian” and “nutritionist” are often used interchangeably, but there are important distinctions between the two professions.
- A Dietitian Nutritionist is a board-certified expert in food and nutrition. RDNs possess advanced education in nutrition and dietetics—the science of food, nutrition, and their effects on human health. Additionally, dietitians have to complete an internship, pass a national registration exam, and can be credential by the state. They provide evidence-based and individualized nutrition counseling. Only Registered Dietitian Nutritionists are qualified to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), which involves assessing and treating nutritional problems related o medical conditions. They can also provide general nutrition counseling and education.
- A “nutritionist” is a non-accredited title. It is not a regulated title in NY, meaning that is not legally protected and may be used by anyone. Nutritionists may have a variety of educational backgrounds, including bachelor’s degrees, certificates, or no formal training. They can provides general nutrition information and advice, and may work in wellness centers, gyms, or as self-employed consultant. A nutritionist cannot provide Medical Nutrition Therapy.
- A registered dietitian is the gold standard for medical nutrition therapy, whereas a nutritionist typically focuses on overall wellness and lifestyle coaching.
Why work with a holistic dietitian nutritionist?
Working with a holistic nutritionist provides personalized guidance for long-term health by addressing your overall well-being. Healthy eating is the cornerstone of holistic nutrition, but the approach to what and how you eat is highly individualized and must consider each person’s goals, medical history, food preferences, behaviors, and lifestyle.
What we eat can have a major impact on both physical and mental health.
A holistic approach includes a unique program tailored to your specific body, health history, lifestyle, and food preferences, along with evidence-based education. The goal is develop sustainable, self-care practices for long-term success.
The focus is on overall well-being by addressing the mind-body connection to support your entire wellness, not just a single symptom or diagnosis, and to help you understand how to integrate nutrition recommendations into your daily life in a way that is effective for you. This includes:
- Personalized food plan
- How to avoid false health claims by providing evidence-based, factual education
Creating a tailored nutrition and lifestyle program based on your specific health history, goals, genetics, and environment, moving away from a one-size-fits-all model - Education to empower you to make informed decisions for yourself, rather than simply following a restrictive plan
- Addressing the root cause of your problems rather than treating isolated symptoms or diagnoses
- Develop a positive relationship with food by moving away from past restrictive diet
Nancy is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a New York State Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist who practices online holistic nutrition counseling in New York.
A Holistic Approach to Weight Management
Traditional weight loss (or gain) methods focus on restrictive diets. While these quick fixes often lead to initial weight loss, they are difficult to sustain. This approach usually results in yo-yo dieting (weight cycling), frustration, and a negative association with food and exercise.
Holistic weight loss or gain addresses the root causes and creates a personalized plan that fits your unique needs, food preferences, and lifestyle. This comprehensive approach can help you:
- Attain and maintain a healthy weight
- Improve overall health and well-being
- Develop a healthy relationship with food and exercise
- Reduce the risk of chronic diseases
- Identify triggers and eating behaviors that are preventing the attainment and maintenance of an optimal weight
- Emotional Eating
- Binge Eating & Restrictive Eating cycles
Stress-Related Overeating
A holistic approach to weight management treats the whole person, addressing every aspect of health and wellbeing, through a combination of strategies:
- Behavioral and Lifestyle Changes: It emphasizes developing skills for long-term maintenance
- Personalization: A holistic plan is tailored to your unique dietary and medical needs, and goals
- Lifestyle integration: A holistic plan includes sustainable lifestyle changes
- Addressing overweight underlying issues: This method seeks to identify and address underlying factors that contribute to weight gain and medical issues
- Addressing underweight underlying issues: This method seeks to identify and address underlying factors that contributed to weight loss
- Treating the whole person: The primary focus is not merely on the number on the scale but on improving the individual’s overall health and well-being
- Sustainability: Instead of restrictive diets and “quick fixes,” the holistic approach builds sustainable lifestyle changes that can be maintained over time
- Accountability and support: Ongoing support, education, and progress tracking help patient’s stay motivated, manage setbacks, foster long-term behavioral and lifestyle change.
| Holistic Nutrition | Medical Nutrition Therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | All-encompassing view of a person’s overall health and well-being. | Specific, evidence-based approach to manage a diagnosed medical condition. |
| Primary Goal | To promote a balanced and healthy lifestyle for overall wellness. | To treat or manage a specific disease or medical issue. |
| Typical Practitioner | Holistic nutritionist or health coach. | Registered Dietitian (RD). |
| Approach | Considers physical, mental, emotional, and environmental factors. | Uses clinical assessment and evidence-based guidelines for a specific condition. |
Holistic nutrition is a science-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of health concerns through personalized dietary interventions. This approach considers your unique biochemistry, medical history, lifestyle and environmental factors to create an individualized treatment plan that address an individual’s specific needs and health goals.
Unlike traditional approaches that often treat symptoms in isolation, holistic nutrition recognizes that the foods we choose significantly impact our health, disease prevention, and weight management. The concept of food as medicine is not new—it dates back to ancient times when Hippocrates emphasized the profound connection between diet and health.
Holistic nutrition moves beyond the limits of traditional dieting, focusing instead on long-term, individualized wellness. By viewing nourishment as a foundation for healing and addressing the mind, body, and spirit together, it opens the door to lasting energy, balance, and well-being.
As a registered dietitian and New York State Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist, Nancy integrates the science of nutrition with practical holistic nutrition recommendations to guide individuals to health promotion and disease prevention.
Nancy has a private practice, serving patients on Long Island, Queens and Greater New York. Online/Virtual nutrition consultations are available.
