BRG DIETETICS & NUTRITION P.C., DIET FREE RADIANT ME

for something nutrishus

Bonnie was recommended by the fabulous, Krista, as a client of hers (yes, many dietitians in this series have businesses aimed at helping other dietitians!). Bonnie recently published a new cookbook on finding peace with food. She has had a long career with many successes along the way, including creating various trademarked programs.

Why did you become a RD?

I was always interested in healthy eating, but never considered it for my major in college until my second semester when I had to fill an open time slot in my schedule. The only class that fit the schedule was Intro to Nutrition. I loved it! I went on to explore the possibilities of a career in nutrition and here I am, 30+ years later enjoying every minute of it.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

I am in private practice, I have both an offline practice (I have an office in West Hempstead, Long Island, NY) and an online practice. My focus areas are intuitive eating, diabetes management, IBS treatment and general nutrition education.

How would you explain what you do?

I help women (and some men) who are struggling with food and their body break the spell of diets and reclaim WholeBody Trust™ through a journey of self-discovery and intuitive eating. WholeBody Trust™ is based on 3 pillars, Mind Trust, Hunger Trust and Food Trust™. The result is they make peace with food, enjoy guilt-free eating, and live a healthy life they love.

I also help people with IBS identify their food triggers and restore gut health, and work with people with diabetes to manage their blood sugars. I guide them to a place of eating for enjoyment, abundance and health through a supportive and flexible approach to diabetes from a non-diet approach.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

A typical day in my life is going into my office after my daughter leaves for school. I review my patient schedule for the day, check my email and respond to any pressing matters. I post onto social media (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn) for a little while, and then I begin to see patients.

I meet with individuals and provide nutrition education, nutrition coaching and medical nutrition therapy for diabetes management, gastrointestinal disorders, other medical conditions and intuitive eating. I also meet with couples and families.

In addition to counseling and coaching, I work on various other projects such as creating new programs, writing (I just published my fourth book) and preparing for presentations and lectures that I am booked to do within the next weeks or months.

What has been your career path?

After graduating with my bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in clinical nutrition, I worked as a clinical nutrition manager at a large teaching hospital in New York. At the same time, I had opened my private practice where I counseled clients in the evenings and on the weekend.

When my practice started growing, I decided to leave the hospital and focus on my practice. At the same time, I took on the role of Director of a Dietetic Internship Program for the largest contract management company in North America. As my private practice grew and I opened a second office, I decided I needed to spend all my time on my business and I left the dietetic internship position. I continue to mentor nutrition students today by offering them opportunities to work in my office and volunteer on many projects that are ongoing.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

I have my Master of Science degree in Clinical Nutrition and I am a Certified Diabetes Educator. I am also a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor.

In an ideal world, what does the industry look like 5 years from now?

In an ideal world, there would be no more diet industry. The diet industry makes people feel like failures, when in fact it’s the diets that fail. I would love to see people approach nutrition from a self-care perspective, where they feel confident to make food and nutrition decisions from a place of body respect.

What would you like people to know about RDs?

Registered dietitians are the nutrition experts. All registered dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

The challenges I encounter are related to people online who call themselves “nutritionists” and “health coaches” yet do not have the proper education to treat people, especially those with medical conditions. They are putting people’s health at risk and there needs to be more regulation around who can call themselves a nutritionist.

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

I am passionate about empowering people to make the food and nutrition decisions that feel right for them, and to regain body trust!

What is your favorite meal?

Anything with eggplant! It could be Ratatouille, grilled eggplant or eggplant parm. I love eggplant!

What tip(s) would you give to our readers?

Commit to giving up diets and learn to trust your body again. Changing your relationship with food will help you enjoy food again and ultimately bring you love and respect for your amazing body.

More about Bonnie:

Nutrition Therapy Website: BRG Nutrition & Dietetics, P.C.

Intuitive Eating Website: Diet Free Radiant Me

Free Online Experience: Break the Spell of Diets in 3 Days

NEW Intuitive Eating Cookbook: Enjoying Food Peace: Recipes and Intuitive Eating Wisdom to Nourish Your Body and Mind, also available on Amazon

Facebook: BRG Dietetics and Nutrition, P.C.

Twitter: @brghealth

Instagram: @bonniergiller

Pinterest: Bonnie R. Giller

YouTube: Bonnie R. Giller

LinkedIn: Bonnie Giller

Thanks Bonnie!