Foodittude: Food, Mood and Attitude  

What at first might sound like a silly word, in actuality captures how food fits into our lives. 

 Food is the building block that as humans shapes how we grow and how we live. What kind of food do we prefer, which ones do we crave, how do we fuel our bodies, and how much do we need? Being educated about how food feeds our bodies gives us the framework of how to best feed ourselves to meet our needs. And as we know, our needs change throughout each phase of our lives, so we definitely want to understand what it is we need. 

Mood defines how food might make us feel or how our mood makes us want to eat or not eat. The ever-popular term “hangry” is one that comes to mind.  Cranky kids, the 3 pm slump at work, hyped-up middle schoolers who can’t sit still, or feeling withdrawn and fatigued. Often our mood is connected to our food choices, or perhaps lack of food.  Understanding this connection can greatly improve these behaviors.

Attitude about food and our bodies is one that is synonymous with the world we live in today. So much of our culture is related to this, leaving so many struggling with disordered eating, body dysmorphia, feeling insecure and so much more. Some of us eat to live and others live to eat.  No matter where you fall in these matters, we want to help you to have a healthier approach and attitude towards yourself and what you eat.

Concierge Communication 

For me, the most important part of working together is communicating.  Food choices and thoughts come up 24/7 with no boundaries, as it is around us on the media, at friends’ houses, play dates, dinner parties, work events, school lunch rooms, and more. My patients are often in need of a quick answer as they are placing a food order or a college student needs guidance when they are feeling overwhelmed over what they just ate. Helping to alleviate the stress when a mom is unsure how to encourage her child to try a new food or perhaps making sure a protein shake is appropriate for a 14-year-old. I understand that oftentimes you need guidance in that very moment or in the moments to come.  With my clients, I offer a concierge approach that simplifies the challenges when it comes to food.

My clients learn early on that I offer a “concierge” service, with TextSupport, phone calls, or email access 24/7.  I want to be there to help you decipher a food label, praise your young child for trying new food, work through a fear of food when needed, assess a portion size, get you back on track, and whatever the need.  This partnership will allow you or your family member to feel assured that they are never alone and that together we will reach their goals. Your and your family’s health means the most to me and I want to help get you on your way!

Concierge Support 

Family relationships are something that is always my first priority.  I have seen too often that relationships and food issues can easily get blurred.  Parents at odds with one another over their toddler’s picky eating, begging their middle schooler to grab breakfast before school or in panic mode as their teenager stops eating, announcing their journey to lose weight. Not to mention the stress caused by heading to college, with fears of the freshman fifteen for some, and not eating enough for others.  Partners often bicker as their approach to how the kids should eat differs, only further exacerbating the issues. Rather than growing resentful or ruining your relationships, it is important to allow a professional like myself to step in to serve as a guide, mentor, and partner to provide support.  As a Concierge Nutritionist, you will find that the stress will dissipate and my clients will have an ally to help them to work through the food issue at hand.  Your picky child will be excited to share with you the strides we made in getting them to eat new food and you can rest assured your college daughter and I found great options to have at the dining hall after all.  You will find that my partnership with my patients who have eating disorders will be critical to getting them to understand the need for proper nutrition as they recover. 

 Eventually, my services will allow for more independent thinking, improved self-confidence, and happier and healthier living for all.

Nutrition by Marlo areas of expertise:

•   Eating Disorder Treatment - Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, Over Eater, and ARFID.  The approach for these clients includes education, management, food exposure, meal planning, and 1:1 continuous guidance. 

•   Failure to Thrive/Picky Eater - Much attention is given to working with these clients to ensure nutrient-dense foods, development of taste buds, analysis of current food intake, meal planning, and food exposure.  The guidance provided for patients and care givers to ensure proper development

•   Weight Management/Healthy Eating- Nutrition education, shopping guides, meal plans and continuous support are provided to help shape better habits.  Assessment of current habits and intake and introduction of realistic and balanced foods, weight management, goal setting, and education. Focus on developing long-term success and dispelling diet myths.

•   Medical Nutrition Therapy - Celiac, Food Allergies, Crohn’s, PCOS, Diabetes, ADHD, and other medical diagnosis.  It is critical to understand the links between one’s intake on existing medical diagnosis. Consideration of how medication plays into appetite and weight management as part of treatment. Nutrition education, meal planning, food shopping guides, and collaboration with the medical team are essential aspects of treatment.

•   Family Nutrition - Nutrition education for the entire family allows for healthy habits for everyone. Nutritional guidance, meal planning, recipe ideas, in-home pantry make-overs, and nutrition education.  Create plans and goals for the entire family, taking into consideration everyone’s own needs. 

•   College/Sports Nutrition - Guidance for navigating eating on campus, avoiding the freshman fifteen, coordination with the health center for weight restoration management, a continuation of support for eating disorders, and collegiate athlete nutrition.  Continuous support with texting, check-ins and virtual appointments.