Autism Nutritionists and Dietitians in Douglas County, CO
I help adults and children with bodies of all shapes and sizes to let go of restrictive rules around food, dieting, and exercise. Instead, I help individuals find more flexible and sustainable ways of taking care of themselves, so they can start living a better life and stop obsessing over food and their bodies. I specialize in pediatric nutrition, binge-eating disorder, intuitive eating, diabetes and general nutrition. No two individuals are the same; our relationship with food and our body is complicated and unique. My approach to helping you find peace with food and body is catered to your own past experiences, wants and needs.
I help adults and children with bodies of all shapes and sizes to let go of restrictive rules around food, dieting, and exercise. Instead, I help individuals find more flexible and sustainable ways of taking care of themselves, so they can start living a better life and stop obsessing over food and their bodies. I specialize in pediatric nutrition, binge-eating disorder, intuitive eating, diabetes and general nutrition. No two individuals are the same; our relationship with food and our body is complicated and unique. My approach to helping you find peace with food and body is catered to your own past experiences, wants and needs.
I work with clients with a variety of conditions ranging from Autoimmune disease, cancer, digestive disorders, hormonal imbalances, anxiety and depression, ADHD/ Autism, infertility, thyroid conditions, arthritis, weight loss concerns, sports nutrition.
Integrative Clinical nutrition is based on a scientific, evidence-based approach that considers the uniqueness of each person's biochemical individuality, in conjunction with genetic, environmental , lifestyle, mental, emotional, spiritual and relationship factors that impact the state of health. My personal story may be just like your own. Like many of you reading this, I suffered many years with health conditions that didn't fit into the mold of conventional medicine.
I work with clients with a variety of conditions ranging from Autoimmune disease, cancer, digestive disorders, hormonal imbalances, anxiety and depression, ADHD/ Autism, infertility, thyroid conditions, arthritis, weight loss concerns, sports nutrition.
Integrative Clinical nutrition is based on a scientific, evidence-based approach that considers the uniqueness of each person's biochemical individuality, in conjunction with genetic, environmental , lifestyle, mental, emotional, spiritual and relationship factors that impact the state of health. My personal story may be just like your own. Like many of you reading this, I suffered many years with health conditions that didn't fit into the mold of conventional medicine.
Jenna is a Registered Dietitian who has spent much of her nutrition career helping those in the pediatric/young adult population. While seeing a variety of nutrition concerns, she specializes in helping patients in eating disorder recovery and seeks to promote a safe space to pursue a new healthy relationship with food. Jenna uses a patient-centered approach to working with clients, prioritizing patient goals for their health journey. With disordered eating, she uses an intuitive eating framework of counseling in addition to family based therapy to promote a safe and effective environment for healing.
Jenna is a Registered Dietitian who has spent much of her nutrition career helping those in the pediatric/young adult population. While seeing a variety of nutrition concerns, she specializes in helping patients in eating disorder recovery and seeks to promote a safe space to pursue a new healthy relationship with food. Jenna uses a patient-centered approach to working with clients, prioritizing patient goals for their health journey. With disordered eating, she uses an intuitive eating framework of counseling in addition to family based therapy to promote a safe and effective environment for healing.
As a Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist focused on holistic care, I help patients achieve lasting results by addressing the root causes of their health concerns. Through a comprehensive 80-marker blood test—which I co-developed with Quest Diagnostics—I identify key issues such as nutrient deficiencies, toxic exposures, hormonal imbalances, and immune and neurological deficits. This personalized approach allows us to tackle stress, lifestyle factors, and overall wellness from the inside out. I provide real solutions to real health problems for those seeking a natural, sustainable approach to health.
As a Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist focused on holistic care, I help patients achieve lasting results by addressing the root causes of their health concerns. Through a comprehensive 80-marker blood test—which I co-developed with Quest Diagnostics—I identify key issues such as nutrient deficiencies, toxic exposures, hormonal imbalances, and immune and neurological deficits. This personalized approach allows us to tackle stress, lifestyle factors, and overall wellness from the inside out. I provide real solutions to real health problems for those seeking a natural, sustainable approach to health.
Our lives revolve around and depend on food, which is why nurturing your relationship to food is crucial to your health and something I strive to help strengthen. My approach to nutrition therapy is collaborative and personalized to optimize function within the whole body. Evidence-based nutrition science, health coaching, and trauma-informed care guide my practice to meet the needs of each individual I work with. I recognize the various challenges that can impact proper nutrition and aim to reduce internal and external limitations through nutrition education, empowerment, and behavior change.
Our lives revolve around and depend on food, which is why nurturing your relationship to food is crucial to your health and something I strive to help strengthen. My approach to nutrition therapy is collaborative and personalized to optimize function within the whole body. Evidence-based nutrition science, health coaching, and trauma-informed care guide my practice to meet the needs of each individual I work with. I recognize the various challenges that can impact proper nutrition and aim to reduce internal and external limitations through nutrition education, empowerment, and behavior change.
Online Dietitians and Nutritionists
Are you dealing with IBS, depression, anxiety, or disordered eating? Do you want to heal your gut without restrictive diets? Do you find yourself fearful of food because you’re not sure what will cause symptoms? Have you noticed the powerful impact your mental health and wellness has on your gut symptoms, and vice versa?
Are you dealing with IBS, depression, anxiety, or disordered eating? Do you want to heal your gut without restrictive diets? Do you find yourself fearful of food because you’re not sure what will cause symptoms? Have you noticed the powerful impact your mental health and wellness has on your gut symptoms, and vice versa?
I’ve been working in the field of dietetics for over 18 years, with the last 13 working for a top health insurance company. During that time, I’ve spent over 26,000 hours treating and counseling over 15,000 clients. I’ve helped my patients manage various health conditions including weight management, diabetes, bariatric, gastrointestinal health, oncology, renal, cardiovascular, PCOS, menopause, thyroid health and autoimmune disorders. I have extensive experience working with clients seeking assistance with weight, diabetes management, and improving their cardiac health.
I’ve been working in the field of dietetics for over 18 years, with the last 13 working for a top health insurance company. During that time, I’ve spent over 26,000 hours treating and counseling over 15,000 clients. I’ve helped my patients manage various health conditions including weight management, diabetes, bariatric, gastrointestinal health, oncology, renal, cardiovascular, PCOS, menopause, thyroid health and autoimmune disorders. I have extensive experience working with clients seeking assistance with weight, diabetes management, and improving their cardiac health.
I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who is transgender, queer, neurodivergent, and in long term recovery from my own eating disorders. I believe every client is truly unique and sees the world through their own lens. I strive to work from a weight inclusive and social justice stance. I believe in developing a strong therapeutic alliance with each client to work together toward lasting healing from disordered eating. Some of my core values include agency, informed consent, and intersectionality in understanding the roots of the eating disorder and the path to long term healing in a way that is authentic for each individual.
I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who is transgender, queer, neurodivergent, and in long term recovery from my own eating disorders. I believe every client is truly unique and sees the world through their own lens. I strive to work from a weight inclusive and social justice stance. I believe in developing a strong therapeutic alliance with each client to work together toward lasting healing from disordered eating. Some of my core values include agency, informed consent, and intersectionality in understanding the roots of the eating disorder and the path to long term healing in a way that is authentic for each individual.
Autism Nutritionists and Dietitians
What is the link between autism and diet?
While there is no evidence to suggest that autism is caused by diet, some individuals with autism face challenges related to food that highlight the importance of considering how diet and autism may be connected. Studies have shown that individuals with autism are more likely to have inadequate food intake compared to the general population. Many people with autism experience feeding issues due to sensory-related challenges. Just as loud sounds or bright lights can trigger sensory overload, the consistency, texture, smell, and strong taste of some foods can similarly cause sensory overload for individuals with autism, potentially leading to food aversion and/or malnutrition. Additionally, studies have indicated that individuals with autism often have different concentrations of bacteria within their gut microbiome, which may influence their response to food; however, much more research is needed to fully understand this connection.
What is autism food aversion?
Autism-related food aversion occurs when individuals with autism strongly dislike specific foods. This aversion is often triggered by sensory experiences such as texture, taste, smell, or how the food is presented. Some individuals with autism may also avoid certain foods due to concerns about choking or difficulty swallowing. The specific foods that individuals with autism avoid can vary widely. For example, crunchy foods like chips or carrots may be avoided due to the intense sensory experience they provide when eaten. On the other hand, soft foods with a gooey texture, such as applesauce or cottage cheese, may also trigger food aversion because of their specific textures.
What diet is best for people with autism?
There is no single best diet for individuals with autism, but experts generally recommend a balanced, plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat proteins. However, due to potential food aversions, maintaining this balanced diet can be challenging for some. In such cases, experimenting with different foods and cooking methods may become important to ensure adequate nutrition. For example, while raw vegetables may be off-putting to some with autism due to sensory-related aversions, cooking them might make them more appealing and easier to consume. This illustrates that the presentation and preparation of food can often be more crucial than the specific type of food consumed. Ultimately, this tailored approach to individual sensory sensitivities and preferences can be essential to ensure that individuals with autism can still meet their nutritional needs.
Should people with autism see a dietitian?
Individuals with autism may benefit from seeing a dietitian if their challenges around food are impacting their ability to eat a healthy and balanced diet. For instance, if food-related sensory issues are limiting the ability of someone with autism to eat essential vitamins and minerals, a dietitian may be able to suggest strategies to overcome these challenges. It is important to look for a dietitian who has expertise in autism, as not all dietitians may be knowledgeable about working with individuals on the autism spectrum. In addition, it is important to look for a dietitian who is willing to work with other professionals of the individual's care team, such as therapists, who may also be working on topics related to food.