Kelsey is a registered dietitian who is dedicated to creating a safe space for her clients and leads her practice with compassion and understanding. She offers inclusive care through a non-diet, weight-neutral, Health At every Size® (HAES®) approach. She has experience working with clients struggling with disordered eating patterns, eating disorders, metabolism, intuitive eating, cardiovascular health, diabetes management, and sports nutrition. Kelsey believes that building strong foundational relationships with her clients is key to helping them reach their full potential. By having a strong understanding of her clients, she is better able to help her clients heal their relationship with food and thus empower them to move forward with making other positive changes in their lives.
Before joining Healthier Tomorrows, Kelsey worked as an Outpatient Registered Dietitian where she focused on empowering her clients toward change and creating a better relationship with both food and their bodies. Additionally, Kelsey has experience in sports performance nutrition where she has worked with recreational and collegiate athletes in reaching their maximum potential, while considering mental health and physical health. She continuously enjoys teaching athletes, students, the community, and adults the importance of nutrition in ways that are both comprehendible and personalized.
In addition, Kelsey has taught a university-level Introduction to Nutrition course to athletes and students alike. Lastly, Kelsey has been a part of the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (RIAND) since her college career, and currently serves as RIAND’s Nominating Committee Chair.
Kelsey received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics with a minor in Kinesiology from the University of Rhode Island (URI). She also earned her Master’s of Science in Nutrition and Food Science from URI where she simultaneously completed her dietetic internship with focus on clinical nutrition and research.
Over her career as a student and dietitian, Kelsey has been honored to receive the following awards given by the Rhode Island Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Outstanding Dietetics Student of the Year (2018), Outstanding Dietetic Intern of the Year (2019), and Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year (2022).
In her free time, Kelsey loves to lift heavy weights, try coffee from local shops in Providence, RI, read books (fantasy, mystery, fiction), be outside as much as she can by hiking, going to the beach, and exploring different countries and areas of the world with her fiancé.
Giedre is a registered dietitian who believes in the philosophy of “food as medicine” and that food can be a source of vitality and pleasure in life. Giedre enjoys working with clients struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating behavior. She also enjoys providing counseling and education to clients on other nutrition-related topics, including the role that nutrition plays in supporting mental health, mindful eating, chronic disease and general well-being. Giedre is holistically minded in her approach to nutrition care and she works through an integrative nutrition lens that addresses multiple factors in her clients’ lives to help support overall health.
Before joining Healthier Tomorrows, Giedre worked as a clinical dietitian and as an eating disorder dietitian in a residential treatment facility as well as in PHP and IOP settings. She received her Master of Science in nutrition from Bastyr University, and completed her clinical training through UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Beyond her work as a dietitian, Giedre is an avid hiker and painter. She’s also a frequent visitor of national parks, and thoroughly enjoys international travel and having the opportunity to explore, hike, and experience food from different cultures.
Alessandra is a registered dietitian who learned at a young age the impact of nutrition after struggling with health issues. Alessandra incorporates functional nutrition and root cause analysis to dig deep into what is going on, taking a whole client approach. She combines this approach with intuitive eating and the Health at Every Size philosophy. Alessandra meets her clients where they are and helps them to find ways to build on what they are doing well while filling in the gaps to get them where they want to go. Alessandra takes pride in supporting her clients as they embark on their health and wellness journey through thoughtful conversation, education, and barrier exploration.
Alessandra received her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, where she also completed her clinical training. She is also a Health Coach, certified by the National Health Coaching Society. She is currently pursuing a board certification in Integrative and Functional Nutrition.
Prior to joining Healthier Tomorrows, Alessandra worked in a variety of outpatient settings, where she worked with clients diagnosed with disordered eating, chronic kidney disease, pediatric and adolescent nutrition, GI concerns, and other health conditions.
Alessandra loves spending time with her husband, her son, and her two dogs, Maverick and Molly. She enjoys running, cooking, traveling, gardening, and hiking. Alessandra is excited to provide virtual nutrition education, counseling, and support!
Cara Best received her Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics from Carson-Newman University, and her Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Memphis. She completed a graduate assistantship with St. Jude Children’s Hospital and clinical rotations within Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare system. She has experience working as an inpatient dietitian, including leading an inpatient clinical team, and also previously worked as an outpatient adult oncology dietitian for eight years. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Cara is passionate about providing care for patients going through the heartbreak of a cancer diagnosis. Across her years of education and professional experience, her passion has given her the opportunity to work with clients across a spectrum of diagnoses, including diabetes management, cardiovascular health, digestive concerns and disorders, and medical nutrition therapy. She is an eager learner and enjoys bringing fun and excellent, evidence-based nutrition therapy to her client sessions, making it easy for her clients and their families to make nutrition-related choices that help them to maximize their health and wellness.
Cara grew up in Tullahoma, Tennessee and adores her songwriting husband, her toddler, and her orange tabby named Halli. She loves to spend time with loved ones, and loves being outdoors!
Kerry is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor who enjoys working with her clients to find food freedom! She is Health at Every Size aligned and uses the Intuitive Eating framework to guide her clients towards a more peaceful and joyful relationship with food and their bodies. She has a special interest in providing evidenced-based, whole health nutrition to those recovering from eating disorders and disordered eating.
Kerry graduated from the University of Florida with her Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition and completed her dietetic internship at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, Florida. Before joining Healthier Tomorrows, she worked with veterans of the U.S. armed forces on their journeys toward better health in mind, body and spirit. She also works as an assistant coach for a high school girls flag football team and is passionate about empowering young women to live well and honor their bodies through athletics.
Outside of work you can find her chasing her two young kids, spending time outdoors, or attempting to write and illustrate a children’s book with her husband.
Loni Pereszlenyi, MS, RDN, LD is a registered dietitian with a great passion for supporting her clients as they navigate their own personal journeys toward healthier, more peaceful relationships with food and the body. Although Loni has outpatient experience in many areas of medical nutrition and nutrition counseling, she truly feels most impactful when working with clients that struggle with eating disorders or disordered eating behaviors. Loni knows that all clients come in at different levels of readiness and motivation to approach a healthier relationship with food. Loni strives to meet her clients at their starting points, working to provide individualized, goal-oriented, compassionate care throughout the client-dietitian relationship.
Loni holds two undergraduate degrees from West Chester University of Pennsylvania – a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. Additionally, she holds a minor in psychology, and has a strong interest in the intersection of nutrition and mental health. She completed her dietetic training concurrently with her Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at St. Louis University.
A lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area, Loni enjoys spending her free time cooking, baking, reading, and exploring new restaurants with her fiancé. Oh, and OF COURSE, cheering on her beloved Phillies, Eagles, and 76ers!!
Lauren Burkett, MS, RDN, LD is a registered dietitian who enjoys working with clients with a variety of disease states and supporting them in developing mindful eating habits and learning to recognize and honor their hunger cues through intuitive eating habits. She has a particular passion for working with clients struggling with gastrointestinal issues, including IBS/SIBO, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and low-fat diet post gallbladder removal, pancreatitis, diverticulitis/diverticulosis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. She also enjoys working with clients on challenges around emotional eating (with or without binge eating disorder), diabetes (with or without chronic kidney disease), women’s health issues (such as polycystic ovarian syndrome), endometriosis, infertility, and low-sodium diets (for hypertension and/or heart disease).
Lauren believes that mental health is just as important as physical health, and she supports her clients in developing behaviors that will assist them in both areas of their lives. She takes great pleasure in providing individualized care to each of her clients and in working with them as they strive to reach their health and wellness goals that will help to support an improved lifestyle for years to come.
Lauren completed her Bachelors of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics with minors in Biology, Medical Humanities, and Sociology from the University of Delaware (UD). She also earned her Masters of Science in Entrepreneurship and Design from UD. Lauren is currently working towards earning her Masters in Nutrition Education.
In her free time, Lauren loves to cook balanced meals (her favorites are shrimp scampi and chicken à la King), paint on canvas, go to spin and swim classes, and play with her pet bunnies, Quinoa and Pancake, and her Siberian husky/Alaskan Malamute and border collie/American Eskimo dogs, Bruno and Eevee!
Grace is a registered and licensed dietitian who enjoys helping people develop and maintain a healthy relationship with food. She empowers people to move away from fad diets and diet culture to a more intuitive and mindful way of eating. She takes an individualized approach with each client to help them achieve their nutritional goals. Additionally, being Nigerian-born and Houston-raised, Grace has had the opportunity to work with people from various backgrounds. She believes that healthy living does not have to exclude traditional foods.
Grace received her Bachelor’s of Science in Human Food and Nutrition from the University of Houston. She went on to complete her dietetic internship through Marywood University with a focus on mental health and nutrition. She began her career working in behavioral hospitals and helping patients make the connection between their nutritional and mental health. Grace has extensive experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help those struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating on their road to recovery.
In her free time, Grace loves traveling nationally and internationally, reading, and playing with her pups. She is fluent in her native tongue – Igbo – and is currently learning French!
Emily is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who is passionate about helping others achieve optimal wellness and build a healthy relationship with food and their body. Emily takes a functional/lifestyle medicine approach to nutrition, where she focuses on understanding the whole person and working with her clients to help them resolve their unique health concerns. She strives to provide a safe and empathetic environment where every client feels understood, empowered, and encouraged when discussing food and lifestyle.
Emily holds a Master of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan and Longevity from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Villanova University.
In her free time, Emily enjoys being outdoors, cooking, and discovering new recipes to test out with family and friends. Her last name – DaCosta – means “of the coast” which is surely on point because of her love for the ocean and the beach!
Julia is a registered dietitian who is passionate about educating and empowering clients to improve their health and overall quality of life. She believes that all foods fit into a healthy lifestyle and implements intuitive eating principles into her practice. Julia takes a non-judgmental, empathetic, and hopeful approach when addressing food and body image. She works collaboratively with her clients to create individualized and sustainable changes by building supportive and trusting relationships. She strives to shed light on harmful dieting myths and reframe thinking patterns to lead to a more balanced and fulfilled life.
Julia obtained her Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Arkansas. She completed her internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she worked closely with clients focused on diabetes management and heart health. Prior to joining Healthier Tomorrows, Julia worked in a residential facility with clients recovering from substance abuse, eating disorders and disordered eating.
In her free time, she loves taking ballet classes, hiking, running, listening to music, and creating new recipes. She has found that virtual nutrition counseling can encompass more than just discussion and she enjoys being able to provide meal time support, meal prep and virtual cooking guidance to her clients.