Jessica is thrilled to be a part of the Healthier Tomorrows team! She is a registered dietitian who loves food and deeply enjoys working with each of her clients, helping them discover or rediscover healthful eating and fall in love with food again. She has found that so many of her clients are dealing with stress and anxiety related to nutrition, and with positive energy, warmth, and empathy, she wants to work side-by-side with them to get back to basics and customize a pattern of healthy eating and lifestyle habits that best fits their individual needs and goals.
As a Certified Functional Nutrition Informed Professional (CFNIP), she believes that food does in fact act as medicine for the body and takes a functional nutrition approach to address the underlying cause of disease and nutrition-related health issues. She is here to help her clients use whole foods, eating patterns, and other lifestyle components such as sleep, stress management, mindfulness, and exercise to get back into balance and improve health outcomes. She particularly loves working with clients needing help with weight and metabolism, hormone imbalances, food intolerances and allergies, GI health issues, eating disorders, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and postpartum nutrition, blood sugar management issues such as Prediabetes and Diabetes, and general wellness. Jessica is here to support her clients while they take action, and can help them find recipes that delight their tastebuds and preferences while still suiting their nutritional needs, strategize with grocery store shopping, and help them build confidence in cooking! She can also help keep things streamlined and focused when working with families with differing nutritional needs among family members, keeping mealtimes joyful rather than stressful.
Jessica attended Meredith College where she received her Bachelor of Science in Foods and Nutrition and completed her dietetic internship program. She worked for over five years with the WIC Program, helping prenatal and postpartum women, infants, and children build a solid foundation with healthful nutrition patterns during those precious early years. She then began working as a consultant dietitian for ten years in various clinical and food service capacities. She has worked with the elderly population in the PACE program, helping clients with issues such as Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, Weight Maintenance, and feeding issues such as difficulty chewing and swallowing and altered taste. Additionally, she worked for three years with adults with Autism, helping them navigate meals and mealtime habits while overcoming barriers such as food aversions and social anxieties. She also worked for over five years with pediatric and young adult populations with food allergies and intolerances, and texture issues including dysphagia and other feeding difficulties, helping develop safe and appropriate menus while still including a variety of foods and nutrients.
In her spare time, Jessica loves to run, walk, bike, or swim outside. She lives for southern summers- perusing farmer’s markets, outdoor garden spaces, going to the pool, lake, or beach with her husband and 2 kids, and outdoor movie nights. She also loves volunteer work, listening to Yacht Rock, and diving into the local library’s “Staff Picks” for a good read. And her happy place is a toss up between Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s!
Marjorie is a registered dietitian committed to supporting individuals of all ages and their families in developing appropriate relationships with food and their bodies. Marjorie has supported people of all ages, including children, in their journey to overcome disordered eating behaviors and discouragement and to find freedom in recovery. She specializes in helping those struggling with disordered eating and chronic conditions, including children, and has specific experience in pediatric eating disorder recovery. She uses positive coping skills and individualized care to understand the whole person and their personal health concerns. Marjorie has worked with children, adolescents, adults and families to provide both individualized care and group sessions. She prioritizes a warm, caring approach that is supportive and strives to help every client to be understood and empowered.
She attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where she studied dietetics and completed her dietetic internship with Primary Children’s, American Fork Hospital and LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City and American Fork, Utah. She also attended Texas Tech University and received a Master of Science in Nutrition.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, playing baseball, gardening, and volunteering in her community.
Rowan is a registered and licensed dietitian who strives to help clients build better relationships with food and body image by empowering them to trust their bodies. She promotes weight-inclusive care by providing a judgment-free space where nutrition education is geared towards letting go of dieting habits, enjoying nourishing foods, and finding pleasant forms of movement. As a certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Rowan enjoys helping clients reconnect to their bodies’ innate intuition while learning how all foods can fit into a healthful diet.
Rowan completed her undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She received a Master of Science in Nutrition from Eastern Illinois University, where she also completed her dietetic clinical internship. Rowan has experience in clinical, outpatient, and community nutrition, working with both adult and pediatric populations. She’s experienced in counseling on chronic disease management, disordered eating/eating disorders, sports nutrition, and plant-based diets.
Rowan believes in treating each client as the unique and multifaceted individual they are while addressing all areas of life that can impact eating behaviors. She counsels using a patient-centered approach to help clients create practical and sustainable behavior changes. Being an excellent listener and gentle educator helps Rowan work with clients to improve their overall quality and satisfaction with life.
In her free time, Rowan enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and cooking! She loves trying new foods and testing out new plant-based recipes at home. Rowan also enjoys being active by playing volleyball, taking long walks with her dog (Shanti), and doing Pilates, yoga, and strength training.
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!
Margaret Dahl is a registered and licensed dietitian with a background in both sports nutrition and eating disorders, including the intersection of the two. She focuses on creating a body- and food-neutral environment when working with her clients in order to help them reach their health and wellness goals. She understands that pursuing behavior change is often difficult and requires empathy, patience and support, and Margaret enjoys supporting and guiding her clients with nutrition education while incorporating Health at Every Size principles into her practice.
Margaret enjoys working with athletes of all levels and abilities, having worked with both professional and college athletes. She also enjoys working with clients struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors. Prior to joining the Healthier Tomorrows team, she working with clients at higher levels of care, with a focus on the IOP level of care, and she has experience working with children, adolescents and adults.
Margaret received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Food Science and Human Nutrition. She received her Master’s degree and finished her dietetic internship at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics and is pursuing her certification as an eating disorder specialist.
Nicole is a registered dietitian who has a passion for helping her clients develop a relationship with food that allows them to enjoy all of the benefits that food has to offer, from energy, to enjoyment, to socialization and community. She strives to help others struggling with disordered eating or eating disorders to be able to rebuild their relationship with food. Nicole believes that all food serves a purpose and can be part of a nourished life.
Nicole received a bachelor’s degree in culinary nutrition from Johnson and Wales University and completed her clinical training through Metropolitan State University in Denver. She received her Master of Science from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Prior to joining Healthier Tomorrows, Nicole worked at an eating disorder treatment facility with patients at inpatient, residential, and partial hospitalization levels of care. Before becoming a registered dietitian, Nicole completed culinary school, earned an associate’s degree in baking and pastry and spent time working in a number of bakeries and restaurants.
In her free time, Nicole spends time with her husband, daughter, 2 dogs, and 3 cats. Nicole loves to socialize with her extended family and friends and share meals with them.
Anna Kreiser is a registered and licensed dietitian whose goal is to help her clients find peace with food and learn to nourish themselves to live fully. Anna feels strongly that food is fuel first, but also serves a purpose of social and cultural connection, fun and pleasure. Knowing that every individual comes with their own history and experience with food, she strives to support her clients by meeting them where they are. and helping them reach their individual goals.
Before joining Healthier Tomorrows, Anna worked with clients struggling with eating disorders at higher levels of care. She has experience at the residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient levels of care with child, adolescent, and adult patients with all types of eating disorder diagnoses.
Anna received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nutrition and dietetics from Northern Illinois University. During her master’s program, she completed a special certificate program in eating disorders.
In her free time, Anna loves cooking and baking with her family, going for walks with her dog, listening to audiobooks, and traveling whenever she can.
Dara is a registered dietitian with a passion for using food as medicine and utilizing a holistic approach to help clients heal their relationship with food. Dara believes that food is much more than just nutrition, it can help to create internal and external balance and is a central part of life that holds so much joy! Dara loves to help clients rediscover the joy in food they may have lost. She also loves to empower clients by providing them with facts and tools they can use to be intuitive with their nourishment. She values creating a comfortable, safe, and welcoming environment in a virtual setting. Dara is passionate about functional nutrition, eating disorder recovery, intuitive eating, and helping clients leave the diet mentality behind.
Previously, Dara worked in a private practice that specialized in functional nutrition. Dara utilizes this functional approach in helping clients identify the root cause of any imbalances they may be feeling by examining areas in their lives outside of their diet, such as their stress, sleep, and overall environment. Dara has counseled clients in eating disorder recovery, picky eating, intuitive eating, cardiovascular health, and preventative functional nutrition. Dara has experience facilitating 1:1 meal exposure cooking classes for individuals in their eating disorder recovery and clients with picky eating and food aversions.
Dara attended the University of Vermont where she received a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics, Nutrition, and Food Science and a certificate in Integrative Medicine, and completed her dietetic internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dara also became a certified yoga instructor before going off to college! Dara’s love for yoga influenced her passion for integrative nutrition, intuitive eating, and her holistic counseling style.
In her spare time, Dara loves practicing yoga and spending time at the beach with her family and four dogs. She also loves to travel, trying delicious restaurants, or creating recipes of her own! Also, a phrase you will often hear her say is that you can pronounce her name as “Sara”, but with a D instead of an S!
Cara is a registered and licensed dietitian and an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) who enjoys walking alongside clients in their health journeys to provide tailored support that meets their needs and fosters a positive relationship with food. She believes food is meant for both nourishment and enjoyment and strives to help individuals worry about food less so they can focus more on what’s important to them. Prior to joining the Healthier Tomorrows team, Cara worked in residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient eating disorder treatment. She has particular interests in women’s, pediatric, and adolescent health. As an IBCLC, she loves sharing her passion for breastfeeding with families and offering breastfeeding education and support to help them meet their infant feeding goals.
Cara attended North Carolina State University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Sciences. She went on to complete her Master of Science in Nutrition and dietetic internship through Meredith College. She completed her lactation coursework and clinical lactation training to become an IBCLC through North Carolina State University.
Outside of work, Cara enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and church community, baking, reading, and cheering on the NC State Wolfpack!
Kimberly is a registered and licensed dietitian who is passionate about assisting her clients in achieving their health and wellness goals. Kimberly received a Master’s of Science in Human Nutrition from University of Illinois in Chicago, and she completed her clinical training at UIC Medical Center, with rotations at Advocate Sykes outpatient wellness center, FoodMinds, Gourmet Gorilla, and CEDA WIC.
Kimberly has worked in outpatient private practice since becoming a registered dietitian, and uses a client-centered approach and motivational interviewing when working with her clients. She believes that all foods have a place in a well-balanced diet and that small but powerful changes over time will help individuals’ reach their goals.
Kimberly enjoys working with clients on a range of food-related issues, including eating disorder recovery, food allergies and intolerances, diabetes management, cardiovascular conditions, pre- and post-natal nutrition, pediatric nutrition, and general wellness.
Kimberly spends her free time teaching fitness classes, cooking, walking her over 100-pound dog, and planning her next vacation. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially her husband and son.