Giedre Astrauskas MS, RDN, LD, IFNCP

Posted February 21, 2023

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 Kershaw RDN

Posted February 1, 2023

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! 

Lauren Burkett MS, RDN, LD

Posted June 6, 2022

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!

Emily DaCosta MS, RDN, LDN

Posted March 28, 2022

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!

Lauren Oakes MBA, RDN, LDN

Posted July 30, 2021

Lauren is a registered dietitian who is passionate about helping her clients develop and maintain a healthy relationship with food.  Lauren incorporates intuitive eating and the Health at Every Size philosophy into her nutrition counseling, and she strives to create an upbeat and positive atmosphere when working with her clients.  Lauren takes pride in supporting her clients as they create more balanced lifestyles and focus on being flexible and adaptable in order to recognize the power of food to create positive change in their lives.

Lauren received her bachelor’s degree from Madonna University and completed her clinical training at Beaumont Health in Royal Oak, MI.  She also received her MBA at Walsh College.  Prior to joining Healthier Tomorrows, Lauren worked in an outpatient setting where she worked with adolescents diagnosed with eating disorders, as well as anxiety, depression, GI concerns, and other health conditions.

Lauren loves spending time with her two dogs, Pepper and Murray, and her husband.  She enjoys cooking, traveling, golfing, and hiking.  Lauren enjoys providing virtual nutrition education, counseling, and support!

Lauren D’Errico MS, RDN, LDN, CPT

Posted January 11, 2021

Lauren is a registered and licensed dietitian with a passion for helping individuals who are struggling with disordered eating and eating disorders. She attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where she received her dual Bachelor’s in Dietetics and Kinesiology, along with her Master’s in Exercise Science. She went on to complete her dietetic internship through the University of Chicago Medicine, Ingalls Memorial Hospital.

Lauren is devoted to creating a safe space to work through eating disorders and disordered eating, and is Health at Every Size (HAES) aligned. She helps guide individuals towards achieving food freedom, body neutrality/acceptance, and integrating exercise in a meaningful way. She prioritizes creating positive, sustainable behavior changes by taking a holistic approach to health which includes food, movement, and mindset.

In her spare time Lauren loves weightlifting, yoga, trying new coffee shops, and playing with her dog!

Jessica Smosna RDN, LDN

Posted June 26, 2020

It’s not uncommon to feel lost and confused when it comes to food. In fact, it’s frequently the norm. Jess steers away from the diet-mentality and focuses on a food-as-medicine and a “good, better, best” approach to educate and motivate clients to thrive and grow. Using her philosophy and approach, which are rooted in functional medicine, she has guided clients in healing and repairing their gut and addressing food sensitivities, including supporting a gluten free lifestyle; reversing diabetes, elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure or inflammation; minimizing and managing chronic pain and headaches; and supporting couples in preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum health. She works with her clients to establish an individualized plan to support their specific health and wellness goals for optimal health.
Jess obtained her undergraduate degree in dietetics from Bradley University and completed her dietetic internship through the University of Houston. She was part of the Healthier Tomorrows dietetic team from 2013 through 2015, and rejoined Healthier Tomorrows in 2020 to provide virtual nutrition education and support! She has significant experience working with clients in outpatient settings, and enjoys fostering relationships with clients and providing ongoing support. She continues to enhance her knowledge through weekly webinars, lectures, self-study materials, and personal experiences. Jess also enjoys doing research to find answers to her clients’ nutrition-related questions.

Clients appreciate her non-judgmental, realistic, and upbeat approach.

Kimberly Novotny MS, RDN, LDN

Posted February 14, 2019

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.

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