Rachel is a registered and licensed dietitian with a passion for helping clients optimize their health outcomes while discovering the root-cause of their symptoms, intolerances, or hormonal imbalances. Rachel believes in the human body’s inherent wisdom, that when given the right tools, it can heal itself. She is well versed in functional nutrition and works hard to discover the root-cause of unexplainable health issues and symptoms. Rachel believes that all clients should be heard and their concerns validated, and that there are myriad options to support hormonal health or seemingly mysterious symptoms.
Before joining Healthier Tomorrows, Rachel worked with oncology patients to help them thrive through their treatment, optimize their nutrition status, and prevent cancer recurrence. She has had success working with individuals with many different nutrition related medical conditions, and has guided them through lowering their blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, as well as helping women with estrogen dominance, PCOS, and nutrition support during pregnancy and postpartum.
Rachel obtained her undergraduate degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics at Western Carolina University and completed her dietetic internship through Lenoir Rhyne University. She would be honored to walk alongside you in your journey to achieving optimal nutritional and physical health!
Kara is a registered dietitian that is passionate about providing judgment-free, individualized nutrition counseling while meeting clients where they are at in their journey. Kara practices from a non-diet, Health at Every Size, and trauma-informed perspective. She aims to help others understand their relationship with food and how it impacts their minds and bodies. Kara has experience working with individuals struggling with eating disorders, disordered eating, addiction, weight and metabolism, and sports nutrition. As a runner herself, she believes in the importance of fueling to feel and perform your best!
Kara graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Foods – Dietetics. Kara then went on to complete a master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition combined with a dietetic internship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Before Healthier Tomorrows, she worked with a residential facility working with clients with eating, mood, and substance use disorders. Kara has experience facilitating 1:1 cooking lessons, restaurant and food exposures, and grocery store tours.
In her free time, Kara enjoys running with her run club, baking/cooking new recipes, and spending time with her two pugs (Cashew and Cannoli)! On the weekend, you can find her trying out local Chicago coffee shops and walking through the farmer’s market!
Kelly is a licensed registered dietitian who takes an empathetic, goal-oriented approach to helping her clients appreciate the beauty of food and its power to nourish the body. Knowing that people have unique and personal relationships with food, Kelly focuses on helping her clients explore and identify any obstacles that may get in the way of desired food behaviors. By partnering with each client, she is able to guide the process of establishing goals that are both attainable and long-lasting.
Kelly earned her BS in Nutrition from Benedictine University, completed a post-baccalaureate internship at Loyola University, and received a diplome de cuisine from Le Cordon Bleu in London, England. She is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and is part of the Behavioral Health, Weight Management, and Food and Culinary Professionals dietetic practice groups. She often uses her culinary background to include sensory experiences aimed at building and achieving mindfulness through innovative cooking demos, recipe development, and eating exercises.
Before joining Healthier Tomorrows, Kelly worked in a public health setting supporting adolescents and young adults who struggled with food-related issues that included food insecurity and malnutrition, disordered eating, weight management, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, and hormonal-related issues that affect hunger and satiety. Kelly has a particular interest in working with clients who have binge eating tendencies, providing education and guidance on how to modify this eating behavior.
In her free time, Kelly is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and appreciating all things that nature has to offer. She also enjoys spending time in the kitchen creating recipes and sharing meals with family and friends.
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; supporting thyroid and immune health, reversing diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and high blood pressure; minimizing and managing pain and headaches; and supporting couples in preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum health. She works with her clients to create a highly customized plan to support their specific health and wellness goals for optimal health. In addition, with her emphasis on functional nutrition, she takes into consideration every aspect of each client’s health, diet, and overall lifestyle when providing nutrition recommendations.
Jess is also a Certified Functional Nutrition Informed Professional (CFNIP), Certified LEAP Therapist (CLT), and serves as the Functional Nutrition Director at Healthier Tomorrows. Practicing functionally offers individualized food and lifestyle goals that address the root cause of illness and health struggles, rather than just addressing symptoms. As Functional Nutrition Director, Jess advises and clinically supervises the dietitians at Healthier Tomorrows in looking at wellness from a functional perspective and addressing the whole body to support clients in optimizing their health.
Being food and chemical sensitivities are often at the root of the inflammatory processes within the body, Jess obtained her CLT certification. With her CLT certification she uses Mediator Release Testing to measure an individual’s reaction to 176 foods and chemicals to establish the most effective anti-inflammatory diet plan for the individual’s specific needs.
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 she enjoys fostering relationships with clients and providing ongoing support.
Clients appreciate her non-judgmental, realistic, and upbeat approach!
Katie’s goal as a registered dietitian is to truly understand and support those desiring more from their healthcare providers. Her empathy and listening ear give her clients a safe space to navigate their relationship with food and their body. Katie has a great sense of humor and will make you feel at ease during your visits. She especially enjoys working with clients with mental health diagnoses, neurodivergent individuals, and clients in the LGBTQIA+ community. Katie’s specific nutrition-related interests include pregnancy/postpartum, nutrient deficiencies, chronic dieting, and a variety of gastrointestinal complaints (including fatty liver, chronic constipation, diverticulosis/diverticulitis, IBS, and GERD).
Before joining Healthier Tomorrows, Katie provided nutrition care to U.S. Military Veterans and Service Members for 10 years. Half of those years were spent helping Veterans with traumatic brain injuries and strokes recover and relearn how to walk, talk, and eat. Because of this experience, she has an excellent understanding of physiology and metabolism and knows just how miraculous the body is when we nourish it well.
Katie earned her Bachelor of Science in Food Science from Clemson University and earned her Master of Science in Dietetics from Kansas State University. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace and a Graduate Certificate in Organizational Leadership. Katie was named “Preceptor of the Year” in 2018 for the Anne Brezina Dietetic Internship in Tampa, FL.
When she’s not working with clients, Katie can be found crocheting, playing piano, reading Matt Haig novels, listening to audiobooks and podcasts, or exploring her state of North Carolina with her husband, toddler and pup.
Kate Williamson is a registered dietitian who is passionate about helping individuals heal their relationship with food. Kate employs a non-diet approach and believes that food should not only nourish the body but also the mind. Kate aims to restore the joy in eating while helping you navigate any health conditions or concerns to achieve your goals.
Kate has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, Dietetics, and Wellness as well as a Master of Science in Dietetics from Northern Illinois University. She also holds a certificate in Sustainable Food Systems from Northern Illinois University.
Kate has experience supporting individuals with various conditions and goals including cardiovascular health, weight management, gastrointestinal health, vegetarian and vegan nutrition, intuitive eating, Celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Kate also has a special interest in diabetes management, which stems from almost 20 years of personal experience. During her internship, Kate was able to further refine her skills by working at a diabetes education center, where she counseled clients individually and taught group classes on diabetes management.
In her free time, Kate can be found whipping up a new recipe in the kitchen, taking a walk with her husband, or spending time with family and friends. She is also an avid gardener who loves to relax with a warm cup of tea.