Hawthorne Nutrition believes that optimal wellness includes eating all foods, even your favorites! Being healthy is not about starting a quick fix diet plan to lose weight – it is about making a lifestyle change that incorporates a variety of foods and exercise into your day. You are unique and your wellness program should be just as unique as you! Melissa strives to create a program that is customized and realistic for each individual client. Having a custom program that is also flexible allows you to roll with the day and make good decisions in those challenging moments, all the while avoiding the guilt associated with failing another diet or getting off track. Melissa helps you step-by-step, offering nutrition guidance and giving you the tools needed to knock through the barriers that often lead to giving up on other wellness programs. Working with Melissa will teach you how to:

INCREASE YOUR METABOLISM / IMPROVE BONE HEALTH / MANAGE A HEALTHY WEIGHT INCREASE ENERGY LEVELS / REDUCE FATIGUE / BOOST IMMUNITY / IMPROVE GUT HEALTH SUPPORT MUSCLE STRENGTH / IMPROVE MENTAL SHARPNESS

Hawthorne Nutrition sincerely believes that a balanced lifestyle is the key to overall wellness – “that’s why our moto is: Eat Balanced. Live Well”!

A diabetes diagnosis is life changing, and understanding how to manage the disease can be confusing. Don’t despair – the good news is whether you have pre-diabetes, Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes, with the right education and coaching you can still live a fulfilling, healthy life! A balance of the right type and amount of carbohydrates, heart healthy fats and lean proteins, along with daily physical activity, is proven to lead to optimal blood sugar control. Melissa understands these issues and can help create a balanced, customized, and realistic lifestyle program to improve your blood sugar levels and help you conquer your diagnosis.

Ultimately, though, Hawthorne Nutrition understands that controlling blood sugars may not be your only health concern. The Four Week or Eight Week Diabetes Management Program also focuses on and can help with weight management, lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, improving energy levels and increasing physical activity.

What is PCOS? Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder affecting 5-10% of reproductive age women, typically characterized by unusually high levels of testosterone (androgens) from the ovaries and, in most cases, insulin resistance. Side effects of PCOS may include: weight gain, hair loss from head, excessive hair growth on the face and body, acne, and irregular, absent or heavy periods. There currently is no cure for PCOS; however, studies show that certain dietary changes, improved eating patterns and regular exercise can reduce androgen levels, improve insulin resistance and induce ovulation. The challenging part of PCOS is that signs and symptoms, as well as the best course of action, may be different for each individual. There is no one-size-fits-all “PCOS Diet”, but Hawthorne Nutrition can create a customized program that is balanced, easy to follow, and realistic for your lifestyle. Melissa takes her time to listen and get to know you, your struggles and your goals. By focusing on nutrition guidance, enjoyable exercise, healthy sleep practices, mindfulness, self-care and stress management, Hawthorne Nutrition can help create something that works for you to defeat those daily challenges.

Life is unpredictable and can bring unwanted health issues, some of which can be directly related to your nutrition and food choices. Finding a registered dietitian to help guide you through those health issues and establish healthy lifestyle habits is essential. Hawthorne Nutrition uses Medical Nutrition Therapy to provide a science-based approach to help in this process. Whether you are experiencing high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, food allergies/intolerances, or other autoimmune conditions, choosing the right foods can improve your quality of life.

Raising healthy eaters is hard work. I have three young children of my own and, believe it or not, they do not always love to eat their vegetables! I have seen and understand the frustration of a child eating one food last week but refusing today. I also have experienced the all too familiar scenario when I plan and cook a delicious meal and none of my children want to eat it. I have felt both the defeat and joys of family eating. There is hope! I love working with families, parents and children/teens/college students to help everyone get through meal time with minimal frustrations. Each family member has a unique palate and eating style, and it is important to meet individuals where they are in their food preferences. After listening to your challenges, I can develop helpful, realistic strategies to work through those food blocks. As parents, we have to remember that becoming a healthy eater is a marathon, not a sprint. I will help guide you to be consistent in your approach towards food for the family and provide strategies to increase flexibility in your meal planning that meets your family eating goals.