Conversations with the Inspiring Danielle Alder, MEd, RDN

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Alder, MEd, RDN.

Danielle, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always known that I wanted to dedicate my life to serving others, so a career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) was a natural fit. My journey began when I earned a B.S. in Dietetics from Arizona State University in 2013. I launched my career with a passion for sports nutrition, working for several years with Division I athletes at Arizona State University and Florida State University. I also spent a summer working at a well-known motocross training facility in Georgia developing meal plans and cooking healthy meals for the riders on training days. Since then, I have continued to gain diverse experience in the nutrition field including school food service, corporate wellness, individual and group nutrition education and consulting.

Throughout the years, I have developed an interest in the role of nutrition and movement in the treatment of eating disorders, disordered eating, and body dissatisfaction. I truly believe that each and every person deserves to have a nourishing relationship with food, movement, and their body. As a nutrition therapist, I work alongside clients on their journey to developing/restoring that relationship by honoring their individual health needs and meeting them where they are at. I am also a huge advocate for eating disorder prevention programs such as The Body Project. I am currently a trained facilitator of The Body Project and love to teach positive body image workshops whenever an opportunity presents itself.

Has it been a smooth road?
You may find it hard to believe but the path to becoming an RDN is a long and extremely competitive road. Arizona State University has one of the largest dietetics programs in the country and as a first-generation college student, I had no clue where to start. I relied heavily on advice from instructors and fellow classmates to make it to where I am today. Though the dietetic profession is very competitive, I must say that we have a strong passion for helping the next generation of dietitians succeed. I am very grateful for my family and all of the professionals I have met along the way who have mentored and believe in me.

For those women who are just starting their journey, I would say to look for your passion in life and go for it. Don’t be afraid to try new things and get out of your comfort zone. I think I changed my career path about 1000 times and each time I learned something new. Also, get involved in clubs or professional organizations that you believe in and Reach out to that person who inspires you the most. Side note: I also believe that a thank you note goes a long way.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Kahm Clinic story. Tell us more about the business.
I absolutely love working with people of all ages, genders and health conditions. My area of expertise is sports nutrition and eating disorders. I also have a lot of experience working with people who have chronic health conditions like Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

I am excited to share that I am working with an amazing team of nutrition professionals to open The Kahm Clinic, an outpatient nutrition private practice in the heart of downtown Gilbert. The Kahm Clinic specializes in the use of metabolic testing and body composition analysis in conjunction with nutrition education. Metabolic testing and body composition analysis allows us to provide more personalized nutrition recommendations. The measurements and the trends that we are able to see using the machines give us a clear picture of what is going on with your metabolism and cellular health from the inside. We anticipate that the clinic will be up and running at the beginning of October 2018. I look forward to sharing our unique knowledge and expertise with the East Valley community!

Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
I was fortunate to have parents who never put limitations on my personal interests. No matter how ordinary or wild my ideas were, they never made me feel like I wouldn’t succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thekahmclinic.com
• Phone: 480-256-8366
• Email: Danielle@thekahmclinic.com
• Other: www.nationalnutritionassociates.com

Image Credit:
Danielle Alder

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