Hidden Gems: Meet Kelly Neilson of Nutrition for Hope

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Neilson.

Hi Kelly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics. I completed a dietetic internship with Utah State University, and the first job I got was with an eating disorder treatment center in Utah called The Center for Change. I worked there for 2 years and gained training and a passion for eating disorder care. After that, I moved out of state and continued my education by doing a distance Master’s program through Utah State University for a Master of Dietetic Administration. This degree helped launch my private practice, Nutrition for Hope, in 2017. I created it to be wholly virtual, so I could reach individuals in places where they may not otherwise have access to an eating disorder dietitian. I moved to Tucson in 2020 and brought all my virtual clients. Through the eating concerns and issues of the pandemic, my business overflowed with clients and has remained steady ever since.

Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been fairly smooth, but I had to learn and figure out many things about running a business on my own. I started my practice when my husband was in medical school, so we needed more capital to invest in the business. I ended up bootstrapping it on my own–though one advantage of a virtual practice is the low overhead costs. I’ve hit a couple of bumps as my client load temporarily dips down, but through networking with other professionals, I can get more referrals and get my client load back up.

Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I provide one-on-one virtual nutrition counseling for those struggling with eating disorders or disordered eating. I use the philosophies of Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size heavily in my practice. I named my practice Nutrition for Hope because I love watching the evidence of adequate nutrition healing a person from the inside out. Everyone still has hope in eating disorder recovery, no matter how many years they’ve had it or how entrenched they are. They can still have hope for a better life and future through our work together. I help individuals heal their relationship with food and have freedom around food without feelings of guilt. I help people avoid extremes with their eating and thinking about food. I help people learn how to listen to their bodies and trust their bodies when it comes to eating. I help people see their value above and beyond their bodies, but also how to cultivate positive body respect and appreciation.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I have never had an eating disorder, but I am uniquely drawn to this work and love what I do, even when it is hard. I enjoy the struggle and the challenge because the reward is great.

Pricing:

• Pricing varies, please see my website

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nutritionforhope.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutritionforhope/ 

Image Credits
Samantha Nymeyer – photographer