- Specialties
- ⦁ Weight loss
- ⦁ GLP-1 nutrition support & weight loss medications
- ⦁ Heart Health (CVD, Hypertension, High Cholesterol)
- ⦁ GERD/Acid Reflux
- ⦁ Vegan/vegetarian
- ⦁ Pre-diabetes & type 2 diabetes
- ⦁ PCOS
- ⦁ Menopause
- ⦁ Pre & Postnatal nutrition
- ⦁ Healthy aging
- ⦁ Men’s Health
- ⦁ General Health
- Approach to Care
- ⦁ Meal Planning
- ⦁ Accountability
- ⦁ Motivational interviewing
- ⦁ Personalized macros
- ⦁ Research-focused
- ⦁ Sleep
- About Melissa
- Melissa has been a Registered Dietitian for over 33 years and holds a B.S. in Nutrition and M.S. in Health Education. She is an Associate Professor of Allied Health at a college in Philadelphia and brings decades of nutrition teaching experience into her work with patients. She makes nutrition research and guidance easy to apply and tailored to you. Melissa is also a plant-based food blogger and recipe developer.
- Melissa’s Approach to Care
- Have you ever followed a nutrition plan that sounded good on paper but didn’t match your real life? One plan doesn’t work for everyone, which is why our work is tailored to you. During sessions, we focus on foods you enjoy, the time you actually have, and what feels most challenging right now. We take your routines, cultural food traditions, and budget into account so your plan fits into daily life. I don’t use crash diets or strict food rules. Eating should be enjoyable and satisfying. Our work centers on practical skills such as grocery shopping, reading labels, eating out, traveling, or using convenience foods in ways that support your goals. For vegetarian or vegan clients, we cover key nutrients like protein, iron, calcium, and vitamin B12 without adding stress or complexity. Sessions may include meal planning, food prep ideas, or working through food challenges, so you leave with tools you can use right away and more confidence in building healthy habits.
- Your first session with Melissa
- We start by talking through your main concerns and what prompted you to book the appointment. During this session, we review relevant labs and biometric data, go over your medical history, and discuss your current eating patterns and relationship with food. We often spend time on meal planning ideas that fit your schedule and preferences, with plenty of room for questions and real-life problem solving. By the end of the visit, we create a plan together with a small number of realistic short-term goals and a few longer-term goals to guide our work. Early on, weekly follow-up visits can support problem-solving, skill-building, and accountability as you try new strategies and adapt them to fit your life. The goal is for you to leave each session with practical next steps and a clearer sense of direction.