Nutrition Entrepreneurs - Spring 2018

Ventures Enterprising News & Ideas for Nutrition Entrepreneurs

A Brand New As an entrepreneur it’s always a good idea to do a yearly check-up on your work, whether you are an established brand or are still working on it. I recently read Mel Carson’s (delightfulcommunications. com) “10 Steps to a New Professional You” at Entrepreneur Magazine’s website. I’ve listed his 10 Steps here and detailed some of my own thoughts and recommendations: 1. Get a great headshot. This is often the first perception a potential client will have of you. A good image of you smiling and dressed sharply makes you more competent, likeable and influential in the person’s eyes. I prefer a real picture of yourself. While in some cases a humorous or cartoon-like picture is appropriate, you want to have a real, up-to-date photo somewhere too (not of a random mountain or sunset, nor a photo that’s 15 years old).

2. Be discoverable online. We live in an everincreasing digital world. Do an internet search of your name and see what the results are. Being discoverable isn’t just about SEO; it’s now about credibility. While imposters supporting nutrition pseudoscience may not be credible, they appear credible in internet searches, so put yourself (and your credentials) out there.

3. Have a professional purpose. Bring your passion. The excitement you have for your niche should shine through in your online presence.

4. Learn to listen and practice empathy.

Work on your listening skills to learn from

Branding: Discovering Your Unique Voice

In This Issue: A Brand New You ������������������������������������������ 1 Less Perfection, More Authenticity. ������ 2 Brand Identity Crisis… ������������������������������ 3

Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN, LD Chair Springtime is a time of renewal. Rebirth.

Rejuvenation.

Spring 2018 Volume XXXVI Number 4

Don't Let the Big "I" Word Intimidate You - Insurance ���������������������������������������������� 4 others. Hear people out and effectively share your views with empathy.

5. Practice writing. I understand that everyone isn’t a writer, but everyone has to be able to communicate clearly and professionally in written form. Work on it. The more you write, the better you’ll get. Hire a writer or editor to review your work, and proofread your own writing (including social media comments) so you come through professionally in every setting.

6. Re-engineer your digital presence. Review all your pages and profiles at least twice a year to be sure they are consistent across the board. Update photos or taglines, links, contact info, etc.

7. Analyze your competitors. Check out what other people in your niche are doing so you can provide a unique service.

8. Craft your personal branding statement.

Include your audience, mission and values.

9. Embrace and expound your experience.

Start talking about your experiences. Not everyone is reading your CV. By sharing your background and story, you can reach more like-minded clients and customers.

10. Be social by design. Look for new ways to use various platforms to make the most out of your social media. Be friendly and engage - add comments, ask questions and offer answers.

I'm so glad you are here and can enjoy the ride with your fellow entrepreneurs at NEDPG!

Members on the Move ������������������������������ 6 Branding: The Power of Telling Your Story ������������������������������������������������������������������ 7 Branding: What NOT To Do ���������������������� 8 Branding and Corporate Wellness RDN ������������������������������������������������������8 Find Your Brand Inspiration �������������������� 9 Let Consistency Be Your Guide ��������������10 Branding: Express Your Brand By Developing Your Own Website ������������11 How Your Personal Brand Can Shape Your Unique Career ����������������������������������11 What Is Your Brand Plan? ������������������������12 Hello, It's Me ��������������������������������������������������12 Three RDN's Who Have Mastered Branding ��������������������������������������������������������13 The Foundation of Your Brand is Your Belief in Yourself ������������������������������������������14 Product Reviews ����������������������������������������15 Mini Meetings ����������������������������Back Cover

Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN, LDN, is the owner of Rust Nutrition Services, and blogs at Chew the Facts. She’s written a few books and works as a nutrition communications consultant. Her passion is fact-finding and translating nutrition data into well-reasoned dietary advice, so people can enjoy eating for good health. As an adventurous mom of three sons, she considers herself a boy expert.

She’s been there, done that, and is almost done with that.

If you call and say “let’s go,” she’s ready, especially if it’s to hop a plane to her happy place in Venice, Florida.

Ventures EDITOR Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE, CLT

INCOMING EDITOR Julie Harrington, RD

EDITORIAL BOARD, 2017-2018 Kristina Todini, RDN Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE, CLT Elana Natker, MS, RD Lauri Egan, RDN, CPT Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN, LDN The newsletter pertains to the Nutrition Entrepreneurs Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and reproduction rights are reserved. Publication of an advertisement in the Ventures newsletter should not be considered as an endorsement of the product or advertiser by the DPG. Viewpoints and statements in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect policies and/or positions of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. © 2017 Nutrition Entrepreneurs.

All rights reserved.

WE WELCOME INPUT FROM OUR MEMBERS. PLEASE CONTACT THE EDITOR: Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE, CLT NewsletterEditor@NEdpg.org

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION NE members’ Ventures subscription year runs from June through May. Non-Academy members may purchase a one-year (five issues) subscription for $40.

Contact NEadmin@NEdpg.org for subscription information.

ADDRESS CHANGES AND MISSING ISSUES If you have a change of address, please contact the Academy with your new address information. If you missed an issue, email Lauri Egan at NEadmin@NEdpg.org

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Less Perfection, More Authenticity Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE Newsletter Editor When I first started my business, thinking about branding gave me heart palpitations.

Everything I read made it seem that to attract clients, I had to come up with an entrepreneurial alter-ego - one with a magnetic personality, impeccable style and a knack for picking complementary colors. Excuse me, branding experts, but I’ve been trying to be that person for years – what makes you think I could do that for my business?

Over the years, I’ve learned that successful branding is more about authenticity than “fake it till you make it.” The visual side of branding is important – we want to present a professional image to the world, and our choice of fonts, color and headshots can reinforce our brand. But the key to branding isn’t creating a perfectly put-together persona; rather it’s presenting your authentic self in a cleaned-up way. Successful branding is highlighting the parts of yourself that would be attractive to your ideal client, and minimizing the parts that might not. You’re still being yourself, flaws and all.

For example, clients often tell me they decided to work with me because I’m not intimidating. Being down to earth is part of my branding. I share stories of my own

mistakes with eating, share an insta-story when I’m not wearing makeup, and post pictures of my regular lunch alongside the stylized food photography I feature on my blog.

What I’ve found to be most beneficial about having an authentic brand is that I attract the type of clients I actually want to work with.

Before solidifying my brand to reach my ideal client, there were many times I felt like I had to adjust my approach or personality to fit a client who really wasn’t the right fit. Now I get clients who are not only fun to work with, but stick with me for the long haul because we’re a good match.

Branding is intimidating, whether you’re new to entrepreneurship and trying to brand for the first time, or a seasoned business owner looking for inspiration and advice for rebranding or refreshing your existing brand.

That’s why we decided to dedicate an entire issue of Ventures to the topic. We hope this helps you take the fear factor out of branding!

Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE, CLT, is the private practice dietitian behind rachaelhartleynutrition.com. It's her passion to help others rediscover the joy of eating. She finds her joy in travel, and dreams of one day taking a year off to explore and eat her way through the world.

Brand Identity Crisis Kerri Hawkins, MS, RDN, LDN, CPT Director-Elect of Member Services The best way to identify with your audience and client is having a strong brand concept. But what happens when you have multiple jobs or businesses? How do you keep a consistent brand concept while tailoring your messages for different audiences?

Like many dietitians and nutrition professionals, I wear multiple career hats.

Three to be exact.

I have integrated myself into a family medicine office; I co-founded a nonprofit called WellnessCampaign.org that teams up dietitians and physicians to create a community supporting sustainable habits, wellness and weight loss; and I created Perfect Pear Coaching, a telehealth business and blog that offers nutrition, fitness and overall wellness consulting services.

Recently I had a brand identity crisis. As my three jobs have grown, my brand’s voice felt like it was shrinking and getting lost in my success. I have struggled this year with finding a brand voice that could be universal to my three very different audiences.

This past year as I was launching Perfect Pear Coaching, I took a step back and started to look more closely at my brand’s voice. The biggest challenge for me was to not compare myself with every other nutrition brand out there. Rather than looking in the mirror at what I had to offer to others, I was comparing myself to other successful RDNs and health professionals. I caught myself saying “Why can’t I grow as quickly as them?”, “Why doesn’t my webpage look as professional as theirs?”, “How do I make my Instagram feed look that way?” These comparisons went on and on for months.

As I was trying to be everything to everyone, I realized I was losing what made me unique as a dietitian. When this realization came to light, “brand” started to take on a new meaning to me. A brand’s voice must be genuine, personable, consistent and uniquely me. The unique qualities I possess as a dietitian make my voice genuine and allow each of my audiences to connect with me in a meaningful way.

By no means have I found my perfect voice, but there are four qualities I pay attention to when I am working on a project to keep my brand’s voice consistent:

1. Genuine: Does this align with why I do the work I do?

2. Personable: How do I want to make people feel or react about my product/ message?

3. Consistent: Is this consistent with other messages I have shared with this audience?

4. Unique: What makes my approach stand out and how do I tie that to my message/ brand?

These questions help me stay connected to why I do the work I do, which then leads to a genuine and clear brand voice. Our unique voices are what makes each of our brands great.

Kerri Hawkins is a registered dietitian based in the Boston area where she works in a collaborative medical model knows as a Patient Center Medical Home. Kerri has also cofounded the nonprofit WellnessCampaign.org and telehealth practice Perfect Pear Coaching. Kerri's wellness philosophy is "NOT one size fits ALL.” Each individual has to find what is right for their lives and bodies.

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CEU Article:

Don’t Let the Big “I” Word Intimidate You – INSURANCE Kristi Ulatowski, MPH, RDN CEU A common question among new - and seasoned - RDNs who own their own private practice is “Should I accept insurance?” This article will examine the pros and cons for dietitians when it comes to accepting insurance. If you determine that accepting insurance is right for your practice and your business goals, this article will walk through the necessary steps to getting set up with accepting insurance, namely: 1. Setting up your business 2. Getting credentialed 3. Contracting with insurance companies 4. Starting billing with insurance companies

EXAMINE THE PROS AND CONS If you’re starting up a private practice, or if you’ve been debating whether or not to accept insurance, consider the pros and cons. There are several reasons why business-savvy RDNs accept insurance. In the past, accepting health insurance was a question of "Is this worth my time and effort?" This was because reimbursement was limited and because there can be a significant time investment upfront to get credentialed and contracted with different health plans. In addition, there’s the time you'd need to spend performing client eligibility estimates and submitting successful claims to obtain your reimbursements.

As of 2015, however, nutritional counseling has become widely covered by many insurance plans. RDNs can be reimbursed by insurance for more nutrition-related diagnoses than ever before. Areas that have been traditionally covered, such as diabetes and kidney disease, have also seen coverage expansion. With many plans, patients are getting unlimited visits that are fully covered for nutritional counseling.

Being a provider with a variety of insurance companies increases the number of

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patients you can see, often at no cost to the patients. Once you're contracted with insurance companies, your door will be open to clients who may not have been able to see you otherwise. Many of your clients will look and find you based on you being a healthcare provider within their plans.

As far as payment is concerned, many RDNs find that the reimbursement levels are competitive with what they charge self-pay clients. That’s why accepting insurance can be a true benefit to RDNs in private practice - you stand to make the same amount of money, plus you get free marketing and referrals simply by being listed as a preferred provider in an insurance plan.

Once you're set up with various insurance companies, you’ll likely grow your practice faster than you were doing previously.

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO ACCEPTING INSURANCE Who is intimidated by insurance? Not you!

You’ve decided to take the steps necessary to setting up your business and get credentialed and contracted with insurance companies so that you can start billing. Here is a stepby-step guide to making this happen:

1. S et Up Your Business to Accept Insurance: Before you start the process to become an innetwork provider, make sure you: n Pick a type for your business: Soleproprietorship? LLC? Contact an attorney to learn the best structure for you.

LegalZoom is a good starting place. n Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN), liability insurance and a license (if required in your state). n Obtain a National Provider Identifier (NPI).

This is a HIPAA-protected way to identify you as a provider (or your organization) when filing claims, working with insurance companies or the U.S. government. Sign

up for a personal or organizational NPI from the NPPES site.

2. G et Credentialed with Insurance Companies: Credentialing is a unified process in which insurance companies check to make sure that an applicant is in good standing. This is done via the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH) – essentially, a digital filing cabinet where you can securely store your information as a healthcare provider. Once you enter your information in the CAQH Proview portal, you can authorize specific health plans to access your information for credentialing.

Questions on the portal include: n Basic personal information: name, address, provider type, practice setting; n Education and training: graduate school, internships, fellowships and preceptorships; n ID numbers: group and personal NPIs, tax ID, Medicare/Medicaid numbers; n Specialties and certifications; n Practice information: name, address and contact information, office manager and credentialing contact, services offered, hours of operation, partners and colleagues; n Hospital affiliations, if any; n Liability insurance information (you must have this for credentialing and contracting – see step one above); n Work history and references.

Once you have completed the questionnaire, create a list of insurance companies you want to work with. This state-by-state guide to insurance gives you a glimpse into which companies are the big players in your state. Contact each insurance company on your list and speak with a credentialing representative to get the process underway.

3. S ecure Contracts with Insurance Companies: Contracting is the process of becoming an in-network provider with insurance companies. This is the part of the process where you get a contract that sets your reimbursement rates with that insurance company. It also establishes the policies and guidelines for seeing and filing claims for plan members. Apply to three to four companies at once—you'll be more likely to get through the process with at least one and can start seeing some patients while you wait for the other companies to process your paperwork.

Processing times vary depending on the insurance company; some will be fast (a month or so) and some will stretch on for what feels like an eternity. On average, it takes 180 days for insurance companies to process your paperwork!

It’s best to start this process early so that you’re not feeling stressed if you’re bumping up against deadlines.

The best way to figure out the process for an insurance company is to call and ask the provider services contracting/ credentialing contact for your geographic area. Even if there’s an online system, it’s still a good idea to call and confirm that the insurance company is currently accepting new dietitians in your area.

This is also a good time to obtain any paperwork that's not included in the CAQH, and ask other questions you may have about working with them.

a good guideline.

The insurance representative will give you specific information for nutrition counseling benefits. Examples of questions to ask that apply to your patient's benefits include: Is there a deductible? Is there an out-of-pocket max? Are there additional copayments or coinsurance? Is a referral from a primary care provider required? n FILE THE CLAIM: If you plan to handle your own billing, it’s time to get familiar with the CMS-1500 form. This is used by health insurance companies for professional claims. As you’re setting up an appointment, make sure you collect all the required information from your patient so you can file the form completely.

After the appointment, fill out the form and mail it to the insurance company or file it using a clearinghouse, or use a nutrition reimbursement company to assist. Once the form is sent to the insurance company, it can take from a few days to a few weeks for you to get paid. n GET PAID. You have several options for how you get paid by insurance companies. The default is receiving checks by mail, but most insurance companies will also offer direct deposit. If you set up a business-only bank account and

have your payments submitted via direct deposit, this will make bookkeeping a little easier.

You made it! With practice, you will get savvy with those calls to insurance carriers. Or consider outsourcing to a reimbursement company to manage credentialing, contracting and billing for you. But don’t let insurance intimidate you. While it can be a complex and sometimes confusing system to navigate, there are many resources that can help. Start by staying current on navigating the complex world of billing and insurance via two Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics resources, the monthly MNT Provider Newsletter and the RDNs Complete Guide to Credentialing and Billing. And reach out to your business-savvy RDNs on the NE EML with your questions as well!

To take the CEU Quiz: Go to NEdpg.org and Login. Go to Members > Newsletter > CEU Articles.

Krista Ulatowski, MPH, RDN, owner of KUcumber Nutrition Communications, creates and implements marketing, branding, communications, social media and public relations programs for food, health and wellness companies. Prior to becoming a dietitian, Krista spent 10 years in the world of PR, working at national firms based in Minneapolis and Seattle.

4. S tart Billing: Once you get your first contract, you can start seeing patients who have that insurance. Each insurance claim, or invoice sent to an insurance company by the provider (or billing service) for medical services rendered, follows a similar life-cycle: n CONDUCT AN ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFITS ESTIMATE: An eligibility estimate is used to verify the services that your patient's health insurance plan covers. You're checking to see if the patient's plan covers nutrition counseling services and any additional diagnosis codes you may be given. An eligibility estimate isn't a guarantee of coverage, but it is generally

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Members

on the Move

Judy Simon, MS, RDN, CD, CHES, FAND, was recognized by the Academy in October 2017 as a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Judy was an invited speaker at the 60th Annual Seattle Gynecology Society Fall Assembly and delivered a lecture, PCOS: Nutrition Strategies and Lifestyle Treatments.

Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, FAND, is releasing her fourth book.

Prediabetes: A Complete Guide will be released this spring. This book takes an individualized approach to an overall lifestyle reset to prevent type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

Chapters include creating a vision for your ultimate wellness, setting goals, tweaking favorite recipes, getting adequate sleep, eating healthfully, losing weight, being active and ending negative self-talk. And there are tons of organizing and tracking tools for motivation and accountability.

Jacqueline B. Marcus, MS, RDN, LDN, CNS, FADA, FAND, is pleased to announce the publication of, The Healing Power of Coconut (available on Amazon) and Healing Power of Coconut (with recipes), by Publications International, Ltd. PIL also recently published EAT FAT LOSE WEIGHT: A Guide to Healthy Fats Plus 70 Delicious Recipes. A fourth book, The Ultimate Keto Diet, is expected for publication in

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2018, written by Jacqueline and the editors of Publications International, Ltd. Steve Della Croce, MS, RDN, CDN, an RDN since 2004, immersed himself in the business world in order to learn how to build a true business. Now, he is helping other RDNs grow their practices by offering an administration service, Nutrition Practice Management. Dietitians delegate their marketing, phone calls, billing and more so they can focus on providing the best nutrition counseling. “Dietitians love to help people, and I love to help dietitians.”

Lynn Kline, RD, LD, CNSC, is announcing the opening of Lynn Kline Nutrition – nutrition counseling for individuals on feeding tubes. Lynn provides one-on-one, virtual coaching to optimize her clients’ health at home whether they using formulas, pre-made blends or blenderized real foods. She also provides custom recipes for blenderized real foods.

Learn more at LynnKlineNutrition.com.

Mary Purdy, MS, RDN, published her book, Serving the Broccoli Gods, a collection of intimate, funny and candid personal essays about life as a dietitian, interspersed with helpful and relevant nutrition tip side-bars so you laugh a little while learning a little. It's available on Amazon in print and on Kindle.

Brooke Zigler, MPP, RDN, LD, recently launched her new company, Brooke Zigler Nutrition, LLC. The Austin, Texas-based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist will be providing nutrition counseling both inperson and virtually for weight management.

She will also be working with food companies to create social media campaigns and develop healthy recipes. Visit her website: brookeziglernutrition.com and Instagram: @brookezigler to learn more about her services.

Michele Redmond, MS, RDN, taught a Vinegar Taste Workshop and Cooking Demo for Le Cordon Bleu headquarters in Paris, then headed to FNCE® to share the secrets behind meaty-vegetable flavors. She co-presented a session and cooking demo called The Inclusive Table: Vegan Meals Omnivores Will Love. Michele teaches, speaks and writes about taste literacy, culinary nutrition and creating positive food cultures through Thetasteworkshop.com.

Digna I. Cassens, MHA, RDN, CLT, FAND, had a year to be remembered in 2017.

She was awarded the FAND designation and published five new books: Food for Group Homes, Simplified Diets and Nutrition Guide, Orientation and Training for Cooks in LTC, Dining Services Education & Training Manual and Spice it Up with Robust Flavor. All books available at flavorfulfortifiedfood.com and Amazon. Follow Digna on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Patti Landers, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND, the treasurer of NE, is the director of a dietetic internship sponsored by Keith & Associates in Tulsa, Oklahoma, recently accredited by The Accreditation Council for Education in Dietetics Education. The program has two classes per year. Interns have a 160-hour rotation in nutrition entrepreneurship in which they experiment with social media, design a webpage and write a business plan. NE members interested in having an intern can contact Patti at KADDI@consultingdietitians. com.

Marci Evans, RDN, is thrilled to have launched the 2nd edition of her five-part online training, Nutrition Counseling for Eating Disorders. Whether you are new to the field or a seasoned pro, this training will leave you informed on the latest research, armed with client-ready handouts, greater counseling confidence and 13 CDR-approved CEUs. Check out all the details at marcird.teachable. com and stay tuned in 2018, as Marci plans to launch additional trainings.

Sara Haas, RDN, LDN, and Elizabeth Shaw, MS, RDN, recently released The Fertility Foods Cookbook, a resource for anyone trying to or struggling to conceive. Written by two dietitians with a history of infertility, this book was inspired by a passion to help others comprehend the role nutrition plays in fertility. Personal stories are complemented by science-backed nutrition and over 100 fertility-fueling recipes. This book is designed to give those struggling with infertility a sense of control over something very powerful, their health.

Jen Haugen, RDN, LD, received a promotion as an independent consultant with Pampered Chef. After only a year in her business, she has advanced to director.

Jen and her team, made up exclusively of registered dietitian nutritionists, are helping families across the nation, working to enrich lives, one meal and one memory at a time, through fun cooking workshops and efficient freezer meal workshops both live and online.

Branding: The Power of Telling Your Story Maria McConville Secretary In our ever-changing, highly competitive and visible era, it’s more important than ever to know who and what your business is and to be able to express those elements with clarity and authenticity.

According to Karen Tiber Leland, author of The Brand Mapping Strategy, your brand is not just a single statement or a clever quip but a multilayered, congruent narrative told across multiple channels. The power is in knowing how to tell the story – your story.

Your brand must reflect your inner purpose, deepest gifts and unique contributions.

For nutrition entrepreneurs, creating your brand can be daunting. After all, we are experts in nutrition; but not all of us are experts in the business aspects of what we love to do.

To help you tell your story through your brand, Leland suggests identifying seven core elements: 1. The Anchor Statement: a succinct description of who you are and what you do. The anchor statement provides brand clarity. It helps explain your brand in a way that the listener can find a meaningful pattern in your words. If not found, the listener will tune out. The anchor statement is meant to be a spoken tool with layers that get woven into a conversation; it is not a robotic speech.

2. Unique Branding Proposition: what makes what you do unique or special how you set yourself apart from others.

Making a list of attributes you believe are important to your audience helps you discover your unique branding proposition.

3. Brand Tone and Temperament: the consistent mood, tenor, character and manner that you bring to all your interactions. Understanding

and articulating your brand’s core personality traits is critical to creating a consistent brand across all platforms and is an essential first step in formatting your overall brand identity.

4. Brand Energy: what you will be committed to provide in all circumstances. Knowing your particular brand energy helps craft the branding strategy. By identifying your natural strengths, you will align your brand to your authenticity.

5. Signature Story: the essential story that drove you to where you are. Your signature story must be authentic, illustrate how your brand came into being, and highlight specific aspects of your brand through example.

6. Signature Services: your core competencies and offerings. They include any intellectual capital such as proprietary processes, unique models, specific systems, etc.

7. Brand Enhancers and Reducers: your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and obstacles. Examine your brand strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Remember, there’s no one better to tell your story than you. Make it a good one!

Maria McConville, MS, RDN, CPT, CWC, is owner of Balanced Body Nourishment, LLC. In addition to guiding clients to find better health, Maria is passionate about helping them change their thought processes to become victors over life’s circumstances and manage stress. She finds her inspiration and enlightenment at her seaside home and you can find her each evening walking on the beach collecting sunsets.

Branding: What NOT to Do Erin Hendrickson, RDN PR and Marketing With all the email campaigns, social media courses and building your brand seminars we’re constantly bombarded with, it can be challenging to know what direction is best to take or what will allow YOUR voice to be heard over all the noise.

I waited five years into my career as a registered dietitian before taking advantage of all the Academy and the Nutrition Entrepreneur DPG groups have to offer. In an effort to save you some time and frustration with discovering your voice, here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way: DON’T fake your passion. “Fake it ‘til you make it” does not apply when it comes to finding your voice and branding your business. It’s tempting to jump on the latest food trend or follow others’ successful business models for potential short-term success. But if it’s not something you’re truly

passionate about or you don’t practice in your own life, your followers, clients and customers will see through the facade. Burnout is inevitable if you aren’t willing to eat, breathe and live your passion.

On the same note, show yourself some grace if you don’t immediately know what your passion is. The timeline for finding your “zone of genius” may look different from everyone else’s. It took a “quarter-life” crisis, quitting a job and trekking through Europe to truly figure out where my passions lie.

DON’T keep yourself in a box. I’m so thankful for the wonderful community of dietitians I’m surrounded by, but it’s wise to sometimes step outside of the RD box for inspiration and ideas to help grow your brand and find your voice. How are other individuals and brands marketing themselves and growing their businesses? Making friends outside your niche can provide a set of fresh eyes and opportunities to partner in ways you’ve never imagined.

DON’T hide your quirks. Consumers and clients need to relate with you before they’ll

invest in what you’re offering. Sharing your hidden talents, passions outside of your expertise, or your pet peeves may attract others to your brand and allow you to stand out. One of my favorite entrepreneurial speakers and New York Times best-selling authors, Jon Acuff, LOVES queso and often shares that love with his audience by promoting his favorite queso-eating locales or wearing I LOVE QUESO T-shirts.

DON’T be everything to everyone. You can’t know it all, do it all and be everything to everyone. Knowing whose problem you want to solve will provide more details about your target audience, allowing focus on more specific content that aligns with your brand.

At the end of the day, don’t stretch yourself so far that you’re no longer producing quality work for your clients.

Erin Hendrickson, RDN, Incoming Director of PR & Marketing: You can find Erin blogging on her website MinimalistRD.com about all things minimalism including tiny houses, capsule wardrobes and zero-waste living! You’ll likely find her hiking, thrifting and eating her way around Nashville, as well as planning her next travel adventure.

Branding and the Corporate Wellness RDN Caroline Susie, RDN Specialty Group Leader: Corporate Wellness Whether you are brandnew (forgive the pun) to the corporate wellness space or are a seasoned RDN, one thing is for sure. The wellness landscape is crowded! With so many solutions and vendors under the wellness umbrella, it is easy for one to get lost in the shuffle. One way to set yourself apart from the competition is to know your brand.

How to distinguish yourself in the wellness arena:

nnKnow your target audience.

You can’t be the solution for everyone, and that is OK! Know who your ideal audience and or client is. How large of a

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company? Is your solution appropriate for the entire population? What type of industry? What do the employer demographics look like? What are the needs of the company’s employees?

What are the company’s values and mission statement? And most important, you must know what their goals are.

nnKnow your numbers. If you don’t measure, did it really happen?

Laugh, but it’s true. You have to show your worth via return on investment or return on value. Employers want to see the proof, whether a reduction in healthcare costs or an improvement in biometrics. You must show that your services are going to improve the lives of their employees. If you are looking for an employer to renew services, cohort reporting is a must.

nnKnow what differentiates you.

The wellness landscape is crowded. You need to know and vocalize what sets you or your solution apart. This is where knowing your brand really comes into play. Authenticity and evidence will set you up for success in the wellness industry.

Your brand can speak to all of the above. Be consistent. Be accurate. And don’t forget to take advantage of the fantastic resources within NEDPG.

Caroline Susie, RDN: "Have passport, will travel." I have a passion to see the world! Not counting any country twice, I have visited 22 countries and counting. I love experiencing local food speciality cuisine when I travel and will NEVER pass up on a cooking or cocktail-making class. My tagline says it all: "Dietitian by day, foodie by night."

Find Your

Brand Inspiration

Jenna Bell, PhD, RD Delegate’s Corner As you contemplate building or creating your brand, I recommend seeking inspiration from those you admire and who are “doing it well.” I look for someone who has brand integrity and has successfully stayed true to himself/herself and his/her brand. For me, that is Kate Geagan, MS, RD, award-winning dietitian and author of Go Green, Get Lean: Trim Your Waistline with the Ultimate Low Carbon Footprint Diet (Rodale), columnist for Clean Eating Magazine, and a global thought leader in the field. Thus, I interviewed Kate so that maybe she’d inspire you too.

How did your "brand" idea come to you?

Kate: It evolved organically as I discovered my real area of interest, where I thought I could add value and how to best position that in the marketplace.

What are your thoughts on branding if, as an RD, you feel that you don't have a niche?

Kate: If you don't instantly know your "brand,”

that's OK. It's about finding your story and sharing it with the world. People are more likely to connect to your “why” than the “what,” and that will make them want to learn the “how.” For people starting out, my advice would be to keep your brand consistent across all channels. The simpler, stronger you can be in your promise, the clearer that is to potential customers and clients what value you bring.

How does your brand direct your professional choices?

Kate: Oh, it's everything. Whom I work with, where I go, and most important, where do I want to be in one year to three years guides my choices. It’s also how potential clients vet you.

Has sticking to your brand ever been a challenge when you were approached by a potential opportunity?

Kate: I am always grateful when someone reaches out with an opportunity, but I need to assess whether the project is aligned with my goals. And I need to stay true to myself and my brand. I consider how I want to be perceived, the type of clients I want to work with and what I’d like those relationships to look like. If it's not a fit, it's a pass. A great

mentor once told me, "What you say no to is as important as what you say yes to."

What keeps you dedicated to your brand?

Kate: In my specific area - it’s my children. We are at an unprecedented inflection point in human history. We have the responsibility, and the honor, of being of a generation who can influence what happens to our society's health, the planet, our very existence. It sounds dramatic, but having spent nearly a decade working globally on these issues, my opinion is that the stakes really are that high.

Thank you for your insights and inspiration, Kate!

Jenna A. Bell, PhD, RD, DPG Delegate and Policy and Advocacy Leader, has traveled the world on reward points, lived in eight different states - as well as New York City and Chicago - got engaged on the Great Wall of China, completed Ironman, twice, and is now completely out of her league chasing two toddlers. She works in public relations at Pollock Communications in NYC.

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Let Consistency Be Your

Guide Erin E. Healy, MS, RDN, LDN Specialty Group Leader: Second Career Dietitians A brand isn’t something you set and forget.

You can’t just design a logo, implement a color scheme or adopt a slogan, and call it a day. You have to live your brand every day.

Why? Because, your brand is you. It’s your identity, voice and reputation. It should drive the messages you develop, the images you select and the opportunities you accept.

How? Consistency. You must commit to your brand. Consistency builds trust. Trust leads to loyalty. Loyalty generates business.

Consistent doesn’t mean stagnant. You have to adapt and evolve to compete in a fast-moving economy. But, you have to do it in a way that allows you to remain true to you (and your brand).

If that seems like a difficult balancing act, you’re right. Major corporations struggle with brand identity too. Take HarleyDavidson for example. The motorcycle giant sells more than bikes. They sell a

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lifestyle that exudes toughness and a sense of freedom. Yet, in the 1990s HarleyDavidson made an ill-fated attempt at selling perfume. Yes, perfume! Even though the fragrances had edgy names, like Cool Spirit and Legendary, the company extended their brand too far. The products were inconsistent with Harley-Davidson’s brand and customers weren’t buying it – literally.

To ensure that customers buy what you’re selling, you need to develop a Branding Style Guide. Think of it as your go-to source for all things related to you and your business. Below are items to include:

nn Images – Definition of acceptable types (photos, graphics, clip art, etc.) and editing procedures nn Templates – Formats for newsletters, PowerPoints, fact sheets, etc. nn Writing style – Tone and diction of your written work nn Abbreviations and acronyms – Establishment of best practices based on audience awareness nn Grammar – Rules for sentence formation nn Punctuation – Use of commas, semicolons, hyphens, etc.

nn Company overview – Who, what, where, when and why of your business

nn Capitalization – Parameters for using uppercase and lowercase letters

nn Target audience – Description of your ideal customer

A Branding Style Guide creates clarity. It gives your brand authority, meaning and professionalism. Consult your guide regularly to make sure your words and actions are consistent with your brand. Review it yearly and make updates as needed.

nn Mission statement – Your company’s purpose nn Tagline – Phrase that defines and differentiates your brand nn Logo – Identification of size, usage, placement and acceptable alterations nn Color palette – Determination of each color and how it should be used nn Typefaces and fonts – Creation of guidelines for usage, style, size and color

Erin E. Healy, MS, RDN, LDN, is a former spokesperson for the President of the United States and communications advisor at the Pentagon turned dietitian. She competes in U.S. Tennis Association matches and is often joined on the practice court by the best four-legged ball retriever, her dog, Honor. Erin also loves to travel. To date, she has visited 49 states. Aloha, Hawaii!

Branding: Express Your Brand by Developing Your Own Website!

Karen Kiver Patalano, MBA, RD, LDN, CDE, NHA Specialty Group Leader: Private Practice Your website is the easiest way to create your own unique brand for the world to see. I recently went through the process of getting a new website up online. I started by calling some local web developers for information and pricing and was quoted $7,500 per page or $30,000 to $40,000 for the full website. I would be responsible for writing the content of the website and choosing the graphics. Since I had to do most of the work, I looked into what it would take for me to develop the website myself.

I simply asked Google how to develop a website and found a wonderful resource by Tyler Moore at tyler.com. He has developed a YouTube video that walks you through the

steps of developing your own WordPress website. WordPress was the tool that the web developers would have used to develop my website, so I knew I was on the right track.

I set up two computers, one to play the YouTube tutorial and the other to follow through and complete the steps while watching the video. The video walks you through purchasing a domain and website address. Once you have a domain and web address, you can install WordPress, then the Tesseract as the theme instead of the WordPress themes. The Tesseract theme was developed by Tyler Moore and has automated most of the processes via templates in which you just have to change the text and the pictures.

I think that the pictures you choose are what supports your branding presence. The website I recommend for pictures is unsplash.com, a website dedicated to sharing copyright-free photography under the Unsplash license.

The website has thousands of contributing

photographers and generates an estimated one billion photo impressions per month.

It took me only two days to develop my two websites. The hardest part is just getting started. The pictures are really fun to peruse and it is really easy to change them until you are satisfied with the look that you are trying to achieve. Since you have to write the text and choose the pictures, it makes sense to use the Tesseract theme and templates to develop your own website.

The other advantage is that you can make changes to the text and photos yourself.

Give it a try! You have nothing to lose.

Karen Kiver Patalano, MBA, RD, LDN, CDE, NHA, is the owner of KaiZenRD EMR. She has been running a successful software company and private practice since 2004. Karen is passionate about helping other dietitians initiate and grow successful private practices. She loves to run competitively, and trail running is where she solves most of her most difficult intellectual challenges.

How Your Personal Brand Can Shape Your Unique Career Jenna Amos, RDN Guest Article Nontraditional dietetic careers are becoming the new normal for the registered dietitian profession.

This exciting and promising shift in the profession, however, does not come without challenges. Career paths have become much less straightforward and therefore finding your niche can be increasingly challenging.

Discovering and nourishing your personal brand can be one tool to help find your niche in the nutrition world and beyond.

My personal brand has evolved immensely since I was in college. This is not because I was fickle, but instead because each experience I have had in the nutrition space has shaped my perspective. I have always loved food, as most dietitians do. After my work in a grocery store setting, interacting with both food brands and customers, my personal brand became even more specific and focused on the celebration of simple, wholesome and most importantly, delicious food.

But how can you use your personal brand, your unique combination of values, passions and personality, to help define your career path as a dietitian? The job options for registered dietitians have exploded beyond the traditional food service and clinical paths, which can be overwhelming at times.

This is where my unique voice in nutrition came into play. When looking at my career options, I honed in on career paths and then specific companies whose brands resonated with my own. I was able to find a position which combined my values of nourishing people with simple and wholesome food, and is committed to working with the dietitian community. It was clear to me that their brand encompassed so much more than just delicious-tasting food!

Jenna M Amos, RD, is the current Nutrition Communications Lead at siggi’s dairy. She has previously worked in corporate wellness and most recently a retail setting, where she gained a great appreciation for how delicious and wholesome food impacts a person’s wellbeing. Jenna received her undergraduate nutrition degree at Boston University and completed her dietetic internship at VCU Health Systems, now VCU Health, in Richmond, Virginia.

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What Is Your Brand Plan?

Denice Ferko-Adams, MPH, RDN, LDN, FAND Specialty Group Leader: Speakers & Media A recognized brand is power. It will overflow into other areas of your business plan and make it easier to retain current clients and attract new ones. When your target market understands that you have skills, expertise or talent that results in solutions for them, you are successful at branding. If your clients are extremely happy with your performance, they will market you to other potential clients. Here are my top five tips to build a better brand plan.

1. Know what you love to do.

This is harder than it sounds. Close your eyes and imagine that a recent client was talking about you. How would that client describe you? Does the client really know what services you want to provide the most? What is it that you want the client to say about you? It is time to clearly let everyone know what you love to do!

2. Do what you love; say no to the rest.

It is easy to say yes to job opportunities, but

it is more important to know when to say no. When we are doing what we love, we effortlessly radiate with joy. Say no to work that is not in your area of expertise, does not pay enough, is just not interesting to you or is a waste of your time and energy.

Better yet - refer these jobs to a colleague who would get excited about it.

3. Ask for more money, not less.

As consumers ourselves, we all know that the brands we love to use cost more. Now that you are saying no to doing jobs that are not part of your brand, you still need to make a living. Ask for fair compensation for your services and expertise. Are they buying a generic fry pan or did they just purchase a high-quality culinary brand fry pan? You deserve to be paid well for quality services.

4. Follow up on each service.

This serves multiple purposes. As a speaker, you may attract a large percentage of a worksite audience and receive rave reviews on evaluations. If you collected the evaluations, provide a concise summary that shows wonderful outcomes and suggestions for future services. Make sure they recognize a job well done. Ask your client if they have colleagues who may be

interested in your services and get their contact information.

5. It’s springtime: pitch and pitch often!

Many people openly admit that they lack creativity. Show your target market that you have ideas that are seasonal, timely or hot topics. For those in media, be the first to suggest a topic idea and perhaps include a partner, e.g. chef and RDN, a nurse and RDN, or even you and one of your patients. If they bite, then ask for a monthly appearance on a station, or as a speaker, a monthly presentation. Always ask for more of what you love doing!

Building your brand takes time and a plan.

Evaluate your progress each month and see if you stepped out of your comfort zone. Reach for the next step with confidence in knowing your client understands exactly how you can help him/her find solutions. Use success stories for potential clients. Best-case scenario: they likely already heard of your brand!

Denice Ferko-Adams, MPH, RDN, LDN, FAND, is passionate about health. With over 25 years as a wellness program leader, wellnesspress.com, Denice enjoys writing, marketing and providing dynamic presentations for professionals and consumers. In her spare time, she enjoys walking her rescue dogs, hiking, biking, cooking, and traveling.

Hello, It’s Me Christianna Gozzi, MA Student Article The first step in developing a strong brand is getting to know yourself better. One of my favorite things about being a student is the opportunity for self-discovery. I have used these strategies to learn more about myself as a second-career nutrition student.

Learn from what you don’t like. I’ve learned more about myself from volunteer gigs and jobs that I didn’t like than ones that I did.

There is a lot of pressure on nutrition students to do as much as possible because of the competitiveness of the dietetic internship, so we often take on opportunities without considering how they may be aligned with what make us tick at a fundamental level. Try to take on volunteer gigs or part-time jobs

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because they interest you, not because you feel pressured to. Pay attention to how you’re feeling while you’re doing the work. If you don’t enjoy it, don’t beat yourself up about it.

Simply reflect on why you don’t like the job or internship and leave graciously.

Be the person your peers want to work with. I’m probably biased here because I hold a master’s degree in organizational psychology; but, I think it is critical that people understand their work styles when it comes to group projects. Group work does not go away when you graduate, and you don’t want your brand reputation to be “Does not play well with others!” One of my favorite frameworks for learning more about this is called The Four Tendencies Framework from happiness expert Gretchen Rubin, which describes how people manage internal and external expectations.

Write a personal mission statement. We all need a set of core values to light our path. The

purpose of the mission statement is to keep you focused on what matters most to you. It is a guiding statement that you can consult when you are not sure whether to take that public health elective next semester or are deliberating on which DI programs to apply to. During a school break, take some time to reflect on all the experiences you’ve had both inside and outside the classroom. Don’t forget about the talents and passions you have that are not food- and nutrition-related because they may also say something about your core values. Your mission statement may change a little over time and that’s OK. It is, after all, a reflection of your dynamic self. Dream big!

Christianna Gozzi, MA, is a master’s student at Hunter College in New York City. She is an avid runner and loves to travel with her husband. Christianna also manages her blog christythebaker.com in her spare time.

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RDN's Who Have Mastered Branding

Toby Amidor Specialty Group Leader: Authors and Writers Branding is a way that clients and readers get to know you. It helps promote recognition of your company, sets you apart from the competition, and builds credibility and trust. Branding also helps generate referrals so you can get more business. Whether you’re starting a new brand or decide it’s time to rebrand your business, it’s important to do your research to see who’s got it right. These three dietitians are diverse in what they do, yet they all have mastered the branding of their company

Melissa Joy Dobbins, MS, RDN, CDE

Sharon Palmer, RDN

Jessica Levinson, MS, RDN

Melissa’s brand is The Guilt Free RD® and website is Sound Bites® (SoundBitesRD. com) where she promotes “sound science, smart nutrition and good food.” Her popular Sound Bites® podcast includes guests such as SciBabe Yvette d’Entremont, Ellie Krieger and Dr. Michael Roizen.

You’ve probably seen Sharon’s brand, The Plant Powered Dietitian (sharonpalmer.com), online, at FNCE® or in publications. Sharon combined her love of food and writing and focuses her expertise in plant-based nutrition. Her work includes authoring several books, working as a spokesperson with plant-based brands and creating mouthwatering, plant-based recipes for her blog.

Jessica (jessicalevinson.com) is a culinary nutrition expert focusing on childhood nutrition. Her tagline is “nutritious and delicious recipes for the entire family,” and you’ll see her cooking together with her beautiful kids in many of her social media posts. Although Jessica has been around for quite some time, she decided it was time to rebrand her website.

Sharon’s advice on developing brand identity: When my first book was about to come out (The Plant-Powered Diet), my publisher and PR person were discussing various titles and we decided on “The Plant-Powered Diet.” We did a Google search and at that time no one was using it. I got the domains and then they suggested using the name as my byline: The Plant Powered Dietitian. Now, EVERYONE is using the term plant-powered! So, it’s really important to jump on something when you have the idea.

Jessica’s advice on rebranding: Think through your target audience and get some feedback from people in that audience to see what resonates for them. It's also important to look at what is already trademarked before coming up with a brand name. I decided to switch to using my name rather than a specific brand because I wanted my site to have a longer shelf life. I can always update pictures down the road, but if your focus is too narrow you can box yourself into one area without room to grow.

Melissa’s advice to finding your brand: Spend lots of time thinking about “who” you are.

Get some advice from a branding expert, or someone who has created a strong brand, so you can explore the different areas of your personality, attributes and core values. Don’t rush the process – it could take months.

Toby Amidor, MS, RD, Authors and Writers Specialty Group Leader, can usually be found on the tennis courts or kicking butt in a U.S. Tennis Association match. She’s also about to begin writing her 4th cookbook. How does she balance work, three kids and tennis? It's all about careful planning.

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The Foundation of Your Brand is Your Belief in Yourself Chere Bork, MS, RDN Abundance Ambassador Entering “registered dietitian” as a search term in Google returns 4,400,000 results! Wow! To be a really successful RDN, you need to clearly identify and demonstrate how you are different from others RDNs who are similar to you. Your brand reflects your values, personality, attitudes, opinions and purpose.

The foundation of your brand is your belief in yourself.

There is only one person you can count on to believe in you consistently and that is you.

You can have the best logo and brand in the world on paper, but if you don’t possess the confidence to believe in yourself, none of it will matter. You are your brand. You dress yourself every day in your beliefs.

Here is the recipe to be your best “brand” ever and really love your life: three items to “let go” of, and three items to “put in”:

Let go of what people think.

Quit subconsciously trying to get approval from others. Stop focusing on others and start focusing more on YOU.

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Let go of scarcity thinking.

Put in abundance.

You get what you think about. If you think it is hard to attract clients, it will be. Whatever you focus on gets bigger and bolder. Focus on what is working instead of what is not working.

Instead of asking “Why me?” think, “Why not me?” or “Why not now?”

Remember abundance is not something you acquire; it is something you feel and tune into. You will have in your life what you match with your energy. If you spend most of your time feeling fearful or comparing or not good enough, you will have experiences that match that energy. If you are vibrating gratitude and positive energy -- those kinds of experiences will dominate.

What have been the consequences of your disempowering beliefs in the past? Focus on possibilities instead of problems.

Believe in yourself no matter what!

You have one life to live; just imagine it was one you truly loved!

Let go of limiting, negative self-talk.

Put in self-compassion.

We will often fall short of our ideals or not meet our goals. Start to comfort yourself just like you would comfort someone else.

Ask yourself: “May I accept myself as I am right now?”“May I find peace right now?” Tell yourself: “I am good enough right now.”

Listen to your intuition.

You know yourself better than anyone else.

Give yourself permission to listen to your inner wise self. When you take the time to listen you will find the answers or at least a positive confirmation you are on the right path. Remember your intuition is never wrong.

Chere Bork, MS, RDN, as a Law of Attraction Facilitator, gives RDNs a boost of confidence to live the lives they have always wanted - no regrets allowed! She helps RDNs find clarity so that they can be the best business owners they can be; Chere works with them to develop a game plan to make it all happen. Want a life that you truly love? ChereBork.com the Energy Igniter, at Savor Your Life Today!

Product REVIEWS Born to Eat

Healthie

Author: Leslie Schilling, MA, RDN, & Wendy Jo Peterson, MS, RDN

Author: Erica Jain (Co-founder & CEO) and Cavan Klinsky (Co-founder & CTO)

Date: 2017

Date:

January 2016

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

Email:

hello@gethealthie.com

Email: info@skyhorsepublishing.com

Price: Varies

Price: $19.99 What better combination is there to write a book on feeding babies than these new-mom registered dietitians? Baby-led weaning, popular for years in other countries, is not well-known in the United States.

You can learn valuable skills to help your clients navigate how to feed their babies with the knowledge you’ll gain reading this amazing book. Through their own journeys, the authors guide parents to introduce solid foods without using processed baby foods.

There are thorough instructions on how to successfully use the book. Everything you need to know about feeding babies is here.

Topics covered are age-appropriate starter skills, creating a healthy eating environment, safety precautions, self-regulation, improved eating skills, food allergies, priority nutrients, menus, recipes, cooking instructions and much more. There are numerous illustrations and charts to support the whole food philosophy for everyone in the family.

The book is jam-packed with great information on raising a happy, healthy eater. Every dietitian who works with new moms needs this book in their professional libraries and should recommend it to their clients. I am so happy to have Born To Eat in my own library.

Healthie is an electronic medical record (EMR) and telehealth platform designed for dietitians – individual or multiple-provider practice. Healthie uses a tieredpricing model with a monthly subscription service.

As an Internet-based platform, no downloading of software is required; it operates on Windows and Mac computers. Healthie’s mobile app, for clients and providers, is available for Android and iOS devices.The EMR main feature includes charting, pre-loaded with ADIME and SOAP note templates, or customizable and free-text notes. Telehealth includes live video chat and messaging, group conference, electronic fax, and mobile app.

Healthie includes a calendar and scheduling system, document sharing, billing including auto-populated CMS 1500 and Superbill creation, and payment processing with Stripe integration, making it useful for outpatient or private-practice dietitians.

Virtual counseling is the wave of the future for health professionals, including dietitians.

Healthie’s platform can be used to create an entirely new, or enhance an established, practice.

Nutrition entrepreneurs can benefit from using Healthie in their private practices by increasing their client reach and improving the client experience. The video chat feature of Healthie allows dietitians to reach clients who were previously unattainable due to geographical restrictions. Additionally, the provider can greatly improve communication with clients, particularly in between visits, thus improving the client experience.

The customer service of Healthie is unmatched and the two founders are very welcoming of suggestions for improvement. While some users have expressed concerns with the ease of use, Healthie has recently updated the user interface, which offers more user-friendly shortcuts.

Affiliation: Approach Nutrition

Author: Patsy Catsos, MS, RDN, LD Date: 2017 Publisher: Harmony Books Price: $18.99 For years patients have presented to their health care providers and dietitians with confounding gastrointestinal symptoms that have had few, if any, answers, leaving patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to suffer in silence.

The IBS Elimination Diet and Cookbook masterfully provides the reader an eightstep roadmap to understand and manage an individualized journey through this complex syndrome. The systematic approach includes symptom assessment, elimination and reintroduction of FODMAPs, explanation of FODMAPs, and strategies to manage IBS physically, emotionally and socially.

This incredible resource is appropriate for dietitians, physicians, clinicians and lay persons, and delineates how all can work as a team. Not only is the book extremely informative and thorough, it is readily applicable. The many resources provided food lists, worksheets, recipes, meal plans and recommended readings - make this THE go-to guide for IBS sufferers and providers. Catsos has expertly taken a complex issue and made it easily digestible.

Reviewer: Maria McConville, MS, RDN, CPT Title: Registered Dietitian, Owner Balanced Body Nourishment, LLC Website: balancedbodynourishment.com

Reviewer: Debra Indorato, RDN, LDN, CLT Title: Food & Nutrition Consultant

The IBS Elimination Diet and Cookbook

Reviewer: Kristi Coughlin, MS, RDN, LD Title: Owner Affiliation: KC Nutrition, LLC

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Ventures

www.nedpg.org

Enterprising News & Ideas for Nutrition Entrepreneurs

Rachael Hartley 1898 Calhoun St. Bldg #8 Columbia, SC 29201

Mini-Meetings

In the first-ever combined event, the Dallas/Fort Worth area Nutrition Entrepreneurs met with the DBC DPG for a Holiday Party and Cookie Exchange. Coordinated by NE members Neva Cochran, Jennifer Neily and DBC Marketing and Communications Chair Sarah Hendren, the event allowed both groups to meet many new faces and spend time together celebrating the holidays in Neva's lovely home. There were 29 dietitians, dietetic students and RD2Bs in attendance. We're hoping to schedule more events in the future.

More than 30 of New York City's finest dietitians gathered in midtown Manhattan to network and share tips about running a private practice. We ended the night with an interactive Q&A hosted by authors Ann Silver, MS, RDN, and Lisa Stollman, MA, RDN