Meet Kelly Neilson, MDA, RD, LD | Registered Dietitian & Private Practice Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Neilson, MDA, RD, LD and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my business because I saw a very specific problem that needed a good solution. When I was working at an eating disorder treatment center, I saw many patients be discharged and readmitted because they did not have access to an eating disorder dietitian near their home to continue care. A dietitian who has specialized in eating disorders is absolutely essential to full recovery and going to a dietitian without this specialty may cause a worsening condition, As a mom of 3 children, I also wanted to be able to have a job I could do from home and still be present for my children. I opened the doors of Nutrition for Hope in May 2017 as a 100% virtual private practice to be able to both stay home with my kids and be able to reach people in those areas who otherwise wouldn’t have access to an eating disorder dietitian.

What should our readers know about your business?
I help people who are struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating by providing nutrition counseling through videoconferencing. I use an anti-diet, weight inclusive approach, which helps to set me apart. I like to think my personality, compassion, and client-centered approach sets me apart from others as well. My business started when I had moved across the country and I had a client who still really wanted to meet with me because she was losing progress after I had left. I reached out to colleagues and mentors to figure out how to get started. My Master’s program helped as I took an elective in entrepreneurship. My husband was in medical school at the time and we did not have any capital to start a business with, since we were living on student loans. I bootstrapped my business and funded business expenses with that first client I started with. I am proud of the fact that I never had to take out loans for my business and it became very profitable. As soon as COVID hit, my already-virtual business was very equipped to handle the large influx of clients who needed help with eating disorder recovery. The quarantine isolation and pandemic anxiety caused a rise in mental illness, eating disorders, and disordered eating. Because of the virtual nature of my business, I was able to keep all my same clients as I moved across the country again and they were able to have continuity of care. In my business journey I’ve learned about how to be flexible and adaptable to various situations. I’ve had to wear many hats as a sole-proprietor and I’ve learned about how to manage accounting, networking, marketing, and counseling along with motherhood and my personal life. I want the world to know how much I love and care for the eating disorder population. I believe that my clients are so much MORE than their eating disorder and they are some of the most brilliant, creative, and artistic people I know. It is beautiful to be part of such a transformative process and watch as a person’s personality emerges after the eating disorder had stolen it away. I named my business Nutrition for Hope because I love seeing the evidence of food and nutrition healing a person’s body, mind, and soul through eating disorder recovery. I also believe that there is always hope for recovery and it is never too late to seek lasting change.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love where I live because there are so many great restaurants and many fun things to do. If I had a friend come visit, one day we would go on a hike in Catalina State Park and eat at a restaurant called Charred Pie. The best menu item there is the wood-fired bread–warm, chewy bread with ricotta cheese, apricot jam, and crispy onions. On another day we would take a drive up the scenic Mt Lemmon to enjoy the views of the city, magnificent rock structures, and watch the landscape change from desert to mountain as we climb in elevation. We would eat pizza and cookies at the Cookie Cabin on top of the mountain. On the way back into town, we would order an iconic Sonoran hot dog at the El Sinaloense hot dog cart. The Sonoran hot dog is famous around Tucson–its a home-baked bun, topped with pinto beans, a bacon-wrapped hot dog, avocado, and salsa. Another day could be made of getting subs and fries at Eegee’s, Tucson’s original fast food restaurant that is extremely popular. Afterwards, we’d go on a hike at Pikacho Peak and finish off by going to the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch to feed the ostriches, deer, sting rays, bunnies, and lorikeets. Another day would be started by having brunch at Baja Cafe–the best restaurant in Tucson, in my opinion, with unique and creative flavors and mouth-watering pancakes such as snickerdoodle, lemon blueberry, and Oreo. Another day would be spent all over the Desert Museum in the Saguaro National Park, which is best described as a botanical garden combined with a zoo. The landscaping is absolutely beautiful. Afterwards we would eat at the Mexican restaurant Seis, with incredible flavors in all of their food. Three other fantastic places to visit are the Reid Park Zoo, the Children’s Museum and the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, especially to visit with kids. Other favorite restaurants are Harvest, Michealangelo’s, and Frost or Noodies for fresh gelato.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have so many people to thank for where I am today. First, I want to send a shoutout to my undergraduate dietetic program director, Nora Nyland Kerr. She was an incredible educator and her passion for dietetics was palpable. I would also like to thank Martha Archuleta, the program director of the Masters of Dietetic Administration at Utah State University that I completed. Her leadership, mentorship, and guidance helped shape me into the business owner I am today. Lastly, I would like to recognize Jennifer Gill, my former manager at The Center for Change, where I worked and gained my knowledge, training, and passion for eating disorder recovery. Jennifer saw my potential and taught me so much about how to be a caring clinician while setting firm boundaries and making difficult judgment calls. I would not be where I am today without these three incredible women in my life.

Website: www.nutritionforhope.com

Instagram: @nutritionforhope

Linkedin: Kelly Neilson, MDA, RD, LD

Facebook: @bringingyouhope

Image Credits
Samantha Nymeyer