Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristina Brown.
Hi Kristina, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
The nurturing ability of food has always fascinated me. As a kid, I loved learning about science and how well-balanced meals helped people grow strong and healthy. My mom is a natural-born caretaker and the one who instilled in me my positive relationship with food. She taught me to appreciate every meal and to share them with those I cherish. I’m proud to say that I’m a lot like my mom and share the same desire to help people in any way possible. Early in college, I realized that I wanted to work in healthcare, but knew I wanted my focus to be on proactive care, which is largely tied to nutrition. Once I pursued my degree in nutrition, I knew I had found my calling. After completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Houston and a Master of Science and combined Dietetic Internship at Sam Houston State University, I began my career as a Registered Dietitian. I’ve worked as a clinical dietitian in the hospital setting, with H-E-B providing 1:1 nutrition counseling and in public health providing general nutrition education to groups. These positions allowed me to hone my skills as a dietitian, developing relationships with diverse populations. While working inpatient, I recognized the need for more availability for nutrition education in the 1:1 outpatient setting. Shortly after my daughter was born in the summer of 2022, I decided to start my own practice to help meet this need. Since then, I’ve been working to increase accessibility to nutrition education for individuals by accepting multiple insurance plans and offering meeting hours outside of the typical workday. My goal is to help people nurture positive food relationships for a happy, healthy life!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Reflecting on my path, things have definitely not always gone smoothly, but this is where we do some of our best learning and growing and I think the more normalized “bumps in the road” are, the better equipped we all will be for trusting our ability to pursue our dreams.
Starting a business, especially when I did just after having my first child, has been challenging. Financial uncertainty, imposter syndrome, frustrations navigating the space of billing insurance, feelings of rejection, you name it, I’ve experienced it!
On my tougher days, I’d tell myself I’m not succeeding, but typing this now, I can confidently say that my goal has always been to take care of my family and to help others with their nutrition journey, and I have been able to achieve both. Two of the best lessons I’ve learned are to prioritize work/life balance through proper time management and to know my worth regarding the expertise and services I provide.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I provide 1:1 nutrition education/counseling to Texans to help them work toward their personal health goals. I offer both in-person and telehealth sessions and prioritize a holistic approach to health and well-being. I provide preventive nutrition education as well as Medical Nutrition Therapy for disease management. I have a special interest in Women’s Health, including nutrition during pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopausal, and for PCOS management. I’m also passionate about nutrition education for the whole family and recognize the importance of nutrition strategies that promote a healthy relationship with food, like food autonomy for children, positive food and body image language, and establishing family habits to promote total family health.
I feel that like other dietitians, I have the expert nutrition knowledge to provide my clients with the tools necessary to work toward their health goals. I believe that my strength lies in my ability to help people recognize how they can utilize these tools. I provide genuine, realistic advice and speak from my own experiences often to remind people that there’s no such thing as a “perfect diet” and that small, sustainable changes are truly the key to success.
I’m passionate about food culture and focus on encouraging my clients to build cooking skills and try new cuisines to support their health. I love trying different cuisines as a way of connecting to the rich and unique cultures of our world and work to be culturally sensitive in my practice and to open my clients up to a whole new world of food and flavors.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
It has to be food related, right?
Just about every summer as a kid my siblings, mom, and I would go to Ohio for a few weeks to visit relatives. We usually would stay with my grandparents, and every single summer, without fail, my grandma would be waiting to welcome us with open arms and the promise of homemade rice pudding waiting in the fridge at her place. You could taste the love she poured into that rice pudding, and as I fondly look back on this memory now, I can remember the beaming smile she wore, watching us enjoy the food she shared.
Pricing:
I have several payment options for nutrition coaching:
- I currently accept select insurance plans
- I offer a cash pay option at $80/hr
- I can also offer a Superbill (a receipt of services), which may allow for out-of-network reimbursement.
- For more information regarding services, fees, and insurance coverage, please contact me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kristina-brown.clientsecure.me/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristina_brown_rd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinabrownrd/
