Testimonials
Achieve recovery. Heal your relationship with food and body.

Compassionate Treatment from a Prenatal & Postpartum Dietitian Nutritionist in Colorado:

Body Image and Nutrition Counseling for Lasting Wellbeing

Embark on a journey to a self-compassionate, trusting, empowering relationship with food and body and holistic well-being. Reduce risks during pregnancy and labor. Manage uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms. Improve postpartum healing. Manage gestational diabetes with dietary interventions. Our certified prenatal dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy during pregnancy, offering compassionate care to guide you toward lasting well-being and empowering you to be your own best nutritionist. Acquire food and body trust and freedom. Embrace life with a renewed sense of wellness and vitality.

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Nutrition therapy for Pregnancy & Postpartum:

At Side By Side Nutrition, our certified medical nutrition therapy dietitians provide personalized, one-on-one nutrition counseling specifically tailored for individuals wanting to understand and empower themselves in nutrition for Pregnancy & Postpartum.  Take the guesswork out of what you and your developing baby need!

Our approach is grounded in a holistic philosophy that prioritizes behaviors, and overall well-being, fostering a positive relationship with food and our bodies, and practicing self-compassion rather than fixating on numbers. This philosophy forms the foundation of values-aligned, intuitive, sustainable health and well-being. Our focus lies in assisting clients in cultivating a sustainable, empathetic, respectful, and trusting connection with food, body image, and self.

Our dietitians are based in Colorado Springs and Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as Woodinville, Washington, and we work with patients from all over the state and country providing in-person and online nutrition counseling.

Can a dietitian help with pregnancy?

When it comes to pregnancy and postpartum healing, our dietitians play a crucial role in providing specialized nutritional guidance.

  • We tailor diet plans to meet our patients' unique needs during pregnancy and after birth.

  • We focus on optimizing nutrition for the well-being of both the mother and the baby.

  • We collaborate with clients to address nutritional concerns, uncertainties, or challenges associated with these phases.

  • We identify triggers that may contribute to self-doubt.

  • We help our patients cultivate a positive and trusting relationship with food and body during pregnancy and postpartum.

  • We create a supportive environment that allows genuine values to emerge and contribute to overall well-being.

Should a pregnant woman see a nutritionist?

Absolutely. Why?

  • The dietary and nutrient needs of both mom and their developing baby are unique.

  • Good nutrition is key for the health of both mom and baby.

  • Good nutrition can reduce risks of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and other complications during pregnancy.

  • Nutrition can help a pregnant person increase their energy levels, improve sleep, and manage discomfort.

  • Nutrition can help someone prepare for breastfeeding and improve postpartum healing.

Recognizing that everyone’s path is unique, our multi-disciplinary team of medical nutrition specialists facilitates a holistic approach to support clients during pregnancy and postpartum. The emphasis extends beyond addressing challenges to encompass the creation of a full and empowered life through nutritional and body image healing.

This collaborative and inclusive approach aims to empower individuals seeking nutrition guidance during pregnancy and postpartum to achieve not only their health goals during this phase but also to foster lasting well-being for themselves and their growing families.

 

Eating Disorders in Pregnancy

Our dedicated team of dietitian nutritionists is committed to guiding clients toward a path of healing that transcends fear and shame. For people seeking support in these areas, our focus is on addressing food fears, dismantling negative body image, and empowering clients to become experts in their bodies. By shifting perspectives toward love, respect, and acceptance, we aim to assist clients on the journey toward lasting well-being.

Overcome your eating disorder and experience a healthy pregnancy with medical nutrition therapy and outpatient treatment with our dietitian nutritionists.


Our Team of Dietitian Nutritionists, Expert ED and Medical Nutrition Counselors

 

The Side by Side Nutrition team has a team of 12+ outpatient registered dietitians. We provide online nutrition counseling to patients in Colorado and around the country. We offer one-on-one and family nutrition counseling for patients either online or in person, with offices located in Colorado Springs and Fort Collins. We specialize in eating disorder recovery and body image healing.

RD - Registered Dietitian
RDN - Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
MS - Masters of Science

As specialists in ED nutrition counseling our mission is rooted in compassion. We:  

  • Strive to create a safe and nurturing space for individuals on their journey to wellness. 

  • Understand the profound impact that eating disorders can have on one's life

  • Are committed to fostering a supportive community where every client feels seen, heard, and understood. 

  • Work from an intuitive eating, HAES (Health at Every Size) Informed Approach.

  • Believe everyone has the right to high-quality care – accessibility and inclusivity are at the core of our values.

  • Stand firm in our belief in the possibility of full recovery. 

  • Continually invest in our education to stay at the forefront of the field.

  • Are committed to ongoing learning.

  • Channel all our resources into becoming the best eating disorder nutritionist counselors.

  • Are dedicated to guiding our clients toward a life of lasting health and empowerment.

What does nutrition therapy include?

 

A Comprehensive Initial Assessment

Our comprehensive approach begins with a detailed assessment centered on your unique needs, exploring your past and present relationship with food, body image, and health history. With your consent, we collaborate to understand your goals in the realm of pregnancy and postpartum. In our specialized work, we prioritize holistic well-being by addressing the challenges associated with fertility needs. Our aim is to support a positive relationship with food and enhance overall health through personalized strategies tailored to your specific pregnancy and postpartum aspirations.

 

Build Trust in the Body’s Natural Cues

Our focus shifts towards fostering trust in the body's natural cues, particularly in the context of pregnancy and postpartum goals. Together, we embark on a transformative journey to cultivate trust in the body's innate wisdom, fostering a renewed sense of freedom and openness in the pursuit of fertility. Utilizing targeted interventions, we address factors relevant to preconception and fertility, aiming to liberate individuals from constraints and optimize nutrition and well-being.

 

Go Beyond Symptom Management - Shift Body Image Perception

Our emphasis extends beyond symptom management, aiming for a profound shift in body image perception specific to pregnancy and postpartum. We work towards fostering self-acceptance and a genuine appreciation for one's unique identity in the context of fertility-related challenges. By dismantling mental and emotional barriers, we empower our clients to embrace a life free from constant mental strain, cultivating joy, purpose, and possibility. Follow-up sessions are integral, exploring your evolving relationship with food and body, addressing challenges, and co-creating personalized tools. We delve into body image exploration, promoting a supportive environment and assisting you in expanding variety and flexibility with eating, learning to respond to your body's cues, and cultivating a positive and joyful relationship with food and body in the context of pregnancy and postpartum.

 

Continued Support

Throughout your pregnancy and postpartum journey, we offer unwavering support, navigating the inevitable ups and downs. We celebrate your progress and stand by you as you pursue your goals. Our mission is not only to support preconception and fertility but also to cultivate a life that is rich, meaningful, and fully aligned with your values. We believe in the importance of this journey and the therapeutic relationship, and our dedicated dietitians are here to guide you every step of the way.

 

TESTIMONIALS

We Accept Insurance:

We are committed to ensuring that our clients have access to healthcare, and we make every effort to facilitate this. We accept insurance plans such as BlueCross Blue Shield (Anthem/Regence), United HealthCare (Optum), Aetna, and Cigna.

 
 

Dietitian for Pregnancy & Postpartum Nutrition - Medical Nutrition Therapy FAQ

 

What insurance plans do you accept?

Side By Side Nutrition is in network with Cigna, Cigna Localplus, Aetna, BlueCross Blue Shield (Anthem/Regence), UMR, and United Healthcare. Prior to your visit, please call your insurance company to check your benefits. We can not guarantee coverage. 

For other insurance companies, we are out-of-network providers. This means we can provide you a superbill to submit to insurance for possible reimbursement. SBS can not submit superbills without a medical diagnosis. Payment is due at time of service for folxs using out of network benefits.


What is the DSM-5?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition), commonly referred to as the "DSM," serves as a comprehensive guide on mental health and conditions related to the brain. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is tasked with the creation, editing, review, and publication of this manual.

Patients may also hear the term ICD-10. This is the International Classification of Diseases (10th revision), a system used by doctors to classify and code all diagnoses, symptoms and procedures for claims processing. 


How does treatment work? What does a typical session look like?

An outpatient team consists of a dietitian, therapist, and primary care physician at minimum. Sessions are highly individualized and change from week to week depending on the needs, goals, behaviors, and journey of each client. Our dietitians are constantly assessing the needs, progress, safety, and next steps with their client’s short and long term goals in mind. 

An outpatient team works collaboratively to ensure clients get the best care for their recovery while staying in their day to day life. Clients in eating disorder recovery being treated on the outpatient level will typically visit with their dietitians 1-2x/week, therapist 1-2x/week, PCP monthly, and psychiatrist as needed.


I don’t live in Colorado, can we still work together?

Absolutely! We are passionate about making care accessible for you and offer telehealth services and online nutrition therapy when appropriate. We will meet via a HIPAA-compliant video conference platform and communicate between sessions using email. 

We provide nutrition counseling to clients from around the county. 


How much do sessions cost?

Side By Side Nutrition session rates for private pay clients are:

  • $225 for the initial session and $170 for follow up sessions.

Insurance rates may vary from private pay rates depending on the insurance provider and your individual plan. We accept credit cards, debit cards, HSA, and FSA cards. 

We offer sliding scale spots open for those who qualify and are experiencing financial hardship.


How do I get started?

You can schedule directly online here!

You can also contact us to help you schedule via our contact form here.

If you have any questions about working with us or scheduling, feel free to contact us via email or phone: contact@sidebysidenutrition.com or call us at 708-717-7394.


What is Health at Every Size?

Health at Every Size™ is a compassionate care framework that recognizes and promotes body diversity and holistic health. We recognize a focus on intentional weight loss causes harm, does not improve health, and further invokes weight stigma and discrimination. We believe any person in any size body can pursue health and create positive behavior change that prioritizes their individual health desires.


What is intuitive eating?

Intuitive Eating is an approach to eating that incorporates building body trust, intuitive responses, emotional awareness, and listening to your body. It encourages self-compassion, curiosity, trust, and a gentle attitude towards food in order to cultivate and maintain a sustainable, healthy, and trusting relationship with food and body image.


What is the difference between a nutritionist and a Registered Dietitian?

In summary, all Registered Dietitians (RD or RDN) are qualified nutritionists, but not all nutritionists hold the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential. The term "nutritionist" is not regulated, allowing anyone to use it, which complicates distinguishing individuals with comprehensive nutrition education (e.g., CN or CNS) from those with minimal training such as weekend courses or self-study.

The Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD or RDN) designation is nationally recognized and provides certain assurances. It indicates that the individual has met specific criteria, including obtaining at least a bachelor's degree in nutrition science, completing a supervised practice program of over 1200 hours, passing a national registration exam, and fulfilling extensive continuing education requirements for license renewal. Our dietitian nutritionists are also licensed in states where licensure is mandatory.

Other practitioners who may identify as nutritionists, such as health coaches, holistic nutritionists, nutrition therapy practitioners, and personal trainers with "nutrition certifications," may lack formal nutrition training. Consequently, their services are ineligible for insurance reimbursement nationwide because they are not recognized as nutrition experts.