In this episode of Feed Me The Facts, Deanna sits down with Greg LaFortune, a Registered Dietitian and private practice owner, to talk about his leap into entrepreneurship, the challenges of building a business, and his mission to make nutrition accessible—especially for men. Greg shares his inspiring journey from a type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age 11 to owning his own insurance-based private practice, Optimal Plan Nutrition, LLC.

Whether you’re considering private practice or just love a good entrepreneurial success story, this episode is packed with valuable insights, financial transparency, and practical advice on building a nutrition business from the ground up.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

[00:00:00] Meet Greg LaFortune – Greg shares his background, his leap into private practice, and why he’s passionate about making nutrition more accessible.

[00:03:00] From Diagnosis to Dietitian – Greg’s journey began at age 11 when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Hear how that experience shaped his career path.

[00:05:00] The Power of Gratitude – Greg explains why contentment, potential, and honor are the three words that define his experience as a private practice dietitian.

[00:08:00] Why Private Practice? – What led Greg to take the leap into private practice, and why focusing on men’s health became his mission.

[00:11:00] The Reality of Running a Business – Greg breaks down the behind-the-scenes work of running a private practice, from marketing to billing and everything in between.

[00:15:00] Talking Money: What Dietitians Can Earn in Private Practice – Financial transparency matters! Greg shares real numbers and his income goals for making private practice sustainable.

[00:19:00] Work-Life Balance & Time Freedom – The driving force behind Greg’s business: getting his time back and creating a schedule that works for him and his family.

[00:24:00] Finding Your Niche as a Dietitian – Why Greg chose to focus on men’s health and how niching down can make your practice more effective (and less stressful).

[00:28:00] How to Market Yourself – From social media to insurance directories, Greg shares the marketing strategies that have helped him grow his client base.

[00:31:00] AI & The Future of Private Practice – How artificial intelligence is changing the game for dietitians, from automated note-taking to efficiency tools.

[00:33:00] Staying True to Your Values – Greg talks about the importance of authenticity in business and why being yourself is the best way to attract the right clients.

[00:35:00] How to Connect with Greg – Want to learn more or work with Greg? Find out how to reach him through his website, social media, and email.

Resources & Links:

📌 Connect with Greg:

Website: gregorylafortune.com

Instagram: @menshealthdietitian

LinkedIn: Gregory LaFortune

Email: [email protected]

🎙️ Stay connected with Feed Me The Facts:

Website: www.diversifydietetics.org

Instagram & Facebook: @DiversifyDietetics

Send in your thoughts/questions: [email protected]

📩 Don’t forget to subscribe to The Squeeze, Diversify Dietetics’ monthly newsletter for the latest updates in nutrition and dietetics.

🎧 Listen now on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

In this episode of Feed Me the Facts, Deanna sits down with Tamara Melton and Deja Ivy to discuss the decision to sunset the Diversify Dietetics Internship Program. They explore the program's origin, challenges in maintaining funding, and the impact of changing DEI priorities. While it’s bittersweet to end the internship, the conversation highlights new initiatives aimed at supporting a more diverse and supportive field of dietetics.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Origins of the DD Internship Program (00:00)
How the vision for a barrier-free dietetic internship came to life.

The Reality of Running a Nonprofit Internship (03:00)
Behind-the-scenes challenges, including funding and logistics.

Impact of DEI Changes and Affirmative Action (06:00)
How shifting priorities affected program sustainability.

The Changing Landscape of Dietetics Education (11:00)
Declining enrollment and its influence on internship programs.

Lessons Learned in Supporting Students of Color (19:00)
Cultural humility, financial barriers, and creating supportive environments.

Why Sunsetting the Program Was Necessary (22:00)
Balancing human capital, burnout, and financial sustainability.

The Future of DD: New Programs and Scholarships (26:00)
Exciting initiatives to support diversity in dietetics beyond the internship.

Reflections and Celebrations (28:00)
Favorite memories and the impact of the program on graduates.

Resources & Links:

Donate to support the final cohort of the DD Internship - www.diversifydietetics.org/donate

Learn more about the DD Scholarships- https://www.diversifydietetics.org/scholarships-grants

Diversify Dietetics Internship Webpage - www.ddinternship.org

🎧 Listen now on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

In this episode of Feed Me the Facts, we sit down with Dr. Navika Gangrade, a visiting assistant professor at NYU and registered dietitian, to unpack the journey of pursuing a PhD in nutrition. We discuss her experiences navigating academia as a woman of color, the financial realities of graduate school, and the power of research to drive real-world change. If you’ve ever considered academia, research, or even wondered about the impact of a PhD in dietetics, this conversation is for you!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Navika’s Journey into Nutrition & Research
How her multicultural upbringing and love for food led her to dietetics and academia.

Why Pursue a PhD? (06:00)
What inspired Navika to continue her education and dive into research.

Navigating Academia as a Woman of Color (12:00)
The challenges, barriers, and the role of mentorship in her success.

Community-Based Research & Youth Advocacy (19:00)
How her research empowers young people and promotes health equity.

Money & Respect: Does a PhD Pay Off? (25:00)
Breaking down financial realities, funding, and salary expectations.

Advice for Future Dietitians in Academia (35:00)
How to navigate PhD programs, find mentors, and advocate for yourself.

Resources & Links:

Follow Dr. Navika Gangrade on Instagram: @navika.phd.rd

Learn more about the NYU Nutrition Program: NYU Steinhardt Department of Nutrition

Explore Diversify Dietetics and mentorship opportunities: Diversify Dietetics

🎧 Listen now on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

In this episode of Feed Me the Facts, we sit down with Jenny Westerkamp, founder of All Access Dietetics and All Access Dietitians. Jenny shares her incredible journey from launching her first business as a college senior to working as a dietitian for professional sports teams like the Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks, and Cubs. She opens up about creating innovative solutions for future RDs, improving access to nutrition care, and why private practice is the future of dietetics.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The story behind All Access Dietetics and All Access Dietitians

Opportunities and challenges in dietetics entrepreneurship

Tackling the myth that dietitians can’t make money

The importance of data, outcomes, and reimagining the field

Links and Resources Mentioned:

All Access Dietetics

All Access Dietitians

All Access Dietitians Fellowship https://allaccessdietitians.com/fellowship/

Jenny’s podcast: Dear Future Dietitian

Follow Jenny on Instagram: @allaccessdietetics

In this episode of Feed Me the Facts, we sit down with Luis Gonzalez, an RDN and account manager at Eat Well Global.  Luis shares his journey through food service management, his discovery of media-based opportunities, and how he combines creativity with science to make a broader impact. We also explore the importance of increasing diversity in this space and how dietitians of color can amplify their voices.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- Luis’s career journey from food service director to nutrition communications

- How dietitians can explore non-traditional career paths

- The role of diversity in shaping impactful nutrition messaging

- Insights into collaborating with brands and navigating media opportunities

- Practical advice on breaking into the communications field as a dietitian

Links and Resources Mentioned:

Eat Well Global

Diversify Dietetics Resources for RDNs

Support the Fund the Future Campaign

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Feed Me the Facts, we sit down with Luis Gonzalez, an RDN and account manager at Eat Well Global. Luis shares his journey through food service management, his discovery of media-based opportunities, and how he combines creativity with science to make a broader impact. We also explore the importance of increasing diversity in this space and how dietitians of color can amplify their voices.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- Luis’s career journey from food service director to nutrition communications

- How dietitians can explore non-traditional career paths

- The role of diversity in shaping impactful nutrition messaging

- Insights into collaborating with brands and navigating media opportunities

- Practical advice on breaking into the communications field as a dietitian

Links and Resources Mentioned:

Eat Well Global

Diversify Dietetics Resources for RDNs

Support the Fund the Future Campaign

In this episode, DD Co-founders Deanna Lewis and Tamara Melton sit down with trailblazing dietitians Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones, founders of Diabetes Digital. They discuss their inspiring pivot from Food Heaven, a beloved 12 year brand, to their new company focusing on insurance covered, culturally inclusive diabetes care.

Learn how they’ve navigated change, tackled burnout, and continued to trailblaze in the world of dietetics.

Tune in for insights on scaling a business, advocating for diversity, and staying true to your vision.

If you want to hear more about why and how Wendy and Jess sunsetted Food Heaven they did a whole series on their podcast. You can check it out the Goodbye Episode Here - https://foodheavenmadeeasy.com/goodbye-for-now/

Connect with Diabetes Digital:

Their website (where they are hiring!) diabetesdigital.co

Follow them on social media @diabetesdigitalco

Check out the diabetes digital podcast- https://diabetesdigital.co/category/podcast/

Join co-host and dietitians Deanna Belleny Lewis and Danielle Sanders as they talk about what's new for the Diversify Dietetics podcast. This podcast is dedicated to representation and inspiration for students and professionals of color pursuing careers in nutrition and dietetics.

Every episode, we’ll bring you expert insights, the latest trends and personal stories that inspire. Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned pro, this is your space to learn, grow, and connect.

Kate Burt, PhD, RD

Shelly Debiasse, PhD, RD

On this first episode of Season 3, we talk with two members of our DD Community: Drs. Kate Burt and Shelly Debiasse. They, along with their colleague Dr. Zubaida Qamar have launched a new project called  #InclusiveDietetics, a group on Facebook aimed to increase the awareness about the lack of diversity in the dietetics profession. In this group, they will share important information about diversity and inclusion in general and on topics relevant to facilitating a more diverse and inclusive profession. Join #Inclusive Dietetics to continue the conversation!

Drs. Burt and Debiasse discuss why they are launching this project, why they took the extra steps to make the project a part of a research study and what conversations, movements and changes they hope this campaign will spark in the dietetics community. If you have ever wondered how our profession got to where it is today (i.e.- with so little diversity), and what are ways that you can help to change it, you will want to be a part of this project!

You can join #Inclusive Dietetics to continue the conversation!

Kate Gardner Burt, PhD, RD is an Assistant Professor at Lehman College, City of New York in the Bronx, NY and a Registered Dietitian and Culinary Nutritionist. She teaches courses in public health and community nutrition and cultural foods and sustainability. Dr. Burt’s research broadly aims to reduce racial and ethnic inequities in community food systems. She does this by exploring strategies to strengthen efforts to grow food locally and improve community cohesion and social connectedness to build a more just food system. She also aims to reduce inequities in food systems by increasing opportunities for low-income people of color to excel in dietetics and food-focused careers. She takes a mixed methods, community-based approach to research and currently works with several New York City based non-profit organizations. Dr. Burt received her BS in film and television from Boston University and her MS in exercise physiology and nutrition, RD and PhD in food and nutrition policy from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her first cookbook was published in 2015 by Sterling Publishers, a subsidiary of Barnes and Noble.

Dr. Burt was also a guest on a DD Webinar on the topic “Past Performance and Future Results: Changing the Outlook for Diversity Among Food and Nutrition Professionals”. You can access the webinar here.

Michele “Shelly” DeBiasse, PhD, RDN (she/her/hers) is Clinical Assistant Professor and Director, Programs in Nutrition at Boston University/College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, and Affiliated Faculty in the Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.  She received a PhD in Nutrition and Metabolism from the department of Graduate Medical Sciences, Boston University School of Medicine.  She received her MS in Clinical Nutrition from Rush University, and completed her dietetic internship at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, both in Chicago, IL, USA.  Her PhD dissertation, The Theory of Planned Behavior and Implementation Intentions to Improve Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Women with Low Socioeconomic Status, afforded her three first-author publications, and helped spark her scholarship-activism to better the lives of women and other marginalized groups.  Her current research explores issues related to equity, diversity and inclusion in healthcare professions (particularly Dietetics), as well as the role gender may play in creating the challenges often associated with female-dominate healthcare professions.