Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Barron.
Hi Jessica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Registered Dietitian & Intuitive Eating Counselor
Hi, I’m Jessy, Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. I have over 10 years of nutrition experience, and I also have the lived experience of an eating disorder. I’m dedicated to helping my clients break free from restrictive and harmful diets and diet culture that pervades our society.
I firmly believe that diets are not the answer to long-term health and happiness. As an anti-diet dietitian, I am on a mission to debunk the myths of dieting, which often lead to cycles of guilt, shame, and frustration. My approach centers on promoting a positive relationship with food, nurturing body acceptance, and fostering self-compassion.
Embracing Intuitive Eating: I’m a certified intuitive eating counselor, guiding clients towards a more intuitive and mindful relationship with their bodies and food. Together, we explore the principles of intuitive eating, relearning hunger cues and trusting our bodies to make food choices that truly nourish and satisfy.
My Approach: I approach nutrition with my clients after we uncover the root causes of their struggles with food and body image, helping them cultivate self-acceptance and a healthier perspective on nutrition.
Making a Difference: I’m committed to helping you become empowered to make food choices that honor your unique body, free from the constraints of diet culture. My goal is to support you in your journey toward a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life.
Ongoing Learning: I stay up to date with the latest research and developments in the field of nutrition and intuitive eating to provide evidence-based guidance tailored to your unique needs and goals.
Let’s Connect: Ready to break free from dieting and embrace a more intuitive, joyful relationship with food and your body? Let’s chat! I offer one-on-one sessions and resources to help you on your path to food freedom.
I can’t wait to work together!
Sincerely,
Jessica Barron, MS, RD, LD
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, of course not! When I decided to become a Registered Dietitian, it was almost eight years after I graduated college. With a B.S. in Communications and zero science on my transcripts, I had to first go to community college for 2 years to get the prerequisites needed to apply to Case Western Reserve University.
After I was accepted into Case, I was thrilled! I decided to focus on Maternal and Child Health. After graduating from Case Western Reserve University, I accepted a Fellowship at The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
I worked on nutrition research and nutrition policy during my three years at the CDC. After that, I decided to move back to Cleveland, Ohio. While I was living in Atlanta, my husband was in Cleveland. So, after I moved back, I worked at a non-profit for a little bit…and then I got pregnant with twins. And I knew I would not be able to stay at the non-profit.
I started The Red Head RD shortly after!
I get most of my clients via word of mouth, with referrals from doctors’ offices and Instagram!
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. Even though I have a Weight Management Certification from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, I will never go back to that form of client counseling again! I realized my clients were getting anxious week after week if their scale didn’t move. And then it became hard to get them to stay motivated…because all they were focused on was the scale. So, the health behaviors like eating balanced and exercising started to be viewed as a punishment.
That’s where Intuitive Eating came along. It takes the pressure off my clients to intentionally lose weight. Instead, we focus on health behaviors and healthy thoughts to attain health. Which is so much more than how much you weigh.
I help my clients find food freedom and how to spot diet culture so they can start living their life instead of being obsessed with the scale.
I am known for my direct, firm, yet emphatic approach. I help my clients feel at peace with their food choices. And I am most proud when I can “graduate” my clients knowing they have the tools necessary to be a successful Intuitive Eater and Diet Culture Rejector!
What sets me apart is I am not trying to help my clients lose weight. Everywhere you look, someone has the secret to help you lose weight. Sure, but what about in 2 years? 3 years? 5 years? Where is their client now? Have they kept the weight off? Probably not. And I bet they are still struggling with their relationship to food. With an Intuitive Eating approach to diet and health, it frees my clients from the burden of intentional weight loss.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
My idea of risk-taking has changed over the decades…obviously how I took a risk in my 20s is a lot different than it looks in my 40s lol!
When I accepted the Fellowship at the CDC, I had to move from Cleveland, Ohio to Atlanta, Georgia…without my husband and cats. We lived apart for nearly 3 years until I decided I had enough of seeing him once a month and moved back to Cleveland.
When I take on a new client, it always comes with some risk. Will I be able to help them? I hope they like me? I hope we vibe. Etc. But I am here for a reason, and for that, I will take all the risks that come with it!
Pricing:
- One 30-minute call-free
- One-hour call in person or virtual -$100
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theredheadrd.com/
- Instagram: @the_red_head_rd
