Kate's Philosophy
In her nutrition counseling practice, Kate Manzke appreciates her client’s individuality and takes the time to get to know them and their needs to better inform their work together. When she first meets with her clients, she ensures them that their partnership will be free of any arbitrary medical standards and preconceived expectations.
Like the other Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) at Your Life Nutrition (YLN), Kate approaches each client with a Health at Every Size (HAES) mindset in that everyBODY is different and has a home weight and a homeostasis that can’t be defined by medical parameters. “There are different stages of life and in each stage our bodies may have different challenges and purposes. The body is designed to adapt and reflect this throughout one’s lifetime,” a notion Kate’s clients appreciate being reminded of. Furthermore, Kate explains, “you would be concerned if you were exactly the same mentally now as you were 10 years ago; why should we not have the same allowances for our bodies?”
Kate’s nutrition counseling is informed by her own personal experiences. Recovering from an eating disorder while she was a young athlete made healing her relationship with exercise just as important as healing her relationship with food. Kate understands how easy it can be to slip into a harmful relationship with training and nourishment as an athlete. Now as an RDN she realizes how crucial it is to maintain proper fueling to excel at a sport and take care of one’s body.
Also, Kate wants to emphasize that nutrition counseling with her is a safe space where mistakes and growth may be difficult, but are encouraged. She recalls, “I’ve made a lot of mistakes as an athlete just being ignorant and I wish I had people stepping in to help guide me." People don’t know what they don’t know and Kate is an advocate and support for individuals struggling with their relationship to exercise and food or simply want to better sync the two for the sake of enjoyment and performance.
Additionally, Kate’s past struggle with an eating disorder has helped her understand the importance of asking for help and validating those who do so. Kate highlights that, "dietitians have studied nutrition for a really long time, know the science behind it and are trained to give the most current and scientific, but also human advice to people struggling with their nutrition."
So why not ask a professional for their support?
Kate wants potential clients to know that “there is nothing I am expecting and nothing that will scare me.” She encourages them to bring their whole self when they come into nutrition counseling as that’s the best way Kate can ensure their needs are met while preserving their identities.
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