Dietitian & Nutritionist Maryland: Julia Oliver, RD, LDN
Do you find yourself grappling with a chaotic relationship with food? A draining relationship with exercise? Or a frustrating relationship with your body? We want you to know that you are not alone. The path to a peaceful and nurturing relationship with food, movement, and your body can be hard to find, but with the right support, it is possible and never too late.
We understand the complexities of modern-day nutrition can have such an overwhelming impact on our lives, leaving us in search of a solution that truly 'works'. Too often, a relentless pursuit that includes restrictive diets and chaotic eating patterns can lead to frustration, confusion, and feelings of isolation. At Rooted Recovery, we recognize that there is another way, an approach rooted in self-compassion, empowerment, and personalized care. The non-diet dietitians at Rooted Recovery commit to providing individualized nutrition support that meets you where you are and upholds your unique needs and lived experience. Our mission is to help you enjoy nourishing yourself and rediscover a peaceful connection with your body while fostering mental and physical well-being.
Whether you are in Maryland or beyond, our virtual nutrition services ensure that you can access expert guidance wherever you are. Read on to learn more about the benefits of working with a registered dietitian nutritionist at Rooted Recovery to embrace the power of personalized nutrition support.
Meet Julia Oliver | Registered Dietitian & Nutritionist in Maryland
As a ‘non-diet’, registered dietitian and SmartFLOW® yoga teacher, Julia Oliver has spent her career guiding individuals to heal their relationship with food and movement by providing an alternative to the pervasive messages of diet and fitness culture. Julia has advanced training in eating disorder nutrition therapy for adult and adolescent populations as well as experience guiding trauma-sensitive meditation, mindfulness, and yoga classes for those in the midst of recovery. Whether it was while she was working at a residential facility for individuals suffering from eating disorders, training future registered dietitians, or teaching at a local yoga studio, Julia has carried with her the belief that it is our birthright to eat intuitively and move in a way that honors our body’s unique needs and limitations.
As the owner and founder of Rooted Recovery, it is important to Julia that all nutrition specialists on the Rooted Recovery team carry the values of compassionate, weight-inclusive care into their work. If you are interested in working with a registered dietitian at Rooted Recovery, you can expect to be listened to and upheld as the authority of your experience. We will not pretend to be the 'expert' of your body, so we will go beyond baseline menu development and nutrition education to honor your agency and lived experience.
Our approach as Maryland dietitians
We believe that true wellness is about more than just following rigid diets or achieving a specific body shape. The care you will receive while working with us is rooted in uplifting you to embrace a positive and sustainable relationship with food, movement, and your body. Our approach is founded on the principles of Intuitive Eating and the Health at Every Size® (HAES) movement to provide a comprehensive and compassionate framework for your journey toward holistic well-being.
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At the core of Rooted Recovery's philosophy, Intuitive Eating (as created by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch), involves tuning into the body's internal cues such as hunger, fullness, and satisfaction to guide your eating choices. By honoring your body's wisdom and learning to trust its signals, you can settle into a normalized eating pattern and lean into foods that are nourishing for the body and soul. We know this can be much more challenging than it sounds, so that is why your registered dietitian nutritionist from Rooted Recovery will be there to guide you on your intuitive eating journey, helping you shed the noise of diet culture and all of its rules. Embracing intuitive eating allows you to break free from the restrict-binge cycle, emotional eating patterns, and guilt surrounding food choices. Instead, you'll learn to nourish your body mindfully, savoring the pleasure of eating while improving your overall wellbeing.
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We recognize that health is not determined by a number on the scale. Rather, it is a complex interplay of physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. This is why HAES® is another piece to the foundational approach behind the services offered at Rooted Recovery. Being HAES® aligned providers mean that we acknowledge inherent body diversity and recognize that your health and worth are not contingent on your weight.
Rooted Recovery uplifts your unique body, supporting you to focus on well-being rather than weight loss. We reject the harmful pursuit of thinness and the stigmatization of larger bodies. Our aim is to foster a body-neutral environment that encourages self-care and compassion to your current body, as we venture with you on the spectrum between body neutrality, body acceptance, and body love.
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Central to Rooted Recovery's approach is the non-diet or anti-diet philosophy. Unlike traditional nutrition care that promotes restrictive diets and unrealistic meal plans, we advocate for a balanced and sustainable way of eating that nourishes both your whole self. Rejecting diets and weight-centric measures, our non-diet dietitians empower you to let go of the dieting mentality and embrace a more wholesome and empowering view of your health.
While working with a non-diet, registered dietitian, you will learn to trust your own body rather than relying on strict food rules that will not ultimately sustain you. By moving away from the deprivation mindset, you can cultivate a healthier relationship with food, exercise, and body image while still supporting any medical or health related needs (such as diabetes or celiac disease) with an approach to medical nutrition therapy that still upholds our values as weight-inclusive providers.
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At Rooted Recovery, our mission is to create a safe and nurturing space for your wellness journey. We honor your individuality by tailoring our approach to meet your specific needs and goals. Our non-diet, dietitian nutritionists are dedicated to walking alongside you, providing evidence-based practices and motivating you to embrace a life free from the burdens of diet culture.
Experience what it is like to receive the care you deserve and discover the freedom that comes from learning to listen to and respond to your own innate wisdom.
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Disordered Eating and Eating Disorder Recovery: Healing Your Relationship with Food
Not all nutritionists are able to support the needs of someone seeking recovery from eating disorders, and in fact, what could just sound like recommendations around 'healthy choices' may even cause harm. The weight-inclusive, trauma-informed care offered by the registered dietitians at Rooted Recovery will provide a safe place to land as you navigate the challenging journey toward recovery.
We hold extensive experience in guiding anyone who suffers from a diagnosed eating disorder or disordered eating. Whether you are battling binge eating, emotional eating, anorexia nervosa, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), orthorexia, any other eating disorder, or otherwise distressing food experience, you can expect to be met with empathy and unmatched support in every session with your dietitian. In addition to nutrition therapy sessions, we offer our clients the option to have supported meals with their dietitian as well as coaching sessions for caregivers and loved ones who are supporting the recovery process. If you have been in treatment for eating disorder recovery and are seeking outpatient nutrition care, we will ensure you get the all-encompassing treatment you deserve by working closely with other members of your support system and care team along the way.
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Overcoming Chronic Dieting: Embrace Freedom and Sustainable Health
We understand the detrimental effects of yo-yo dieting on both physical and mental well-being. Our nutrition services are designed to help you break free from the endless dieting cycle and reclaim your own version of health. Our dietitian nutritionists will guide you in healing the damage of restrictive diets, developing intuitive eating skills, and shedding the dieting mindset. Together, we can redefine overall wellness and good nutrition without getting tied up in 'one more diet'. We will partner with you as you find the freedom that can exist when you discover a normalized relationship with food and a peaceful connection with your body.
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Chronic Health Conditions: Optimizing Nutrition for Well-Being
If you are managing a chronic health condition, food allergies, or food intolerances and would like to experience support that goes beyond menu planning and the 'eat this, not that' recommendations, Rooted Recovery can meet your needs with comprehensive medical nutrition therapy stemming from the power of nutrition science. From diabetes and heart disease to digestive issues and stress related health conditions, our evidence-based guidance will help you make informed dietary choices to optimize your wellbeing.
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Sports Nutrition: Fueling Your Athletic Performance
For athletes seeking to enhance their performance or sustain the intensity of their training, Rooted Recovery offers specialized sports nutrition counseling. Your registered dietitian nutritionist will work with you to develop a meal plan that caters to your training needs, schedule, and preferences to ensure adequate fueling, complete recovery, and support peak performance in your chosen sport.
Common misconceptions about working with a nutritionist
The idea of working with a licensed dietitian nutritionist can be accompanied by various misconceptions that may deter individuals from seeking the support they need. At Rooted Recovery, we want to shed light on these myths and clarify the truths about the invaluable guidance a registered dietitian can provide.
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Truth: While some nutritionists do focus on weight management (despite the evidence indicating that the majority of diets will fail long-term and an individual's health is not determined by their weight), a licensed dietitian who is HAES® aligned and grounded in the framework of intuitive eating will prioritize your overall wellbeing and support you in attaining your health goals without setting weight loss as the underlying intention.
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Truth: Our approach is personalized to meet your unique needs and preferences. We recognize that everyone comes to us from a different background, culture, and living environment that influences dietary patterns and eating experiences. We also consider how the needs of each person's body can vary so greatly, even just day to day! It is in your best interest that we tailor our guidance to YOU, meeting your dietary requirements and lifestyle to ensure that the recommendations we provide align with your preferences and current situation while nourishing your body optimally.
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Truth: While dietitians can certainly provide essential support for individuals managing various health conditions, our expertise extends far beyond that. Nutrition counseling could benefit anyone, regardless of their health status. Whether you are seeking to improve your eating habits, develop a healthier relationship with food, practice mindful eating, or thoughtfully fuel for your next athletic venture, our non-diet dietitians can come alongside you as you grow into your best and most supported self.
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Truth: While food is undoubtedly at the core of nourishment, we recognize that true wellbeing encompasses more than just what you eat. Rooted Recovery's approach considers factors such as stress levels, sleep, physical activity, and emotional health. We embrace a holistic view of wellness, recognizing that nurturing your whole self is vital to attaining a sense of wellbeing that can adapt as your life changes around you.
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Truth: Deprivation is not part of our vocabulary at Rooted Recovery. Our dietitian nutritionists encourage a flexible and balanced approach to healthy eating that allows room for enjoying your favorite foods. By guiding you through the lens of intuitive eating, we will empower you to listen to your body's cues and cravings, enjoy your meals mindfully, and find pleasure in nourishing yourself - without feeling restricted or guilty.
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Truth: Investing in your health and well-being is invaluable, and we recognize that one-on-one nutrition support can become costly. At Rooted Recovery, you will find the option for sliding scale nutrition counseling sessions and 'pay what you can' or free nutrition programs such as support groups and nutrition education groups to make receiving care more financially accessible. Our clients have found that this is ultimately worth the long-term investment, and your future self will likely appreciate the care you are letting in.
Why choose a non-diet dietitian?
Choosing to work with a dietitian who identifies as non-diet or anti-diet can be a revolutionary step in achieving a normalized, enjoyable relationship with food and body. At Rooted Recovery, we are passionate advocates of the non-diet approach to nutrition, and our expert registered dietitian nutritionists are committed to guiding you on this journey. Below are some compelling reasons why working with a non-diet licensed dietitian can make all the difference in your pursuit of wellbeing for your whole self.
Grounded in Weight Inclusive Care
A non-diet, licensed dietitian nutritionist upholds the principles of Health at Every Size® in the care they provide by recognizing that health is not contingent on body weight alone. This approach challenges the weight-centric focus and shifts towards promoting well-being, body acceptance, and self-care, irrespective of body shape or size. It has been found that when individuals approach health through the framework of HAES®, they will experience improved body image, better mental health, reduced disordered eating behaviors, and improved overall health markers. Source: Association for Size Diversity and Health
Intuitive Eating Coaching
Non-diet dietitians often specialize in the principles of intuitive eating as an alternative to traditional (and not helpful) diet culture mentality. Recovering food flexibility and freedom through intuitive eating means unpacking the stories we retained about our bodies, food, and exercise from our society, family, friends, coaches, educators, medical professionals, etc. so we can return to the internal body cues that most of us have become disconnected from since childhood. By reconnecting with your body's innate wisdom, you can break free from the demands of all the food rules and put down the burden of restrictive eating patterns. [Source: Intuitive Eating, Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch]
Approachable Nutrition Guidance
Traditional nutritionists often play the role of the 'food police', prescribing generalized, unrealistic diets that are not only hard to follow while participating in life, but are also likely to leave you feeling hungry! While trying to control food may last for a short while, it eventually leaves us feeling like we failed when we inevitably break the diet by eating more than we 'should' or eating something we were told we 'shouldn't'. This approach is exhausting and inevitably leaves us feeling more out of control around food in the long run. Your non-diet dietitian will work alongside you as you change your relationship with food from the ground up. This person-centered approach allows for sustainable change that aligns with your values and honors your unique lifestyle. You will be able to nourish your body while enjoying the pleasure of eating without feeling deprived.
Positive Mental Health Impact
Working with a non-diet licensed dietitian goes beyond the physical aspects of nutrition; it encompasses your mental and emotional wellbeing as well. Rooted Recovery's empathetic support and compassionate guidance will meet you where you are to help you develop a healthier body image, reduce anxiety and guilt around food, and promote a kinder mindset towards nutrition and self-care.
FAQs about working with a dietitian in MD
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The terms "nutritionist" and "dietitian" are often used interchangeably, but there are distinct differences between the two professions. A nutritionist typically refers to someone who has studied nutrition (perhaps by taking an online course), but does not necessarily hold the qualifications and certifications of a registered dietitian. A registered dietitian (RD) or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can refer to themselves as a nutritionist, but as a certified registered dietitian by the commission on dietetic registration, they have earned a bachelor's degree or master's degree in dietetics, human nutrition, and/or nutritional sciences and have completed a dietetic internship that contains extensive supervised practice.
At Rooted Recovery, our team consists of Maryland licensed dietitian nutritionists who not only completed all of the qualifications for becoming dietitians, but also have the unique, specialized experience working with individuals recovering from eating disorders and disordered eating.
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When you start working with a dietitian, you can expect expert guidance as you move toward your nutrition and health goals. There is so much nutrition information (and misinformation) getting thrown around on the internet, in conversation with family and friends, and by professionals without a background in nutrition, it can be overwhelming to figure out what, if any, changes could actually serve you. By working with a dietitian, you will be getting right to the source of evidence-based nutrition science. We will assess your current eating habits, medical history, and lifestyle to create a comprehensive nutrition plan to align with your health objectives and values.
Throughout your journey, a dietitian can serve as a reliable source of factual information, empowering you with knowledge to make informed decisions about your eating choices and overall well-being. They will guide you in setting realistic and sustainable goals, while providing ongoing encouragement and accountability.
Most importantly, a dietitian will foster a compassionate and judgement-free environment, ensuring you feel supported and motivated on your path towards improved health and a more peaceful relationship with food and body.
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Whether the services of a licensed dietitian are worth the money is totally for you to decide. Many insurance plans do not have specialized, non-diet dietitians in-network, however your dietitian may provide a superbill that you can submit to your health insurance for potential reimbursement back to you or they may work with your insurance company to establish single case agreement. If you seek highly individualized, curated care that will move with you as you grow and change, then a registered dietitian could have something to offer. In our experience, working with a non-diet dietitian is worth the investment if you are:
• Struggling with disordered eating, an eating disorder, or a challenging relationship with food, movement, or your body and desire a life where food does not hold so much power, movement can be joyful, and your body can be seen as a safe place to be.
• Seeking guidance for managing chronic health conditions (like high blood pressure), improving stress-related health conditions (like digestive distress), supporting athletic performance, or enhancing overall well-being.
• Wanting to cultivate a sense of embodiment, embrace intuitive eating, and foster self-compassion
However, if you want someone to help you intentionally loose weight, a non-diet dietitian may not be the best fit. We will guide you to seek changing behavior for the sake of improving health and wellbeing without weight loss as the primary focus. We believe that changing weight to change health is 'putting the cart before the horse', changing our relationship with food and movement is primary, and your weight may adjust naturally as a result. If you have a specific medical condition that requires special diets, we recommend first seeking guidance from a registered dietitian who specializes in your medical condition to receive more targeted and suitable support.
Each individual's path to improved wellbeing and healing is unique, so finding the right nutrition support tailored to your needs will ensure you make the most of your investment in your overall health.
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To find a non-diet, Health at Every Size® aligned dietitian near you, you can utilize the directories and platforms that specialize in connecting individuals with clinicians who uphold these values. Some helpful resources include:
HAES® Healthcare Provider Listing: The Health at Every Size (HAES) community directory is a comprehensive listing of HAES-aligned healthcare providers by state, including dietitians, who promote weight-inclusive care that honors inherent body diversity and rejects weight stigma in healthcare.
Intuitive Eating Directory: The Intuitive Eating directory provides a listing of dietitian nutritionists who are trained in the methodology of intuitive eating and are well-versed in guiding individuals through the principles of intuitive eating to embrace a more mindful and peaceful relationship with food, movement, and body.
EDRDpro Directory: EDRDpro (Eating Disorder Registered Dietitians & Professionals) offers a directory of nutrition professionals specialized in eating disorder and disordered eating nutrition support.
At Rooted Recovery, we value making our services as accessible as possible. With this in mind, we offer HIPPA compliant telehealth services to provide HAES® aligned, trauma-informed nutrition counseling to individuals throughout the state of Maryland and beyond.
Learn how to honor your body with the help of a non-diet dietitian in Maryland
As Maryland based registered dietitians, we are committed to walking alongside you on a path toward food freedom and body liberation. You can recover the capacity to live out your purpose and live into your values by putting food and movement back in their rightful place, as elements within your life rather than the center of your life.
Whether you are seeking to overcome chaotic eating, break free from chronic dieting, recover from an eating disorder, or want to cultivate a more balanced and nourishing relationship with food, we are here to provide the compassionate services you deserve. Our mission is to provide nutrition support that challenges weight bias, uproots harmful beliefs from diet culture, and gets you back to using your own inner wisdom as the ultimate guide. Our telehealth services ensure that distance is not barrier, and we will look forward to meeting you in your life right where you are.
If you resonate with our philosophies and approach, we invite you to reach out for a free consult call. Let's embark on this transformative journey together where well-being across the lifespan, lovingkindness towards yourself, and joy with food and movement can become a reality. Contact us today to see if we are the right fit for you!
