Nutritionists

Laura Fischer-Harbage
www.maitrihealth.com
Maitri Health and Wellness
www.maitrihealth.com
laura@maitrihealth.com
917-501-3411
Laura is a holistic health counselor that specializes in reproductive health, mothers who want to get back on track with nutrition, children and toddler diets and nutrition while nursing. Laura does a free initial consultation and then she does either a customized program with you.  She is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She approaches the human as a holistic being and considers all your lifestyle decisions in creating a program for you. She has an office in Manhattan and travels to consult in Brooklyn also. She teaches classes from introducing your child to solids, to finger foods to food and allergy connections. Check her website for details.

What I really liked about her class, was she gave us specific advice including advice on how to structure and prepare meals. Thinking about meals in this way really helped me--the idea of having 1 grain and 1 bean for 3 days and then making new ones and basing a lot of the other meals around these seems managable to me. I think that it's exactly the lack of that kind of structure that freaks people out about feeding babies. In addition, she is smart and knowledgable. Finally, I left with a sense of wholesomeness--like I was excited to make the muffins w/veggies in them, go to the health food store and try out the recipes.
-Sarah

Laura came to do some nutritional work with me. I was a mother who was in need of help with my nutrition and general well-being.  Laura sent me worksheets to fill out before she arrived. We then sat down and went over my history.  Immediately, Laura had a sense of what my lifestyle and personality was like and my current "health card." She was able to help me go through my day and breakdown my current dietary, exercise and overall health into elements which we then discussed. She helped me to think about changing my nutritional choices, lifestyle choices (less cardio and more meditation for me) and went through a cookbook she brought for me to help me select easy meals that I could do. This was all done with addressing my chi (chinese medicine), my current lifestyle, my current capacity and desire for change and general physiology.  Afterwards, Laura gave me a 5 page workup delineating my issues and her solutions. She was extremely easy to talk to, professional, empathetic and most of all, results-oriented.  I started implementing her suggestions the next morning and after 3 days I felt like I had less of a sweet-tooth, more energized and better rested physically. Here I am 2 weeks later, cooking (I NEVER cook) healthy meals full of grains and vegetables I had never even known about before! I thought she was amazing to work with and would highly recommend her for looking at your lifestyle holistically.
-Karen

Meg Grosswendt
Nutritional Counselor
162 Dean Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217162
meg.grosswendt@verizon.net
917.538.4998
Certified metabolic typing advisor, integrative health and nutrition counselor, member of the Holistic Pediatric Association.

Stephanie Lazzara
Balance 3 Wellness
www.b3wellness.com
917-975-9256
Stephanie is a certified holistic health and nutrition counselor and a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.  As a mother and former professional dancer, her practice is geared to helping women make a smooth transition into and through the ever-changing journey of motherhood.  She is passionate about helping pregnant women, new mothers and seasoned moms eat well, feel great in their bodies and gain a better sense of balance in their lives. After a free initial consultation, she designs a customized program based on your health goals and lifestyle choices.  Her programs are rooted in nutrition but are whole-person centered, meaning they also address fitness, career, relationship and lifestyle choices.  Her practice is based in Brooklyn and she offers both in-home and phone consultations with a choice of Six month, Three month or One month programs. For more details, pricing and program information visit www.b3wellness.com

I met with Stephanie in a cafe. We had a good exchange of information for my consultation based on a questionnaire I filled out beforehand.  She addressed questions I had about nutrition during pregnancy: specifically how to deal with my sugar cravings and low energy. Her suggestions of adding more sweet veggies, fruit, whole grains and smaller meals were on target.   I needed to balance my sugar levels. And she was right, eating more fruit and having healthy snacks did make a difference.
-Karen

Amy Marlow
parents@happybabyfood.com
Nutritional counselor for HappyBaby Food (a fresh frozen organic baby food line).

Amy taught two food classes to our moms groups in Ft. Greene/Clinton Hill. She was extremely knowledgeable and had clear, easy and realistic steps in helping our children become good eaters. She also helped to solve problems for some picky eaters that were attending. She is a registered dietician so she can help with numbers, vitamins and daily balance.
-Karen

Small Bites
Erin Patterson
http://www.smallbitesonline.com/
253 Baltic Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
erin@smallbitesonline.com
347-613-6902
Small Bites teaches parents, and parents-to-be, how to make healthy, safe and sustainable food choices in a way that saves them time. Founder Erin Patterson provides parents with practical information about feeding their children and themselves. She teaches parents how to give their children the tools they need to develop a healthy relationship with food and inspires parents to help their children become great, adventurous eaters. Erin does parent groups presentations and consultations that range in topic in anything from: starting solids, feeding dynamic questions, picky eating and feeding frustrations. Private consultations are 90 minute sessions (either by phone or in person) that include a written report.

I took the class just as my daughter was starting solids.  The class is a good introduction to feeding your baby solids. I appreciate the fact that she said that her presentation was not science, but based on research from various resources and personal experience.  I liked that she shared her personal experiences. I wish it had included more extensive nutritional information. It deserves to be a longer class as there is so much information to cover.  The class was a good jumping off point for me.
-Amanda

What I really liked about Erin is the fact that she states up front that she in not a nutritionist- but that she's there to help with eating issues.  I respect her philosophy and think it has a lot of merit. She listens really well.  I liked her manner, her friendliness and her professionalism.  She comprehensively and thoroughly analyzed and recommended various steps to address the needs we had.  Her response was prompt.  I love that she is teaching parents about techniques that will educate them about helping their children become lifelong healthy eaters.  I found that to be the most appealing.  It can help cut through some of the psychological hangups that the parents may unwittingly pass on to their children and break that cycle and make a huge difference. I found her very helpful.
-Elizabeth

Aisling Wharton
http://aislingholisticnutrition.com/
477 11th Street Suite 2
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-768-2852
Aisling does a free initial consultation and then she does either a 3 month or 6 month program with you. She is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Hers is a very customized approach which takes into account a person's body type, genetics and lifestyle to help them make changes that are tailored to them and will have a lasting effect. The focus is on nutrition but takes into account other lifestyle factors that affect how well your body absorbs nutrients- hence, the consideration of relationships, career, spirituality, etc.  In an initial free consultation, you and she review your health history, childhood, recent and current eating patters, and then she would evaluate what your needs might be and how you and she could work together. 

Aisling has been a consultant for a long time and you can tell. She has a vast storage of knowledge, a sympathetic and understanding ear and a lot of past clients' experience she can call upon.  She suggested practical solutions. For instance, I mentioned my terrible sugar cravings and she suggested indulging them at times (with just a bite or so) and then brushing your teeth immediately afterwards to get the taste out and stop the craving. Aha! It works. We also talked extensively about what to buy "organic" vs. not. In general, Aisling is a very practical nutritionist that I felt could easily work with all types of people and tailor a progam to their needs (i.e.- lots of info or little info, practical buying help, making just one change a day, etc).
-Karen