Six pillars:

The use of a whole food, plant-predominant diet to prevent, treat and reverse chronic illness.

Regular, consistent physical activity.

Managing negative stress leads to improved wellbeing.

Improving sleep quality can improve attention span, mood, insulin resistance and can reduce hunger, sluggishness and more.

Positive social connections have beneficial effects on physical, mental and emotional health.

Avoidance of risky substances.

Ten principles:

Rejecting diet mentality

Honoring hunger

Making peace with food

Challenging the food police

Feeling fullness

Discovering satisfaction

Coping with emotions with kindness

Respecting one’s body

Incorporating healthy movement

Honoring your health

A holistic definition of health: HAES does not focus on any measure of body weight, shape, or size, but instead encourages a “fulfilling and meaningful lifestyle” through eating according to internally directed signals of hunger or satiety, and engaging in what is termed reasonable levels of physical activity.

RD/RDNs are the food and nutrition experts. All Registered Dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are Registered Dietitians. A Registered Dietitian has met academic and professional requirements and are easily identified by the credentials, RD/RDN. Whereas the term “nutritionist” does not legally bind a person to specific certifications or credentials. In many states, a person can call themselves a “nutritionist” without any formal training or supervised practicum experience. Registered Dietitians work in both traditional and non-traditional settings, translating the science of food and nutrition into practical advice for a healthy lifestyle.

Requirements to become a Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) and State Licensed Dietitian (LD):

1) Earn a minimum of a graduate (master’s) degree from an accredited dietetics program

All dietetics students must meet certain educational requirements (including classes in the hard sciences, management, human nutrition, and psychology). As of 2024, they must also earn a graduate degree in order to qualify to sit for the RD/RDN licensing board exam.

2) Complete a supervised practice requirement

In addition to a graduate degree, individuals must complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice to gain real-world experience in nutrition care, and apply knowledge learned in the classroom to the context of a variety of work settings.

3) Pass a national exam for RD/RDNs

Once the degrees and supervised practice are complete, dietetics students may schedule to take the examination for Registered Dietitians to become a credentialed as registered dietetics nutritionist.

4) Meet requirements to practice in each state

Many states (including Oregon) have regulatory laws (i.e. licensure) for food and nutrition practitioners. All states accept the RD/RDN credential for state licensure purposes.

5) RDs Stay up-to-date in dietetics through continuing education

After successfully passing the national exam and earning the credential, RD/RDNs maintain ongoing professional development in order to stay up to date on the latest research, recommendations and best practices.

As a an avid animal and earth lover, Jessica's values have driven her life path from an early age. Her dedication to living a cruelty-free lifestyle has spilled over into her career as a nutritionist. Jessica loves seeing the transformation plant-based eating has on the lives and health of her clients.

Prior to getting her master’s degree in nutrition, Jessica was known for her expertise as a green beauty educator and dedication to using non-toxic, skin-friendly, cruelty-free cosmetics to deliver top results for her large range of clientele, including celebrities, musicians, top chefs and mixologists, designers, and models. The deeper she delved into the world of natural beauty, the more obviously the truth about health appeared: beauty and health come from the inside out, and without proper nourishment and care, the body cannot feel and look its best.

After making the undeniable connection between food, health, and beauty, Jessica knew there was more she could do to promote whole-body health and personal well-being through food. She immediately began the process of transitioning from educating her clients about caring for their outside, to nourishing their whole body, and got her Master’s of Science in Nutrition. Additionally, she earned her Registered Dietitian credential in 2024.