Ellen's Nutrition Counseling
Hello and welcome! I look forward to getting to know you, and helping you on your journey towards living at 100% again!
- Ellen
Starting soon!
I will be offering a 21-day detox program/elimination diet in October/November, 2010. This will be an entirely different program than my Spring Cleanse, though there will be certain similarities and you can expect similarly positive results. To read more about the 21-Day Food Based Spring Rejuvenation Cleanse please click on the Events tab (left-hand sidebar).
Read what the past cleanse participants have said...
I
feel the cleanse has taught me how to let go of habits that don’t support my
health—like relying too much on caffeine, desserts, and breads. I also appreciated the
emphasis on mindfulness and gratitude with respect to eating. Though I practice
a number of mindful awareness approaches myself, in the busyness of life one
often forgets! So it was instructive to discover that I needed to remember to
bring a mindful and grateful approach to the act of eating.
The most
important outcomes for me are the discovery of greater energy, losing a few
pounds and some belly fat, and jump starting my journey onto a whole new, more
mindful, path of healthier, lighter eating. Ellen’s presence along the way has
been supportive and encouraging and added to my confidence in embarking on this
experience.
Janet Anderson, Maryland
Click on the Events tab to read more testimonials.
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Click here for an archived version of my recent radio interview on Holistic Weight Management. Take a listen - you'll discover the 7 keys to unlock your metabolism and
see lasting weight loss!
Or,
click the link below to listen to my radio interview on July 4th, 2009.
I discussed a number of topics ranging from organic foods to healthy
animal products to the best (nutritional) way to start your day - CLICK HERE
Also,
click here
to read an article published in the Annapolis Capital Newspaper about my unique perspective on weight loss.
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Are you?
+ Suffering from debilitating fatigue?
+ Concerned about your weight?
+ Confused about what dietary advice to believe?
+ Dealing with chronic stress?
+ Waking up every morning foggy-headed and in need of a coffee jump-start?
+ Not sure how to kick the 3pm sugar cravings?
As
a Nutrition and Health Counselor my passion is helping my clients live
at 100%. No matter what barriers you have to experiencing better
health, I can work with you to understand and alleviate them.
FOOD
IS MEDICINE. It's really as simple as that. Finding the right foods
that work for your body along with making small lifestyle adjustments,
can do wonders for your health and vitality, and truly put your life
back in your own hands.
I have a
passion for what I do, which translates into positive results for my
clients. Please read on for more information about my program offerings
and what you can expect from working with me.
A great way to start making positive changes in your health is to sign up for "Ellen's Healthy Bites", my free monthly email newsletter
full of great health tips. Simply send me an email, and I'll add you to the list.
Or, check out my program offerings (click on Your Program
in the left-hand sidebar) if you're interested in scheduling a consult
to get started right away! An initial hour-long consultation is only
$45. Depending on your location and availability I can see you in
Annapolis or Bethesda, MD, or we can schedule the consult over the
phone.
I can guarantee you will look and feel differently due to the work we will do together. Keep reading below for testimonials...
I believe that support is the key to success. As a counselor I will fully support you in your quest for better health.
I will:
- Help you discover which dietary and lifestyle modifications work for you.
-
Give you practical nutrition and lifestyle recommendations that will
help both you feel better and that you can easily integrate into your
busy schedule.
- Provide ongoing one-on-one counseling and check-in sessions.
- Follow through to see that you accomplish your goals.
-
Give you recipes, cookbooks, CDs, DVDs, food samples and a variety of
other materials that will provide inspiration and knowledge to help you
along your path.
- Lead
private cooking classes, health food store tours, pantry clean-outs and
other educational sessions that will help you integrate what you learn
into your daily life.
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Recent Testimonials (Check out the other pages of this website to read more)
"Throughout my program, Ellen was not only a counselor and a teacher,
she became my friend. I looked forward to every session not only because of
what I was learning and how I was growing in my health journey with her but
also because she understood my little insecurities and helped me overcome them.
I found her to be both empathetic and knowledgeable. Given
the amount of information covered, things could easily get lost or
mis-communicated, but Ellen did a great job of breaking things down.
The range of foods I eat has increased with my knowledge of
them, and I am cooking with leafy greens and whole grains especially. I knew
about kale, quinoa, etc but never appreciated and rarely cooked them before.
Now I eat them all the time! In fact, I cook ALL THE TIME. I have learned how
to cook focusing on whole foods and barely ever buy packaged/processed food
anymore. I eat better quality vegetables too, since learning about the
importance of organic and level of freshness.
My cravings are under control. I have learned to not be
“afraid” of the foods I want as long as I eat them mindfully and in moderation.
I have had a cessation of “yo-yo”ing. I lost 5 lbs in the
beginning of the program that I have kept off with little to no extra effort,
and I have noticed a change in my body composition overall. I feel leaner.
I also have MORE ENERGY. I went from being tired even when I
got 8-9 hours of sleep to feeling energetic and alert on 7-8 hours.
I know that I have gained knowledge and habits that will last me a lifetime,
as well as a friend. THANKS ELLEN!!!"
Natalie, Arlington, VA
"I appreciate Ellen’s ability to zero in on acute issues and
arrange our meeting times to deal with what she knows to be most important. I
complained of my knee pain casually, but Ellen did not take a casual
attitude. She listened carefully to all
that I said and made accurate, quick assessments. Her suggestions for managing
my knee pain worked so fast I could hardly believe it!
As a middle-aged average weight person I was struggling to
climb one flight of stairs and had a recommendation for surgery. Through
dietary changes I am pain free and agile again. I feel remarkably grateful and
so happy the day I met Ellen!"
Donna McCoy, RN
"Ellen Kittredge is a gifted healer. Her range of knowledge about nutrition is formidable and her method of presentation and engagement is convincing. She has helped me find a way to solve a health problem that had plagued me for years. I will be forever grateful."
Anne Carman, Annapolis, Maryland
"Ellen has been an amazing resource in my journey to better health.
I had no idea what to expect when I came to her, but I was pleasantly
surprised. The knowledge she has shared with me has been an absolute
blessing. I have begun to lose weight and the headaches I frequently get have dissipated. Of all the nutrition counselors I could have ended up with, I am so grateful to have found her."
Christina Oliver, Maryland
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Group Nutrition and Weight Loss Program begins October, 2010
NEW in 2010 - I'm offering the class in both Annapolis, MD and Takoma Park/Silver Spring, MD.
In August I begin accepting enrollments in my group weight management program, Weigh Less, Live More!
Please click on the CONTACT tab on the left-hand sidebar to send me an email and I will get back to you with registration details. PLEASE INDICATE INTEREST IN EITHER TAKOMA PARK or ANNAPOLIS class in your email.
Not sure you can wait till the fall to start losing weight? Check out the YOUR PROGRAM page to read about my individual programs. I am accepting clients in my individual programs on an ongoing basis and would love to work with you in a more individualized approach to reach your optimal health and weight loss goals!
Please click on YOUR PROGRAM and EVENTS on the left-hand sidebar to read more details about the program.
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Please take a moment to read through a few more testimonials at the end of this page to see previous client's successes!
My Background:
Throughout my studies I have explored all the major dietary theories, from
Eastern-inspired diets like macrobiotics and ayurveda, to Western diets like Atkins and The Zone.
I have learned through this process of exploration that no one diet works for everyone. Therefore my approach is very individualized and I pull from many dietary theories in the work that I do. I provide careful guidance and help my clients to thoughtfully experiment until they find the foods that work best for them.
I also bring to the table knowledge of many important biological properties--how your body metabolizes food, fights off toxins, repairs DNA, and does the many hundreds of other things that are required to sustain life. I will help you gain an understanding of how your specific food and lifestyle choices directly impact these processes, and ways to reverse damage that may have already been done.
Additionally I have a strong background in organic agriculture, having grown up on a small family organic farm, and working at the national level for a couple years on organic and sustainable agriculture and food policy, before switching to a nutrition-specific focus in my work. My lifetime experience in the realm of food, agriculture and nutrition has given me a unique knowledge and skill set that allows me to share with my clients some real specifics when it comes to the best food choices to make for their health and the health of their loved ones. I do not offer a standard by-the-book approach to nutrition. My approach is much more diversified and incorporates the very best of what science currently knows about the body - how we respond to certain foods, and how to bring about true and lasting health.
Getting Started
I offer a discounted initial one-hour health consultation. For only $45 you can discuss your health concerns and goals with me in a supportive and confidential environment and walk out with some specific steps forward. Click here to schedule a consultation with me.
TestimonialsRead what my clients are saying!
Ellen is a wonderful teacher and coach. She is more valuable than Google when it comes to information about nutrition! The breath of her knowledge is astonishing. Since I have begun working with Ellen I have gained a new appreciation of the importance of nutrition in my life. Ellen has broadened my thinking with her holistic approach and helped me change behaviors as well.
I have lost 10 pounds by making more healthy eating choices and I am cooking at least 3 meals a week. Ellen helped by bringing new food I had never tried before like quinoa to our session, along with a recipe for how to cook it. She gave me a list of healthy snacks and lunches and I have now stocked my refrigerator at work with these things.
The resources she has made available to me are many, including books on nutrition, DVDs on healthy cooking, and personal assessments to help me understand my own behaviors, the current state of my nutrition, and why my body behaves the way it does.
Ellen helped me prepare for an 8-day hike in Italy which I was uncertain that I would be able to complete. She gave me encouragement and tips on how to keep my goals visible and in reach. I had a wonderful time and came back feeling healthier than ever!
Ellen has a passion for the work that she does. It is obvious that she practices what she preaches, making her advice all the more meaningful. She is patient and caring but also challenges in a gentle way, helping me see possibilities for a healthier me in the future. After going through a six-month program with Ellen, I have signed up again to continue to receive her inspirational coaching and support.
CJL, Takoma Park, MD
About to reach a milestone birthday, with a growing spare tire, Ellen came along at the right time in my life. I knew I needed to make changes, but was uncertain what those changes should be. Ellen methodically takes one through early childhood eating habits and food choices to present day dietary routines.
She is very gentle with her suggestions about new foods, new cooking methods, and different eating habits, like sitting down to eat! I had never eaten kale in my life, and now it is on my weekly grocery list.
I am making better choices, snacking much less, and loosing weight painlessly.
Sleeping through the night and feeling energized when I awake are real results of my sessions with Ellen. She has made such a difference in my life and I feel confidant that I will be able to continue with these changes for the long haul. I know Ellen will be there encouraging and advising me in her wise and gentle way.
JPG, Annapolis, MD
When I turned 29 I had a realization that I was not happy with my health and wanted to do better for my body. I wanted to better nourish my body through food and regular exercise. My goal was to be in better shape and feel better about my life at 30 than at 29. My determination to make these drastic changes came at a big transition stage of my life. My husband and I had just moved from Indiana to Maryland, and we were learning how to live together. I was also learning the trials of continuing a home-based business in a brand new city not knowing a soul.
When I started my sessions with Ellen my main goal was to learn to eat healthy, along with losing weight. I figured instilling these habits in me would also be a positive influence on my husband and our future children. I was eating a lot of processed food and sugary foods, drinking soda every day, and if we cooked at home my husband did the work.
I actually found through working with Ellen that I had a sugar addiction and by lessening the intake, my constant cravings for sugar have decreased dramatically. There are days when I don't crave sugar at all! Ellen has helped me learn what foods work best for my body and what foods don't. Now we cook fresh foods at home most nights and I'm doing the work! Through discussing good food choices, exercise, and strategies to deal with everyday life, Ellen has helped me toward balance in my life. The biggest change I've noticed is that I'm excited about eating nutritious food - who knew kale is the best green ever!
Through Ellen's focus on living your life at 100%, I worked through many repressed issues from the move, the stress of "starting over" with my Mary Kay business and even some stressful moments in my marriage. This was an unexpected bonus from Ellen's guidance. Ellen is such an easy person to talk to and has become my confidant through this transition stage of my life. I have found that even just talking about foods and stresses with Ellen helps me to realize the right path for me. Thanks, Ellen!
Shannon Pearson, Annapolis, MD
I looked forward eagerly to each of my counseling sessions with Ellen. She has just the right blend of her own agenda and a desire to spend her and my energy on what was correct for me. She has a well-developed ability to listen and be empathetic without judgment, while at the same time guiding the conversation toward practical steps and solutions.
Working with Ellen gave me the opportunity to focus on my short and long-term goals in life, and actualize a few of my dreams. While working with Ellen I took the step to make a shift in my 25-year career, to clean up some challenging relationships, and create more space, calm, and order in my life. I've lowered my stress level by beginning to regularly practice planning to accomplish in my day only the tasks that I can actually fulfill.
Ellen is wise beyond her years. Her approach is gentle and non-confrontational, making the experience of working with her easy, non-challenging and supportive.
Julie, Massachusetts
Please visit the other pages of this website (left-hand sidebar) to learn more about what I offer my clients and to read more testimonials.
On a personal note: I ran my first marathon in October, 2009. Read about who I ran for, and why: Marathoning for Matt