Hi! My name is Allison Vander Heyden, a registered dietitian providing in-person nutrition services in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin and telehealth services nationwide. I am a firm believer of balance in the foods we eat. I am passionate about caring and empowering others through the teachings of how food nourishes our bodies and establishing healthy eating behaviors in realistic ways without elimination of food (insert favorite dessert here). My journey began back in 2000 when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I saw firsthand the way food affected my body and really developed my passion for nutrition. I completed my bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and my supervised practice internship combined with my master’s degree at the University of Memphis. Over the last several years, I gained experience through nationally ranked hospital systems in both Texas and Wisconsin. After becoming a registered dietitian, I saw how people viewed “eating healthy” which was a lot of over restricting leading to feelings of guilt and failure when they were unable to follow guidelines meant for the short-term. I want to change the mindset of those seeking a wellness journey to start slowly ADDING in nutrient-dense foods without SUBTRACTING foods you love. Also, knowing WHY your body loves certain foods will help further your understanding on why balance is so important (yes…carbs are important too). I would love to connect with you and empower you to become FRESHLY NOURISHED.