Welcome!
As a group of non-diet dietitians, we're here to help women break free from diet culture so you can live your most authentic life, on your terms.
Join us on this journey to discovering your worth beyond the scale.
We believe that all bodies are worthy of love and respect.
Our philosophy is rooted in a non-diet, weight inclusive and HAES-aligned lens. This means we will never put you on a diet, weigh you, shame you or make assumptions about you or your health based on your body size.
Because…
You are not a problem to be fixed and you are not morally obligated to pursue the societal standard of “health”.
You deserve to question and explore the beliefs and thoughts you unconsciously have taken on as truths.
You deserve equal care and respect, always.
It’s more than about ditching diets.
By unlearning old toxic narratives around food, body and exercise…
You can freely explore what you truly want and need.
You will learn how to define your authentic health.
You’ll take back your life and feel the freedom of living your life on your terms.
Free, Whole, Beautiful You.
Together, we’ll create a non-judgmental and supportive space in which you can do this hard work and help you find peace with food, exercise and your body.
We are more than just your dietitian.
We are your coach, your space holder, your body image healer, and a believer in you.
Our Values
Be whole, not extreme.
Your exterior doesn’t give the full picture of what healthy is. Look at your well-being as a whole and allow more room to live boldly without restrictions.
Live authentically, be free.
You don’t need approval from society to live confidently in your own skin. Take steps to challenge the status quo and look beyond the superficial, and soon you’ll find the balance you need to live more fully.
Don’t limit yourself.
Let go of the self-limiting beliefs that create falsehoods of inadequacy and hold you back from finding your greatness. Courage is never stagnant; take life into your own hands and go beyond your limits.
Embrace the balance.
Your identity is not defined by any pre-existing categories in health and fitness that you believe you ‘should’ belong in. Embrace the balance, and recognize you’re not giving up when you’re simply trying to live in the moment.
Help the next generation.
Society sets unrealistic expectations on girls and women, limiting their self-confidence and livelihood to come into their own. Be the powerful, unstoppable force who will break free from these social constructs, and set an example for our next generation
Embrace the change
and come back to you.
My Story
Hello! I’m Jessica Dean and I love all things nutrition and exercise. I'm a former 4x CrossFit Regional competitor, Registered Dietitian and most importantly, a mom to three fierce daughters.
My mission is to help women of all ages break free from diet culture and unleash their authentic self.
When we STOP listening to diet culture and start living our lives on our terms, we can achieve unimaginable.
I grew up with a mother who was always concerned about her weight. She was always talking about her diet or how disappointed she was with her body. As a little girl, I saw how much sadness my mom's weight brought her. Fearing that I would become 'sad' about my body, I decided I would adopt the "healthiest" behaviors possible by following food and exercise rules. I also vowed to NEVER talk about weight or diets with my future children!
When I got pregnant with my first daughter I read everything! I was focused on eating all the micro and macronutrient recommendations. I had meal plans and charts to make sure I was eating perfectly for the baby and me. After the birth of my second and third daughters, aerobics and tracking calories became my mission...gotta lose that post-baby weight asap, right!? I worked out and monitored my intake. As a dietitian and personal trainer, I was well aware of how to exercise and eat. Innocently I blurred the line between health promoting behaviors and excessive health behaviors.
In 2009,
I joined CrossFit. For the first time in years I stopped looking at the scale. Instead I began to focus on what my body could accomplish. With CrossFit came a carefully planned meal and training regime. I labeled this new behavior "fueling for performance". I ebbed and flowed through different restrictive eating styles. I was always following some "rule".
In 2012,
I started to feel super tired and showed symptoms of the Female Athlete Triad/RED-S. One particular day, I remember crawling down my hallway because I was too tired to walk!! My body was clearly calling out for help. I was later diagnosed with hypothyroidism. A diagnosis I feel is a result of years of overtraining and restricted eating. It was time for me to re-examine my relationship with food and exercise and find a healthier balance but had no idea where to start. I dabbled in different eating styles such as Macro counting, My Fitness Pal, and Flexible Eating.
Fast forward to 2017,
I started to learn about intuitive eating. It was as if a light bulb went off! All my efforts to be "healthy" created an unhealthy relationship with food and my body. Soon after this realization I began the hard work to re-learn how to properly nourish my body and take on a more neutral approach to exercise, eating, and feeding my daughters.
Today I freely eat foods that bring satisfaction and enjoyment rather than choosing foods based on calorie content. I also workout for the joy it brings rather than the calories it burns.
It truly FEELS LIKE FREEDOM.
Meet Our Dietitians
As a group of anti-diet dietitians and intuitive eating counselors, we practice in a different way that removes the weight shame of our mainstream health culture. Our focus is on self-care, cultivating compassion and your overall wellbeing, regardless of weight.
Jessica Dean RD, CDN
Founder
Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor & Registered Dietitian
Jessica is a 1999 graduate from the University of Connecticut and 2013 graduate from University of New Haven. Jessica is a mother to three daughters and wife to Alan for over 20 years.. Her most proud accomplishments aside from her family includes qualifying multiple times as a CrossFit Regional athlete. Jessica retired from CrossFit in 2017 after finishing 53rd in the world in CrossFit Masters 40-44 division.
Jessica worked many years as a dietitian at Yale and with other large corporations including ProHealth and ShopRite. After learning about intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size, Jessica felt a strong pull to open a non-diet, weight inclusive practice. Jessica Dean Nutrition opened with the mission to help other women* release society’s unrealistic expectations and find peace with food, exercise and body one and for all.
Nutrition Interests
Intuitive Eating, Eating Disorders/Disorder Eating, Sports Nutrition and Family/Pediatric Nutrition
Fun Facts
Jessica's was often referred to as the 'Vermont'ster by her CrossFit teammates because of her proud Vermont roots and her unsuspecting competitive spirit.
Registered Dietitian
Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor
Certified Eating Disordered Dietitian (in process)
Level 2 CrossFit Trainer
4x CrossFit Regional athlete
3x 1st place finisher in regional MOM competition.
53rd in the world for CrossFit Masters ages 40-44. (2017)
1st in Connecticut CrossFit Masters ages 40-44 (2017)
Amy Drachenberg RD, CDN
Registered Dietitian
Amy completed her Bachelor Degree in Nutrition at the University of Saint Joseph and Dietetic Internship at University of Connecticut. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Nutrition. She started her career at Hartford Hospital working with transplant and heart failure patient and has been taken a position at Bridgeport Hospital in patient relations. Amy’s top priority is to support her patients and make sure they are receiving all the appropriate care they need.
Amy discovered her love for nutrition during college while feeling confused about different fad diets classmates were trying. There is so much misinformation about nutrition and Amy loves giving clients the knowledge they need to feel empowered about their choices. In her free time, you can find her at the beach, hiking, or relaxing with friends and family. She is excited to meet you and help you achieve your goals!
Nutrition Interests
Heart Failure and Transplant, Sports Nutrition, Disordered Eating
Fun Facts
You can find Amy at the beach, hiking, or relaxing with friends and family.
Ali Kiefer RD, CDN
Registered Dietitian & Health Coach
Ali is a Registered Dietitian and Health Coach born and raised in Chicago, IL. She is a 2019 graduate of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics at Texas Christian University. Ali is a dog mom, a lover of movement, an avid adventurer, and a foodie. She goes crazy for all things leadership and personal development, and never ever wants to stop learning about herself and others.
Ali’s interest in nutrition stems from her background as a competitive swimmer and her struggle with body image issues and disordered eating behaviors as a young adult. Through studying nutrition, Ali was able to transform her personal experiences into a way to help others become aware of their habits, develop a healthy relationship with food, encourage joyful movement, and implement healthier lifestyle choices.
One of the biggest gifts in Ali’s life is the personal healing and joy she has reaped as a result of helping others make peace with food, exercise, and their bodies.
Nutrition Interests
Clinical Nutrition, Sports Nutrition, Youth Development, Intuitive Eating, Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating, and Culinary Medicine
Fun Facts
Ali is a STAGES Certified Indoor Cycling Instructor, Hiking and Adventure Addict AND #1 Dog Mom
Lindsay Marr MS, RD, CSP, CDN
Registered Dietitian
Lindsay is a 2013 graduate from New York University and 2021 graduate from University of New Haven. Lindsay completed her dietetic internship at Yale New Haven Hospital where she currently works as a dietitian in pediatric gastroenterology. After seeing such a large overlap with disordered eating and patients with digestive disorders, Lindsay developed a passion for helping patients foster healthy relationships with food and their bodies.
Nutrition Interests
Nutrition Interests
Digestive disorders (IBS, IBD, disorders of gut-brain interaction, celiac disease)
Intuitive eating
Disordered eating
Fun Facts
When not working, Lindsay enjoys traveling, hiking, cooking/baking and taking yoga and pottery classes.
Jillian Mozitis MSW, RD, CDN
Masters in Social Worker and Registered Dietitian
Jillian earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology at East Stroudsburg University. After finding how much of an impact nutrition has on wellness, she decided to complete her dietetic internship through La Salle University's Coordinated Program in Dietetics. Throughout her career, Jillian worked with people struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating. Jillian then decided to complete her Master's in Social Work to provide more support with the emotional issues related to nutrition.
Jillian has a passion for helping people find food freedom and develop a healthier relationship with food and their bodies. Jillian loves providing nutrition education to debunk the diet myths that are so often heard. Jillian explores how emotion impacts eating patterns to support people in developing more of a mind, body connection and care for yourself in a more compassionate way. She is excited to provide a safe space to talk about all things nutrition!
Jill is currently not accepting NEW patients.
Nutrition Interests
Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating, and Intuitive Eating
Fun Facts
Along with her dietetic credentials, Jillian also holds her Masters in Social Work!
