Hi, I am
Theresa Munkvold, RDN, LD
Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor,
L.E.A.P. Therapist
Integrative and Functional Dietitian/Nutritionist
Specializing in Food Sensitivities, Nutrient Deficiencies, Eating Disorders, Disordered Eating, Weight and Metabolism
I envision a world where each and every person has a healthy and satisfying relationship with foods.
As a registered, licensed dietitian/nutritionist, I help people create health and wellness through investigation, coaching, and evidence-based nutritional solutions that are practical, sustainable and doable. My practice is integrative, functional and holistic — which means I dive deep into my client's individual needs and makeup, and guide them toward inner and outer solutions that fit their bodies and their lives.
After years of working with clients in hospital settings I learned a few things. First, patients prescribed strict diets often developed disordered eating patterns. The stricter the diet, the more confused and conflicted they felt about what "should" and "shouldn't" be eaten. Most diets failed, and also derailed the client's self confidence and any attempt at a sensible approach to food and health. Second, many of the sickest patients — those with out of control diabetes, kidney failure, heart disease and more — were there because they had been unable to give themselves optimal self care and nutrition. I knew there had to be a better way to improve people's diets and health without sowing confusion and disordered eating.
When I discovered and trained in Intuitive Eating, I knew I had found a model that would serve as the umbrella for all of my training, experience and clinical modalities. I became a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and launched a private practice to help people achieve their health goals while also restoring a balanced relationship with foods.
What else is under my umbrella? Research has just begun to scratch the surface of how food, mood, stress, genes, our microbiome and our environment impact our health and I pull in the best of this in my practice. My mind-body wellness approach naturally led me to health coach training, and my desire to use nutritional approaches to improve chronic diseases in a targeted manner led to my training in functional and integrative nutrition. Today, I bring all of these models together, along with the latest research, to unravel and resolve my clients' health and eating challenges, digestive issues, food sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, thyroid disease, disordered eating, eating disorders and weight struggles.
My nutritional counseling helps clients cultivate healthy habits and practices by building on their existing strengths. My methods are holistic, evidence-based, practical, personal — and they work. My business is built on relationships, referrals, and repeat business as clients see new strengths blooming and their health thriving. Is it time for you to develop a new relationship with foods and recover your health?
I Believe In:
Getting to the root cause
Gut issues can cause problems throughout the body — they do not stop in the gut! Headaches, joint pain, anxiety, fatigue, gas, and bloating can all be explored and managed through food sensitivity testing and nutritional counseling. This isn't all about what you can’t eat, but instead about creating a whole new way of eating for renewed and optimal health. This is investigative work as we discover trigger foods that offend and wreak havoc throughout the body. Getting to the bottom of it pays off and people can’t believe how great they feel. Is "feeling yucky" your "normal"? Maybe it’s time to get to the root of the issue.
Food as medicine
It is not an exaggeration when I say anyone with chronic disease can improve their condition using food as medicine. From issues of weight and metabolism caused by years of diets, disordered eating, or nutrient deficiencies ... to anxiety, depression or ADHD exacerbated by a disrupted microbiome ... the right nutritional interventions can transform lives. Finding and correcting nutritional imbalances and restoring healthy self-care and eating patterns can improve and even stop disease in its tracks.
The power of intuitive eating
It is my experience (and the research concurs) that Intuitive Eating is the key to a healthy body and mind. Years of dieting slowly undermines our natural and sensible relationship with food, movement and life. Intuitive Eating cultivates and restores self-confidence and trust in our own guidance about what is right to eat. This approach provides profound relief from endless harsh diets, deprivation, self-abuse and eating disorders. It offers the opportunity to learn optimal self-care through gentle nutrition and mindfulness — while tapping into our inner wisdom that has been there all along.
FREE HEALTH QUIZ
Is a nutrition deficiency hampering your health?
The first step in addressing health issues is to understand what your symptoms are telling you. This quick quiz will help begin to shed light on the true root of your challenges.
MY CREDENTIALS
Associations & Memberships
- Licensed and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist RDN,LD
- Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor
- LEAP Therapy Training
- Health Coach Training
- Integrative and Functional Nutrition Training
- food sensitivity and micronutrient Tester
Associations & Memberships
- The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)
- SCAN or Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition
- DEED or Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders an AND practice group
- NE or Nutrition Entrepreneurs practice group
- NE, Second Career Dietitians practice group
- Des Moines Iowa Area Integrative and Functional group
