Welcome Heidi Karner, MS RDN and Diabetes specialist to Happy Valley Nutrition!

Intuitive Eating

Nov 20

We are so excited to welcome the newest member of our team, Heidi Karner!

Heidi is accepting new clients NOW for diabetes care (including PCOS, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, Type 1 and Type 2) and supporting clients with Intuitive Eating, disordered eating, chronic dieting, and body image

Tell us a little bit about your journey to becoming an RD. Is this something you wanted to do or just fell into it?

My journey to becoming an RD started with an overwhelming love of all things food like most dietitians I know! I originally thought I wanted to attend culinary school and become a chef - I even did a summer program at Johnson and Wales University in RI. It was then that I realized I was more interested in understanding the science behind how food impacts our bodies and how we can use food to promote health in our bodies! I still LOVE to cook - it's such a wonderful outlet to express creativity and to experiment.

You specialize in diabetes care. What sort of clients do you work with?
In my time as a diabetes educator, I have worked with many different populations of people including but not limited to, women with diabetes navigating prenatal/pregnancy/postpartum, individuals living with both diabetes and active/recovering eating disorders (including diabulimia), individuals with a history of or predisposition to insulin resistance (ie. T2DM, PCOS) as well as individuals with a history of chronic dieting and weight cycling.

You’re a proud HAES-aligned, fat positive, weight inclusive provider. Was this always your focus? Why is this important to you?
Like so many dietitians, my initial training and approach were not through an anti-diet or HAES-aligned lens. For a long time, it felt like the profession I had chosen was failing as I watched my clients continue to struggle with body acceptance, weight cycling, and calorie-restricted dieting. I wanted to find a way to support my clients in nourishing their bodies adequately without sacrificing their mental well-being and enjoyment of food. It wasn't until I discovered the principles of Intuitive Eating - a compassionate eating framework rooted in self-care - that I felt I could truly support clients in their journey to respect their bodies and finally make peace with food. I believe that all bodies deserve access to satisfying nourishment, equitable healthcare, a safe space for enjoyable movement, and a whole lot of self-compassion!

Why did you decide to come work with HVN?
At this point in my career, I am looking to make meaningful connections and to collaborate more closely with colleagues who share similar values in our work with clients. It felt like I was at a crossroads where I had done so much independent learning and acquired so much counseling experience, but still felt like something was missing. When I met Amanda and the team at HVN, I realized what was missing - professional support, supervision, and a safe space to discuss the peaks and valleys that come along with this kind of work! In all honesty, I had a gut feeling that this was the next step and the right place for me!

Any hobbies, things you like to do for fun?
I LOVE all things plants - probably have close to 30 in my house currently (may or may not have acquired a little too many during quarantine, oops!) I also love my 2 year old Aussiedoodle named Blu - we spend a lot of time on long walks and playing fetch at the park! I cook, bake (have an obsession with The Great British Baking Show), practice yoga, and enjoy spending time with friends and family as much as possible!

Favorite non-diet resources- podcasts, books, people to follow?

Books: