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ABOUT
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN
Barbara Ruhs is your Neighborhood Nutritionist. Barbara’s passion for nutrition was influenced by her own weight struggles as a child. It was a love for the game of tennis that had a strong influence on the development of her lifelong healthy eating and fitness habits.
After completing a bachelor’s degree in nutrition & dietetics from Cornell University, she pursued a Master’s degree in Nutrition from Boston University. Her dietetic internship was completed at Boston City Hospital. A lifelong learner, she pursued graduate studies in psychology at Harvard University until she re-located to the southwest in 2008.
Barbara began her career in dietetics as the State Coordinator of Nutrition Education for Massachusetts Child Nutrition Programs (USDA School Meal Programs). This experience planted the seed for a life-long commitment to improving public health. She started Neighborhood Nutrition in 1998 while living in Cambridge, Massachusetts and working as a sports nutritionist for Wellesley and Babson College. During this time, Neighborhood Nutrition quickly developed into a thriving private-practice where she developed a niche working with clientele struggling with eating, body image and a balanced approach to exercise. She was a nutrition therapist and sports nutritionist at Harvard University during this time.
After more than a decade in Boston, Barbara took a step away from the day-to-day of individual counseling to pursue a career in the food industry. This decision was fueled by the increasing number of individuals whom she witnessed struggling with severe eating disorders. Her ultimate goal: To have a global impact on what and how we eat in America. Stay tuned!
Elizabeth Fayram, RD, LDN
Elizabeth discovered her passion for nutrition counseling while studying music and foreign language in Seattle, WA. She has spent time traveling and exploring all types of cooking with her loved ones which has been the foundation for her to go forward with a career in nutrition. Elizabeth's interests in food, culture, learning and working with people have helped drive her focus in nutrition counseling. Elizabeth also enjoys staying physically active, spending time outdoors, gardening and supporting a local and sustainable environment.
She studied at Western Washington University in Washington State and then completed her education at Bastyr University which focused on a holistic and mind-body approach to health. She believes that everyone can learn how to have a healthy relationship with food and their body image and hopes to develop relationships with people in their journey.
Liz is a professional member of the Multiservice Eating Disorder Association, National Eating Disorder Association, American Dietitian Association including the behavioral health and sports nutrition practice groups. She has attended nutrition counseling intensive courses and makes it a priority to continue the learning process.
Elizabeth is happy to work with all ages, both men and women, for a client centered and supportive approach to nutrition counseling.
Karen Palmer Wiczynski, MS, RD, LDN
Karen became interested in nutrition through her passion for the culinary arts. She completed her Bachelors of Science at the University of Rhode Island and her Masters of Science in Nutrition at Tufts University. She also completed the Adolescent Nutrition Fellowship at Children’s Hospital Boston focusing on eating disorders and obesity. Her background includes working at day and evening eating disorder program treatment facilities and individual clinical nutrition therapy with children, adolescents and adults including disordered eating, obesity, surgical weight loss and feeding issues associated with special needs patients. Karen believes in using an individualized approach to create a healthful relationship with food. She enjoys helping individuals understand nutrition that in turn impacts and empowers the individual to make mindful and informed lifestyle modifications.
