Samara Tena, MS, RD, LDN

How would you describe your approach to nutrition counseling?

Compassion and sustainability are at the center of my counseling style. I recognize that eating can be an overwhelming or difficult task for a myriad of reasons. My goal is to get to know my clients and collaborate with them on how to best nourish themselves. I use a non-judgmental, anti-diet approach to creating nutrition goals that are both realistic and specific to you!

Which avenues of dietetics do you feel most passionate about pursuing?

I am passionate about helping those with disordered eating improve their relationship with food. I also acknowledge the effect that mental health and neurodivergence can have on one’s ability to eat. My hope is to meet clients wherever they’re at and go from there. I love using mindfulness to explore foods and getting creative with clients to find sustainable ways to feed themselves.

If you were to have any other profession other than Registered Dietitian, what would it be and why?

Book editing! Getting paid to read, proofread, and fact check sounds amazing.

Where can we find you when you’re not in client sessions?

You’ll most often find me working on DIY projects, painting and listening to audiobooks, gardening, or hanging with my partner and two cats. When I’m out and about I enjoy thrifting, visiting the library, and trying new restaurants!

Education & Certifications: 

B.S in Nutrition and Dietetics – Appalachian State University, M.S. in Environmental Nutrition – University of Memphis

Special Interests: 

Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating Patterns, Weight Neutral & Non-diet Approach, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), ADHD/Neurodivergence & Nutrition, Sensory Processing Sensitivities, Mindful & Intuitive Eating

Contact Samara: Samara@Nutritious-Thoughts.com