Barbara Nalen-Cardosa

About Barbara

With 25 years as a Registered Dietitian and an MS in Nutrition, I bring clinical, corporate wellness, and community health experience to my work in Boston. As an RDN licensed as an LDN, I combine evidence-based care with practical problem solving. Outside of sessions you'll often find me strength training, running/stair climbing, tackling a landscaping or interior painting project, or cooking and baking new recipes. I enjoy helping people translate real life into sustainable nutrition habits. Additionally, I continue to help my four children (including one in the Army) navigate ongoing life challenges and help motivate my husband to maintain a health lifestyle post coronary bypass graft surgery.

Approach to care

Science informs what I recommend, and empathy shapes how we get there. I draw on current research to create clear, actionable steps we'll try together, prioritizing sustainable habits over quick fixes. I practice through a Health At Every Size lens, staying weight-neutral and behavior-focused while addressing the whole person, including sleep, stress, and activity. My aim is to educate and empower you, so you leave each visit with practical skills and confidence to make long-term changes.

Your first session with Barbara

We'll begin with a relaxed, judgment-free conversation where I review your medical history and learn about your routines, wins, and frustrations. From that foundation we'll establish one to two short-term goals that feel achievable for your life. You don't need to have everything figured out before you come. Together we'll create clear next steps, and we'll adjust the plan as we learn what works best for you.

Location

📍 Boston, Massachusetts

Education

Master Degree in Nutrition

Hobbies

Strength training, running-stair climbing, landscaping, interior painting, cooking & baking

Licenses and Certifications