Melissa Hostler

About Melissa

Hello there! Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about me. This is my passion career (my fourth one) after working as a high school teacher, environmental consultant, and botanist. I completed my Dietetic Internship in 2020. Soon after, my family and I moved, I took the time away from the field to homeschool my kids. Now, five years later, I am in the process of getting certified as a Health Mindset Coach and Food Addiction Coach. I'm thrilled to start my nutrition counseling career here with Nourish.

Approach to care

My approach to nutritional counseling is about helping people cultivate a peaceful, positive relationship with food and their bodies, in addition to fostering the belief that they can make long-lasting changes. I believe that nourishing yourself goes beyond what is on the plate, it includes self-awareness, self-compassion, mindful eating, and other healthy habits. I encourage clients to eat both nutrient dense foods and foods you like without shame. This is key for making long-lasting nutritional habit change. When we work together, you will come up with small, realistic steps that help you feel empowered and confident to ultimately reach your long-term goal. However, I understand that life has its ups and downs and that progress is NOT a straight line. So, when setbacks happen, we will treat them as learning opportunities (with no judgment). My role is to support and encourage you, to celebrate your efforts, help you reflect, and guide you back towards balance.

Your first session with Melissa

Our first meeting will be a 55-minute virtual session where I take time to get to know you, beyond just food and nutrition. I will collect important health information to understand the full picture of where you are right now. If you are comfortable, I would love to hear about your background, your story, and what you truly want to achieve. We will explore your long term goals together. Then conclude with choosing some action steps to experiment for the week to reach towards your long-term goal. At the end of the session, we will plan regular weekly check-ins to keep you supported, motivated, and moving forward at a sustainable pace.

Education

I hold a Masters of Science in Nutritional Science from California State University, Chico and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology and Management from University of California, Davis.

Hobbies

Moving to Idaho, allowed us to have some animals. I enjoy hanging with my chickens, sheep, and even mucking out the goats’ stall. I am attempting to grow a garden so I can have herbs and vegetables to cook with hopefully by next summer. Over the years, I have taught myself to cook. I still mess up even though I have been cooking for over 20 years, ode to the life of a mother.

Licenses and Certifications