Rebecca McCandless

About Rebecca

Rebecca is a mother of two wonderful children and a devoted military spouse of over 20 years. Her journey to becoming a Registered Dietitian began after her diagnosis with an underactive thyroid. Through that experience, she discovered the power of nutrition-based treatments and noted their frequent absence in traditional medical care. She thrives on community work, helping others reach their nutritional goals. For the past six years, Rebecca has worked with the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, most recently as the local agency WIC Coordinator in Virginia Beach, VA. Believing that nutrition starts with the first feeding, she became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) to support mothers who choose to breastfeed. Rebecca embraces a client-centered approach that honors Health at Every Size and is rooted in science-based evidence. She’s here to listen and guide you through your nutritional questions.

Approach to care

Rebecca’s approach to care is client-centered. During her diagnosis and treatment for an underactive thyroid, she recognized the value of truly listening and understanding each person to create a comprehensive plan. Her focus begins with compassion and empathy, followed by collaboration to help you achieve your goals. She views you as a whole person and embraces a weight-inclusive philosophy, aligned with Health at Every Size, recognizing that health comes in many forms. Rebecca will guide you through slow, sustainable changes tailored to your food preferences and needs.

Your first session with Rebecca

In your first session with Rebecca, she will take the time to truly listen and get to know you—your goals, lifestyle, cultural preferences, health history, and nutritional needs. Drawing from her client-centered philosophy, she’ll approach you as a whole person with compassion and understanding, embracing a weight-inclusive view aligned with Health at Every Size. Together, you’ll collaborate on a personalized plan featuring slow, sustainable changes tailored to your food preferences and rooted in science-based evidence to help you achieve your goals.

Education

BS in Exercise Science and Nutrition

Hobbies

reading, gardening, coloring, exercising

Licenses and Certifications