Rekha Chirayath

About Rekha

I am an experienced dietitian with 25 years of experience in various areas of food science, nutrition, research, dietetics and community nutrition and public health. I am passionate about different aspects of nutrition from food, to healthy cooking and eating , preventing chronic illnesses with healthy foods as well as acute clinical nutrition. Food has been a passion for me as far as I can remember, I love how food can heal and nourish our body and mind. I worked extensively in various areas including clinical, community outpatient and inpatient diet and nutrition counseling on diabetes, acute and chronic heart, kidney, GI and liver diseases, as well as healthy weight loss education. I worked regularly with patients on their GLP- 1 journey of weight loss and how to remain healthy and continue with sustainable weight loss with lifestyle changes. My favorite motto is the one borrowed from renowned philosopher Hippocrates " Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food"

Approach to care

My approach involves a patient driven method where the patient is the lead, I am there to let them know the benefits for lifestyle changes or certain disease specific dietary changes and lead them. I love to connect with my patients ,understanding who they are, where they are and meeting them at their level of readiness. This helps me to understand what will fit into their goals and what is really feasible for a sustainable lifestyle change . I want this change to be theirs, I am there to guide them in the right direction, help them if you have any questions, concerns and help them to understand. I work with my patient as a whole person as we already know healthy or unhealthy eating is not on its own an entity, it's very much affected by our emotional, physical health, socio economic status as well as our family, relationships, and our environment we live in. Understanding the patient is very important to me to help them in their journey.

Your first session with Rekha

My first session will be mostly intake as well as establishing a connection and a relationship with my patient or client. I believe in trust between the provider/ care giver, and the client which helps them to be able to share their weaknesses, flaws, barriers and to establish the goals together understanding each other. I want my clients or patients to understand I am not a food police and not there to judge them, this definitely has to be a bilateral relationship.

Education

I am a passionate nutrition researcher, completed an extensive research in nutrition as part of my master's curriculum with thesis and clinical dietitian with MS in both clinical dietetics and secondary master’s in Food science,nutrition and dietetics. I also have an undergrad in both dietetics as well as Home economics with emphasis in nutrition and child development and home management. I continuously attend webinars and certificate training courses to improve my knowledge and skills in various nutrition topics also working on being an advanced practitioner and obtaining special certifications.

Hobbies

My hobbies include cooking, exploring food from around the world, baking, reading, arts and crafts , sewing costumes or home accessories as well as gardening and traveling to historical places. I enjoy the outdoors, daily walks ,yoga, nature walks and hiking in the mountains especially in the cooler months of spring and fall.

Licenses and Certifications