A woman holding a half avocado up to her eye and smiling, with another half of avocado in her other hand, wearing a yellow blazer and black shirt.

Hey there! I’m Caressa — Registered Dietitian, coach, and your guide to thriving without the BS.


I’m a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, strength athlete, and RD with a Master’s in Dietetics. With over 20 years in health and fitness, I know what it takes to build strength, resilience, and systems that last.

I’ve also walked the road myself—navigating gluten and dairy sensitivities, rebuilding my health, and learning how food can either hold you back or set you free. That’s why I help women cut through diet culture noise and finally create simple, sustainable ways to eat, train, and live with confidence.

This isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about fueling your body, building strength, and stepping into your most badass self.

I feel completely different than I did 5 years ago…

It took me years of trying to figure out how to make eating working for me, and now I feel like I have energy, I don’t have the constant brain fog, bloat and inflammation that I used to.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a black dress, a neon green blazer, and black open-toe ankle boots with zippers, posing against a plain beige wall, smiling with hands on hips.

What I was doing wrong:

I’d had my kids, and thought that I was doing everything right to lose the pregnancy weight- I was working out consistently, lifting heavy weights, doing my cardio, and logging my food to track my macros.

I diligently, tracked my macros and adhered to the ‘allowed foods’ on the programs list, which included lots of whey protein, greek yogurt and wheat bran.

I did program after program, was actually gaining weight and still I couldn’t find out why I was still feeling so brain foggy, low energy, and my workouts felt hard, and I struggled to get through my day.

I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why I had G.I. issues, why I had mouth sores, constipation, bloat, really horrible mental fog. As a full time mom, I was now a student taking college classes and needed to get a lot done. I was frustrated to say the least.

Looking back I can see how inflamed, bloated and thick I looked- all thanks to the unknown food issues I had.

A smiling couple stands arm in arm by a river with green trees in the background. The woman is wearing a sleeveless top and shorts, and the man is in a t-shirt, shorts, and an orange cap.

But then…

It took me years of trying to figure out how to make eating working for me, I tried EVERYTHING, all the fad diets and nothing seemed to work for me.

I didn’t have anyone to guide me or help me as I navigated this journey, and I wish that I’d had a coach!

It was only after I did several elimination diets did I finally put the puzzle pieces together and lo and behold, I figure out that I am both gluten and lactose intolerant.

Gone are the days of stomach aches, constipation, brain fog, mouth sores and low energy!

So how do I stay gluten and dairy free in a household and family who can eat all the treats and ice cream?

Woman sitting outdoors by a lake, holding a plate of food, smiling, with long dark hair, tattoos on her arm, wearing a gray tank top, black pants, and sneakers.

My life today looks very different then it did 5 years ago.

I still workout diligently- lifting weights and doing cardio 3-5 days a week, and I am still tracking my macros to make sure I am fueling my workouts.

So what changed? I figured out what foods to eat to fuel myself. It was a game changer! It seems to me that very few people have both gluten and dairy issues, but here I am with both.

Fun Fact: Everything seems to have gluten and dairy in it- and it’s been quite the learning curve.

So how did I do this?

Well, a lot of trial and error but I wouldn’t change my journey for anything. As a gluten and dairy intolerant person, the way I feel now so a far cry from the person I was then.

Now I have energy as a busy mom and keep up with my kids, I can think clearly and I don’t have that thick brain fog that made it very difficult for me full time student, and I best of all don’t have any more GI issues!

Young woman smiling at the gym, holding her foot and stretching, wearing workout attire and a tattoo sleeve on her arm.

Now…

I help people who are struggling to make the very change that I did.

We talk extensively about the mindset that goes into making the gluten and dairy free change, how to implement it, what kinds of obstacles to expect and how to plan around them, to enjoy being social without the fear of getting ‘glutened’ or ‘dairied’ and how to embrace these changes.

I do this by helping people make long term changes that make eating gluten and dairy free a lifestyle.

Together we work to implement changes that they can sustain, with tools that help them support a healthier lifestyle.

And if you’re not hindered by gluten or dairy issues, I’m also here to support you on your journey towards better health. I’m just a short email away to help assist and support you with your health and nutrition goals.

Personal Ethics and Values Statement

Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty

As a military veteran, I continue to abide by my service's code of conduct: ‘Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty’. I carry these values forward into the civilian sector.

Honor means doing what is right.

Respect involves respecting not only myself but also my clients, including their confidential information, personal journey, and goals.

Devotion to duty involves upholding a level of professionalism and conduct, continuously improving my knowledge and skills, staying current with up-to-date information, and delivering relevant research-based, scientifically backed information and protocols that benefit my clients while ensuring that I "first do no harm."

Having had these values ingrained in me as a young adult assisted in developing a moral compass outside of my upbringing. I feel that they are important to implement in motivational interviewing as we honor each patient and client's journey, respect the person and their choices, and dedicate ourselves to assisting them the best we can within our scope of practice.

Integrity, Empathy, and Compassion

I believe in conducting myself with honesty, integrity, and respect in all aspects of my personal and professional life. Integrity is a fundamental value I learned as a young teenager, embodying the principle of doing the right thing, even when no one is looking. Sound moral judgment, honesty, and sincerity in our interactions are crucial when counseling clients. It's essential to acknowledge our limitations and not hesitate to refer clients to more certified practitioners if and when needed.

Empathy and compassion are indispensable in both personal and professional settings. As an upcoming registered dietitian, balancing these qualities with understanding a client's journey, situation, and feelings is vital. It is important to help clients navigate their challenges, offering encouragement and supporting their autonomy. Treating others with fairness and compassion while valuing diversity and inclusivity is fundamental to my practice.

Commitment to Continuous Learning and Professionalism

I am committed to continuous learning and growth, seeking to improve my skills and knowledge while upholding the highest standards of ethical behavior. I understand the importance of confidentiality and professionalism in all interactions and am dedicated to making positive contributions to my community and the world around me.

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