Frequently Asked Questions

We specialize in the following areas:

• eating disorders and disordered eating

• digestive concerns, including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.

• food allergies and intolerances, including MCAS and other histamine disorders

• sports performance nutrition

• chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart health, etc.

• GLP-1 support

• women’s health, including PCOS, perinatal, perimenopause

• LGBTQIA++ specialized care

• Family nutrition & meal planning

We utilize a variety of frameworks and therapeutic modalities in nutrition counseling, such as Intuitive Eating, Health at Every Size®, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, internal family systems, exposure therapy, and mindfulness-based strategies.

Health at Every Size® is a healthcare paradigm shift, moving the focus on supporting health and well-being through sustainable behaviors - rather than focusing only on weight. This approach recognizes that health looks different for every person and that body size alone does not determine overall health.

Intuitive Eating is a “self-care eating framework” that helps people reconnect with their body’s natural hunger, fullness, and satisfaction cues. Instead of following restrictive food rules, intuitive eating encourages body trust and attunement, balanced and flexible eating, and a positive relationship with food. There are over 90 studies that support the use of Intuitive Eating for health and wellbeing.

After many years of practice, we have adopted these approaches to help create a supportive, individualized experience that considers both physical and emotional health. Rather than promoting restrictive diets or rigid plans, counseling utilizing HAES® and Intuitive Eating helps our clients:

• Build a healthier relationship with food

• Reduce guilt and stress around eating

• Learn sustainable nutrition habits

• Improve body trust and self-care

• Move away from chronic dieting cycles

• Focus on overall well-being, not just the number on the scale

We use these frameworks to provide compassionate, evidence-informed care that meets clients where they are and supports long-term health in a realistic and sustainable way.

Once you book your first appointment, you’ll receive intake forms through our patient portal to complete before your visit. These forms help your dietitian learn more about you and prepare for your session ahead of time.

Your initial appointment is approximately 60–75 minutes and is designed to help us better understand your unique needs and goals. During this visit, your dietitian will discuss your health history, lifestyle, eating patterns, food preferences, and any concerns or challenges you may be experiencing. If applicable, your dietitian may review labs or medical testing with you to provide more personal recommendations. We do not provide testing at Nourish for Life, nor do we sell nutritional supplements or products. 

Together, we may identify one or two small, realistic goals to focus on between appointments. We believe lasting change happens gradually, and our approach emphasizes sustainable habits and practical strategies that fit into your everyday life. At follow-up visits we will review your progress, identify challenges and successes, and set new goals.

We take a collaborative, personalized approach to nutrition counseling. Together, we’ll explore your current eating habits, identify areas for improvement, and focus on realistic, sustainable changes that align with your goals, lifestyle, and culture. Rather than using restrictive diets or one-size-fits-all meal plans, we emphasize flexible strategies that are individualized to support long-term health and well-being.

We generally recommend that you have weekly appointments for the first couple of visits, and then stretch out visits every 2-4 weeks, depending on your individual needs. This allows us to develop rapport, provide consistent encouragement, education, identify challenges or barriers, and set new goals.

Each of our dietitians have 1-2 clinic days a week to see clients in-person. Please contact us to inquire about your dietitians’ in-person availability. 

We can see any client via telehealth if your insurance plan has benefits for nutrition counseling via telehealth. Our telehealth platform is HIPAA-compliant and secure. 

Telehealth requirements: If you are using a mobile device, download our telehealth app before your visit (Apple and Android). No download is needed if joining from a computer web browser.

Yes - we are in-network with commercial plans with: BCBS, Aetna (not HMO), Cigna (Open Access Plus/PPO), Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare and MassGeneral Brigham Healthcare. 

For all other insurance plans, we are considered “Out of Network” and you will be responsible for the fees for service. We can supply you with a Superbill (itemized invoice of services) to submit to your plan for possible reimbursement.

We request new clients contact their insurance provider using this script to verify nutrition counseling benefits, as coverage varies by plan and may require a referral, specific diagnosis for coverage, or other authorization.

We cannot verify your insurance benefits for you, unfortunately. You will need to get this information from your insurance plan themselves. 

You are responsible for understanding your insurance coverage, including knowing if you have a primary and secondary insurance plan, and which is which. We can only submit insurance claims to the plans we are in-network with.

We accept payment by credit card, debit card, HSA/FSA cards, and check.

Any copays, coinsurance, deductibles, self-pay fees, or outstanding balances are due at the time of service. Clients may also be charged a fee for missed appointments or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the scheduled visit (please see our cancellation policy below for details).

To simplify the payment process, we ask all clients to keep a card on file. In some cases, we may recommend enrolling in automatic payments for recurring balances or fees to help streamline billing and reduce administrative follow-up.Item description

Our private pay fees are discounted from our regular fees, and are as follows: 

• Initial visit (60-75 min) $240

• Follow-up (55 min) $172

• Follow-up (30 min) $86

We often give further discounts to make nutrition counseling more accessible. Please contact us if you require a sliding scale or financial assistance - no questions asked.

We do offer a sliding scale for folks who require financial assistance - no questions asked. Please contact us for more information.

Our office address is 2557 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140. 

There is no parking on the premises, but we do have a map of on-street parking that is closest to our office here: https://www.nourishforlife.com/parking-transit

If you have a Cambridge parking sticker on your car, you may be able to park on nearby residential streets. 

You can also park in Arlington (about a 5-minute walk from our office) on any residential street for free.

Generally, our dietitians see clients Monday through Friday between the hours of 8am and 6pm. Please contact your dietitian to find out what their working hours are.

Our dietitians are licensed to practice in MA, NH, RI, CT, ME, FL, HI, IL, and NM. 

We can also see clients that live in states that do not currently have licensure requirements: AZ, CA, CO, MI, NJ, VA.

We understand that schedules and unexpected situations can arise. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, we kindly ask for at least 24 hours’ notice whenever possible.

Appointments missed without notice, or canceled within 24 hours of the scheduled time, may incur a $150 no-show fee. Please note that this fee is not covered by insurance.

To ensure we can provide the best care and stay on schedule for all clients, appointments may need to be shortened or rescheduled if a client arrives more than 15 minutes late. In some cases, the no-show fee may apply.

As of January 1st, 2022, new legislation requires all health care providers offering out-of-network services to furnish a "Good Faith Estimate" which details the cost of services over the course of 12 months. If you want to learn more about this, please visit the CMS website: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/nosurpriseactfactsheet-final508.pdf

To stay in compliance with the No Surprises Act, a document that explains this information will be prepared for you. It details the potential cost of services if you were working with your dietitian every week for 52 weeks. We know this may not be the appointment frequency for you - this is just for your information and records. The Good Faith Estimate is not a bill. If applicable, you should expect to receive a new GFE each calendar year.