Business Details
Your Trusted Partner for Nutrition Counseling & Wellness Coaching
Essential Nutrition has been dedicated to transforming lives through personalized nutrition and wellness solutions since its founding. Our team of licensed dietitians brings decades of combined experience in clinical nutrition, wellness coaching, and community health education. We specialize in addressing diverse needs including chronic disease management, athletic performance optimization, and eating disorder recovery while emphasizing sustainable lifestyle changes.Our evidence-based approach integrates scientific research with practical guidance to help clients develop healthy relationships with food. With expertise spanning pediatric care, sports nutrition, and digestive health, we provide tailored support for individuals and families across the lifespan. Our commitment to client-centered care ensures personalized attention to each person's unique health goals and challenges.
Services
Nutrition Counseling
Wellness Coaching
Grocery Store Tours
Telehealth Appointments
Eating Disorder Support
Highlights and features
- Our team includes certified wellness coaches with specialized training in chronic disease management
- We offer HIPAA-compliant telehealth appointments for convenient access to care
- We accept major insurance providers including Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna
- Our dietitians combine clinical expertise with practical, sustainable nutrition strategies
- We serve clients across the lifespan from pediatric to senior populations
Services
Nutrition Counseling
Our individualized nutrition counseling addresses specific health needs through evidence-based dietary strategies. Experienced dietitians work with clients to develop personalized meal plans that accommodate medical conditions, lifestyle preferences, and wellness goals. Sessions focus on practical education about balanced nutrition, portion control, and healthy eating habits that support long-term health improvements for chronic disease management and general wellness.
Wellness Coaching
Certified wellness coaching helps clients achieve sustainable lifestyle changes through goal-oriented support. Coaches provide structured guidance for improving nutrition habits, increasing physical activity, and managing stress. This service emphasizes behavior modification techniques and accountability strategies to help individuals overcome obstacles and maintain progress toward their health objectives through personalized action plans.
Telehealth Appointments
Secure HIPAA-compliant virtual appointments provide accessible nutrition care from any location. This service maintains the same quality of personalized assessment and guidance as in-person visits while offering greater flexibility. Clients can receive professional nutrition advice, meal planning support, and progress monitoring through convenient video or telephone consultations with licensed dietitians.
Eating Disorder Support
Specialized nutritional therapy addresses various eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Our approach focuses on restoring healthy eating patterns, addressing nutritional deficiencies, and developing positive relationships with food. Treatment incorporates medical nutrition therapy and behavioral strategies tailored to each client's specific needs and recovery stage.
Sports Nutrition
Performance-focused nutrition plans optimize athletic capabilities through targeted dietary strategies. Services include energy management, hydration planning, and nutrient timing guidance for various training demands. Our approach combines sports science principles with individualized assessment to enhance endurance, recovery, and overall athletic performance for both competitive athletes and recreational exercisers.
People
Kay Schlegel-Pratt
Owner & Licensed Dietitian
With over 30 years of experience, Kay holds a Master's in Nutrition Science and is a certified wellness coach. She specializes in clinical nutrition and community health education, combining her expertise with a passion for active living to help clients achieve sustainable health improvements.
Susan F Lutz
Pediatric Specialist
Dr. Lutz brings extensive expertise in pediatric nutrition and public health, with a PhD in Public Health Nutrition. She specializes in child and adolescent nutrition, eating disorders, and maternal health, offering evidence-based guidance for families seeking to establish healthy eating patterns in young individuals.
Christy Quirk
Sports Nutritionist
A former chef turned dietitian, Christy combines culinary expertise with nutrition science. Her background in restaurant cuisine informs practical meal planning strategies. She specializes in sports nutrition and family meal planning, helping clients develop enjoyable, sustainable healthy eating habits through cooking education.
Lisa Martin
Health Coach
Lisa holds a Master's in Nutrition and a health coaching certification. With experience in outpatient settings, she focuses on weight management and chronic disease prevention. Her approach emphasizes personalized solutions that accommodate individual lifestyles and family needs while promoting sustainable wellness changes.
Nancy Graves
Intake Coordinator
As the initial point of contact, Nancy manages appointment scheduling and client intake processes. With nursing experience, she provides informed guidance to help clients navigate their nutrition care journey and connect with appropriate services.
Questions
What types of nutrition counseling services do you offer?
We provide individual and group counseling for weight management, chronic disease prevention, eating disorders, sports nutrition, and family meal planning. Our services include in-person and virtual appointments.
Do you accept insurance for nutrition counseling?
We are in-network providers for Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, and NC State Health Plan. We recommend verifying your specific coverage with your insurance provider before your first appointment.
How can I schedule a nutrition appointment?
Contact our intake coordinator Nancy at (919) 636-2900 to schedule an appointment. We offer both in-office and telehealth consultation options with our licensed dietitians.
What makes your wellness coaching different?
Our certified wellness coaches combine nutrition expertise with behavior change strategies to create personalized action plans. We focus on sustainable lifestyle modifications through structured goal setting and ongoing support.
Do you offer services for children and families?
Yes, our team includes specialists in pediatric and family nutrition. We provide age-appropriate counseling for children and teens, along with guidance for parents to create healthy eating environments at home.
What is your approach to eating disorder recovery?
We use evidence-based nutritional therapy to address eating disorders, focusing on restoring healthy eating patterns and rebuilding positive relationships with food. Our approach complements medical and psychological treatment in recovery journeys.
