We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary-Lauren Shelton Vise, RDN, LD, CEDS-C and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary-Lauren, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, so the thought of building a company of my own felt natural and was supported and celebrated. In fact, I started my first company, Ride Fit Café, when I was in high school, catering nutritious meals to competitors at equestrian events after learning firsthand about the importance of proper nutrition and its impact on athletic performance.

I have always been an incredibly driven and passionate person, and felt motivated to open Nutrition DiscoveRD® after seeing the gaps in care provided during and after clients completed Eating Disorder or Mental Health treatment at a higher level of care. When clients stepped down from these higher levels of care facilities, those who did not live in major cities or near a treatment facility often did not have access to continued support in outpatient. This frequently resulted in clients relapsing and returning to treatment within a short period of time.

Growing up as a competitive athlete myself, I also recognized the unique challenges that many athletes face. It is incredibly common for athletes to struggle with an eating disorder, yet they will not seek treatment due to not wanting to take time away from their sport and training. Unfortunately, this too often led to athletes getting very sick, sustaining serious injuries, or having their athletic careers cut short.

In 2018, I felt called to launch Nutrition DiscoveRD® to bridge the gap between higher levels of care and outpatient by providing services both in-person and virtually, to extend access to high-quality ongoing care. From the beginning, my goal was to create a practice that provides highly individualized, flexible, and innovative care, tailored to meet the needs of each client.

Founding Nutrition DiscoveRD® also allowed me to offer services and resources beyond one-on-one nutrition counseling sessions. I also provide nutrition for sports teams and organizations, group nutrition counseling, presentations and workshops, professional consultation, serve as a dietetic intern preceptor, and create educational materials such as E-Books and downloadable guides. This variety of services allows me to be creative and helps to meet the needs of a wider range of clients and professionals.

Lastly, starting my own practice gave me the freedom to create a schedule that allows me to have a healthy work/life balance, which is something I greatly value in my own life and encourage my clients to also prioritize.

What should our readers know about your business?
Nutrition DiscoveRD® is a nutrition counseling practice that specializes in working with athletes and individuals struggling with eating disorders. We believe that food is so much more than just fuel-it is emotional, relational, traditional, cultural, and celebratory. Helping people understand and honor that is important to me. We practice from a weight-inclusive, non-diet approach, which sets us apart. Instead of promoting quick fixes or restrictive diets that often leave people feeling guilty and disappointed, we focus on sustainable nutrition and lifestyle changes that build confidence and healthier relationships with food, body image, and physical activity. My goal is to always encourage growth through positive motivation and meeting clients where they are.

Since building Nutrition DiscoveRD® from the ground up, the practice has grown in so many ways, the clients we serve, the team members who have worked alongside me, the states where we are licensed to provide telehealth services, and the services that we provide. Creating a database of Anti-Diet, Weight-Inclusive Providers across the country and continuing to expand resources into underserved areas is something that I am especially proud of, because access to care should not be limited by geography. In addition to nutrition counseling, I also find great joy in the educational piece of my work, serving as a consultant, mentor, and speaker.

Getting to where I am and the practice is today has not always been easy. Like most entrepreneurs, I have had to navigate challenges and uncertainty. The biggest lessons I have learned are that we cannot do it all on our own, and asking for guidance and support is a sign of humility and strength. I have also learned that there is not just one ‘right way’ to do things, so being open to new approaches and growth, especially as a business owner, is essential.

The work that I do at Nutrition DiscoveRD® is deeply personal for me. I am passionate about walking alongside my clients, honoring their experiences and journeys, and building a practice that evolves with the needs of our clients and the community. I feel humbled and grateful for the opportunity to do this work, and I hope that comes through in the services and resources that Nutrition DiscoveRD® provides.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came to visit, I would definitely want to show them some of the things I love most-being outdoors, staying active, enjoying good food, and connecting with friends. I enjoy exploring different neighborhoods in Dallas, so we would wander around Knox Street and Lower Greenville, and meals would be somewhere with a lively environment, great patio, or live music. We would get Mexican food at least once over the weekend-likely at Mariano’s or Javier’s.

There are several concert venues in the area, so we would try to catch a concert one night or drive over to Fort Worth to explore the stockyards and see a concert. The next day, we would likely walk along the Katy Trail and stop at Katy Trail Ice House for some food and their bottle caps (my favorite!). If the University of Kentucky or SMU had a football or basketball game that weekend, we would certainly find a spot to watch and cheer them on with a group of friends!

If time allowed, we might also visit the Dallas Arboretum or walk around White Rock Lake to soak up more time outdoors. Between the food, music, sports, exploring, and time with friends, it would be a perfect mix to give them a good feel for Dallas.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people I want to thank for their impact on my journey. First, I am grateful for my family, who instilled the entrepreneurial spirit in me from a young age and always encouraged me to follow my passions. My husband who has been a constant source of love and support. I also owe so much to the other eating disorder providers and the Nutrition DiscoveRD® team that I have had the privilege of learning from and collaborating with over the years.

Most importantly, though, I want to thank my clients for trusting me to walk alongside them in their eating disorder recovery journeys or in their pursuit of athletic performance. They inspire me daily with their resilience, courage, and hard work. They are the reason that I feel so fulfilled and motivated to continue doing the work that I do. Our work takes a team, and I am grateful to each person who has been a part of that!

Website: https://www.nutritiondiscoverd.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutritiondiscoverd/ ; @nutritiondiscoverd

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-lauren-shelton-vise-743690120/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nutritiondiscoverd

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