Get to know us and what we do Laura Grazioli MPH, MS, RD, LDN Hi! I’m Laura, licensed and registered dietitian and toddler mom. I was born in a small town in New York and spent the first ten years of my life there before my parents moved us to South Florida to be closer to our family. Growing up in an italian american household, it was all about family. Weekdays were spent riding bikes over to our cousin’s house and weekends were spent out in the garden with my grandmother, learning how to grow vegetables and later, how to cook them. “Just a splash of olive oil, four perfectly sliced cloves of garlic, and simmer over medium heat.” If I close my eyes, I can vividly remember the cooking classes that would take place in my grandmother’s tiny, scorchingly hot New York kitchen. It’s no surprise that I grew up loving food- going to the store to purchase it, cooking it, and eating it. I spent hours in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes and forcing everyone in my house to try my new creations. I always thought food would be nothing more than a hobby of mine, as my career goal was to become a physician. After high school, I attended the University of Miami where I received a Bachelor of Science in biology. My plan was to take a year “off” after graduation to study for the MCAT and get a Master’s Degree. My journey took me back to New York, when I was accepted into New York University’s Master of Public Health program. Upon looking at the course catalog, I decided my public health focus would be nutrition. Food Science 101 and Food Management? Sign me up! After two weeks in the program, medical school was a distant memory and I was officially on the road to becoming a registered dietitian. I’ll never forget the call to my parents, “a what? What’s a dietitian? Can you even get a job doing that?” I ended up completing the didactic program in dietetics at New York University and returned to my alma mater to complete a Master of Public Health at the University of Miami and a Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition at Florida International University. Throughout my graduate studies and after I completed internship rotations in a hospital setting, a long term acute care facility, a residential eating disorder center, and my favorite of all- a nonprofit organization that provided services to underprivileged, pregnant women. Clinical and long term acute care? Interesting, but not my passion. I found myself so excited to go to work with my eating disorder patients and expectant mothers. Once I completed the dietetic internship, I decided to start a practice. After 5 years of being in practice and having seen many clients with different nutritional goals and needs, I decided to work in the fields which I’m most passionate about- prenatal nutrition and eating disorders. Who I work with Pregnant women who want to learn how to eat to grow a baby and feel great while doing so. I work with soon-to-be moms who: - want to feel good about their bodies (physically & mentally) during pregnancy - want to trust their bodies and feel confident that their food choices are supporting their growing baby - wants a realistic approach to eating well to grow her baby so she can go through pregnancy without having to obsess over food Men and women with eating disorders who want to heal their relationship with food. I work with eating disorder clients to: - face food fears - learn how to honor their bodies - find peace with food.​ Brittany Kohn MS, RD, CDN, LDN Brittany is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for food and health. She is dedicated to her clients and teaching them how to make smart food decisions and navigate the overwhelming number of food choices available today. Having started her career in fast-paced New York City and now living in Florida with her husband and their two energetic sons, Brittany understands the need for healthy food that is easily prepared and convenient. Brittany has a special interest in GI disorders as she manages her own Celiac Disease on a daily basis. Now being a mom to two toddlers, one of whom has a serious food allergy, she is determined to help make meal time easier for parents who have kids with complex eating situations or just picky eaters. Brittany earned her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan. She went on to complete a Master's program in Nutrition and Dietetics at New York University. Additionally, Brittany is a graduate of the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Dietetic Internship Program. During the internship, Brittany gained experience in weight management, pediatric and adolescent nutrition, cardiac health and diabetes management. Following her internship, Brittany worked in private practice as well as with the bariatric surgery patients at Weill-Cornell in New York City. Brittany Kohn is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and has contributed to online publications including Women's Health, Shape, Health and All You Magazine. Who I work with ​ Parents of children and adolescents who: - have food allergies and intolerances - are picky eaters and need help exploring new food options Men and women who: - have gastrointestinal issues and are looking to manage their symptoms with proper nutrition - have had bariatric surgery and need help modifying their diet and lifestyle Families who: - want to learn about healthy eating and meal planning - want to learn how to feed their families balanced meals - want to learn how to maintain a healthy lifestyle