Alex Shink
March 4, 2024

Elisa Bremner, MS RDN.

1. What's your practice focus and what kind of clients knock on your door ?

I'm a practical plant forward nutritionist. I help omnivores incorporate more plant based meals into their lives. I like to break down barriers to whole food plant based eating. After all, [almost] everyone needs more vegetables (and fiber!) in their day. I show my clients how quick, easy and delicious it can be. 
I have worked with busy parents & families, young adults with developmental disabilities and senior groups. It just takes one cooking session to win them over!

2. Tell us about yourself. 

I read The China Study when it first came out, so I've always known the health benefits of plant based diet. I did my MS at Teachers College, where I first became aware of the nutrition equity piece. As a Registered Dietitian, I've focused on vegetable and fruit consumption for over fifteen years. During covid, I began to learn more about the climate impacts of our food choice. Now I know: whole food plant based diets are a win-win, for people and planet! I had to share this with others.

3. Tell us the story of a patient who you are most proud of helping.

I'm proud of all the people who have been inspired by our work together. One client had been caught in a rut of buying a lot of prepared foods. When she did cook, it was always a meat-based meal. Learning basic knife skills and roasting vegetables opened her up to a more plant predominant lifestyle. Our most recent session was all vegan; she emailed me days later to say how much healthier she felt when she ate those meals. A few weeks later, she said she's using those recipes weekly!

4. What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a practitioner in private practice?

For me, it's sales. I'm way more carrot than stick. My goal is to help people make the world a better place for all of us. It's sometimes difficult to get people to slow down and think about how their diet choice impacts their personal health and the environment.
Knowing how much a plant based diet could be helping clients before they do is sometimes frustrating.

5. What are the top 3 tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a private practice today?\

These would be my pieces of advice:


  1. Combine your passion, skills and gifts with a practical solution.
  2. Keep your eyes open for the opportunities around you. Say yes to anything that fits in with your business' mission, as long as it can fit in your schedule.
  3. Find others who share or support your mission. Connecting with like-minded individuals helps with both motivation and opportunity.

6. Where can people find you?

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