About Melanee
The Nervous System Behind the Nutrition
You Cannot Heal a Body You are Constantly Trying to Fix.
Hi, I’m Melanee. I am a functional nutritionist (CNS), a somatic practitioner, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS).
But before all of those titles, I was a woman exhausted by working against herself.
For years, the wellness world has told us that if we just had more discipline—a stricter diet, a harder workout, a more rigid protocol—we would finally feel “healthy.”
I believe the opposite is true. I believe that sustainable health isn’t built on force; it’s built on safety.
My work exists at the intersection of clinical science, social justice, and nervous system regulation. I help women stop forcing their physiology to comply and start building the capacity to actually inhabit their lives.
Why “Embodied Core”?
I started my education to fix myself since I knew something was wrong, but found no answers anywhere I turned. I thought if I could just find the “perfect” diet, I would finally be okay.
But by the time I graduated, I wasn’t “fixed”—I was depleted.
I spent years trying to white-knuckle my way through hardcore functional protocols, ignoring my body’s signals in favor of “the data.” Instead of getting better, I got worse—especially mentally. And I saw the exact same pattern in my clients.
Women were coming to me burnt out, living in a chronic state of survival, and shaming themselves for not being able to “stick to the plan.” The more they pushed, the further they got from healing.
I realized that what was missing wasn’t another supplement or a better meal plan. What was missing was embodiment.
We belong to a generation of women who were taught we could “have it all”—the career, the family, the perfect life—but we were never taught how to slow down. We were taught that our emotions were irrational and that our bodies couldn’t be trusted. So we stomped down our intuition and outsourced our safety to experts, diets, and rules.
That internal disconnect creates distress. And distress creates disease.
I created Embodied Core Nutrition to restore that trust. I became an Intuitive Eating Counselor and a Somatic Practitioner to bridge the gap between functional science and human intuition. Because you cannot digest your food or balance your hormones if you are constantly overriding your own reality.
Safe Certified Care
While my philosophy is rooted in intuition, my practice is grounded in rigorous clinical training. In a world full of influencers, I believe safety and scope of practice matter.
CNS® (Certified Nutrition Specialist):
The gold standard for advanced nutrition professionals (ANA).
CEDS (Certified Eating Disorder Specialist):
Advanced specialization in the treatment of eating disorders.
LDN & CD:
Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (Maryland) and Certified Dietitian (Utah).
Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor:
Trained to help you heal your relationship with food.
Trauma-Informed & Somatic Training:
500-hour certified yoga instructor with specialized training in nervous system regulation.
Come as you are.
You don’t need to be “fixed” before you start. You need a safe place to land.
Whether you are ready for deep clinical partnership or just need a community that understands, there is a seat for you here.
Wellness Should Not Be a Privilege
Most “wellness” spaces are exclusive. They are designed for bodies with the “right” look and bank accounts with the “right” resources. They sell expensive, unattainable ideals that leave most women feeling like failures.
That is not okay.
At Embodied Core, we are building something different.
We are Anti-Elitist:
We create spaces where women can learn to regulate within their actual real lives, with their actual real resources.
We are Weight-Inclusive
We reject the idea that your body size is a diagnosis.
We are Capacity-First
We don’t ask you to do more than your nervous system can handle.
Core Values & Guiding Beliefs
Radical Belonging
You Do Not Have to Shrink to Fit In We reject the idea that you need to change your body to deserve care. We create a sanctuary where your lived experience is honored and your reality is believed. Here, you are not a set of symptoms to be fixed, but a whole person who deserves to be seen, heard, and welcomed exactly as you are.
Integrated Clinical Expertise
Bridging Science & Safety We do not ask you to choose between hard science and deep healing. We combine the rigor of Medical Nutrition Therapy (labs, functional testing, and clinical protocols) with the safety of Trauma-Informed Care. By integrating data with nervous system regulation, we provide a complete picture of health that addresses both your biology and your humanity.
Dignity & Liberation
Reclaiming Your Body Story: True health cannot exist without autonomy. We are here to help you liberate yourself from the cycles of gaslighting, diet culture, and body shame. We treat you with the utmost dignity, empowering you to move from a place of “fighting” your body to a place of sovereignty and freedom.
Sustainable Restoration
Healing at the Speed of Safety. We don’t do quick fixes or crash diets that destabilize your system. We focus on restoration—helping your body remember how to function with ease. We respect your capacity and pace our work to match what your nervous system can handle, ensuring that the changes you make are deep, lasting, and truly supportive of your life.
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FAQs
What if I don’t live near Bountiful, UT?
Yes, you can work with me remotely through secure telehealth in many states outside of Utah. While my physical practice is based in Bountiful, Utah, virtual nutrition counseling allows us to collaborate across state lines.
Because state licensure laws for nutrition practitioners vary across the country:
- Utah Residents: Fully eligible for in-person or virtual telehealth appointments.
- Out-of-State Clients: Telehealth availability depends on your state’s specific professional licensing regulations.
- Next Step: Schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation to confirm whether clinical services are permitted in your home state.
If I don’t have recent blood work should I see my doctor before meeting with you?
No, you do not need to get blood work done before our first session; in fact, it is often better to meet first. During our comprehensive intake, we evaluate your health history, current symptoms, and metabolic patterns to determine exactly which laboratory markers are needed.
- Physician Collaboration: I coordinate directly with your primary care provider to request specific standard lab work on your behalf, saving you guesswork and unnecessary appointments.
- Standard Lab Review Included: Comprehensive analysis of standard blood work and medical coordination are included in your care at no extra charge.
- Functional Lab Options: If standard tests appear “normal” despite lingering symptoms, advanced functional testing (such as comprehensive stool analysis or hormone panels) can be ordered and reviewed together.
What ages do you see?
I specialize in working with adult women between the ages of 18 and 65. This focus ensures dedicated care tailored to the specific hormonal transitions, metabolic shifts, and nervous system demands women experience across these life stages.
- Primary Focus: Women ages 18 to 65 seeking root-cause functional nutrition and eating disorder recovery.
- Adolescents: Select teenagers are accepted on an individualized, case-by-case basis depending on clinical needs and family support.
- Out of Scope: My practice does not provide pediatric nutrition or geriatric care.
Do you take insurance?
Yes, I accept Blue Cross Blue Shield for Medical Nutrition Therapy clients residing in Utah. For clients using other insurance carriers or residing outside of Utah, self-pay and out-of-network options are available.
- In-Network Insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield accepted for qualifying clinical nutrition visits in Utah.
- HSA & FSA Cards: Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts are accepted for eligible clinical services.
- Superbills for Out-of-Network Reimbursement: An itemized medical receipt (superbill) with diagnostic and procedural codes can be provided for you to submit to your insurer for potential reimbursement.
- Benefit Verification: Because coverage for Medical Nutrition Therapy varies by specific policy, clients are encouraged to call the member services number on their insurance card prior to booking.