We are thrilled to offer nutritional counseling at Midwest Counseling & Diagnostics!
Umamah Fatima, RD, LDN, CEDRD-S and Hannah Gruenewald, RD, LDN are highly
experienced dietitians who provide medical nutrition therapy for eating, mood and anxiety
disorders. They both also counsel those recovering from addictions and work with people who
have medical issues that require particular attention to nutrition. Having such amazing dietitians
enriches our perspective and helps us become an even more well-rounded group. Learn more
about them below.
What do you love about being a dietitian?
Umamah: I really enjoy being able to help people rebuild their relationship with food. I think our
society really vilifies food and helping people see that food is not the enemy is something I
greatly value and cherish.
Hannah: I love that my job is to chat with people about how they want to take care of
themselves. If we’re lucky, most of us have had 1 or 2 home economics classes when we were
younger, so for many of us eating just really isn’t something we talk about much as a culture. I
get to help people figure out how they want to eat – on their own terms and in a way that’s
realistic for them.
How do you build rapport with your clients?
Hannah: I start every session with a dad joke. Just kidding! I think lightheartedness and laughter
are the best ways to connect with people, and even more important when we’re working together
on really tough things. Recovery doesn’t have to be serious and painful all the time. There will be
tough moments, sure, and there will also be really amazing moments when you feel the full
impact of connection or healing. No power dynamics in these sessions, just two humans going
through the human experience together.
Umamah: In the age of fad-diets, it can be hard to find a healthcare professional that does not
constantly recommend quick fixes for weight loss. I am very honest with my clients and inform
my clients that I follow a HAES aligned/anti-diet approach. I work on getting to know how their
relationship with food has developed and help them improve it.
You are going to a potluck. What is your go-to potluck dish?
Umamah: My go-to potluck dish is Penne Rosa and ALWAYS lots of dessert, including eclairs
cake, oatmeal walnut chocolate chip cookies and/or brownies.
Hannah: I recently had a cannoli dip that knocked my socks off. The simplicity of a dip… The
richness of the cannoli filling… The memory of our cannoli desserts at my wedding… Pure bliss!
Hannah and Umamah offer one-on one nutritional counseling for adolescents and adults.
To learn more or set up an appointment, you can directly contact Hannah at
Hannahg@midwestcounseling.com or Umamah at Umamah@midwestcounseling.com
