Dara Ledwitz, RDN

Personality:
Dara’s clients often describe her as warm, approachable, and deeply empathetic. She has a gift for making nutrition conversations feel collaborative and supportive rather than prescriptive. Her goal is to create a space where clients feel truly heard, understood, and empowered to make sustainable changes that align with their personal values and lifestyles.

Background:
Dara is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with extensive experience in private practice settings. She has developed a unique specialty in bridging the gap between functional nutrition and disordered eating—helping clients address root causes and optimize health while maintaining a food-positive, non-restrictive approach. Her work is rooted in an anti-diet philosophy and guided by a trauma-informed lens, ensuring that care is not only effective but also compassionate and safe for clients with complex histories.

Specialties:
Functional Nutrition, Hormonal Health (including PCOS, endometriosis, and all stages of menopause), Gastrointestinal Disorders (IBS, IBD, GERD, bloating), Disordered Eating & Eating Disorder Recovery, Chronic & Autoimmune Conditions, Anti-Diet & Intuitive Eating, Food Allergies, Metabolic Support, and General Wellness.

Counseling Philosophy:
Dara believes that nutrition is never one-size-fits-all. Her sessions take a whole-person approach, considering not just diet but also sleep, stress, movement, and emotional well-being. She emphasizes a food-positive, non-restrictive philosophy—encouraging clients to focus on what they can add to their plate rather than what they “should” take away. She blends evidence-based medical nutrition therapy with functional strategies to address root causes and support lasting health.

Affiliations:
Dara is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine (DIFM). She is also a 200-hour certified yoga instructor.

Personal Interests:
Outside of work, Dara enjoys cooking, exploring new restaurants, and experimenting with seasonal recipes. She loves spending time at the beach in her hometown of Long Branch, NJ, practicing yoga, and connecting with friends and family—especially over a delicious meal.