Meet Our Team

the Philosophy

Our view of food

We have made it our mission to be the voice of balance in nutrition – helping you understand that you can feel at home in your body at the weight it was designed to be. You can love movement (hitting goals or moving for fun), love all food (especially chocolate!) and live your best life without food holding you back.

"If you don't love it, don't eat it. And if you love it, Savor it" ~ Evelyn Tribole

A little about us:

Christina Fitzgerald, MS RD CSSD CED-S Practice Owner

I began running…with my dad super young. First, I followed him on my bike, loving the muddiest paths in the forest. Then, I fell in line running behind him. Running felt like freedom! 

Grad school is when distance running really became my form of meditation in navigating my emotions and stress. It’s about this time that I also fell in love with racing. 

During my first marathon… I didn’t eat nearly enough to support the miles, lost my period and, not knowing this wasn’t normal, my body crashed hard.  A stress fracture followed.  

I pulled out of the marathon, rested for several months, learned how to nourish my body back to recovery, re-established my cycle and slowly began again with a fresh mindset. 

Today… as a wife and a mom to three boys and two dogs, I still love running when it feels good and I love resting equally as much, usually with a hot chocolate in hand!

I’m so happy you’re here! My name is Christina (she, her, hers), and I am a registered dietitian with expertise in eating disorders and sports nutrition. I got my Bachelor’s of Science in Nutrition from the University of Illinois and my Master’s of Science in Nutrition from the University of North Florida. 

My passion is helping individuals learn how to support their bodies thru great food without guilt, stress, or anxiety. 

My framework has allowed individuals just like you to support their life goals (running or otherwise!) while allowing them to love and respect their body. 

Specialties include:

  • Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge-eating Disorder, ARFID
  • Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
  • Failure to Thrive
  • Diabetes, type 1 and type 2
  • Intuitive Eating & Weight-inclusive care

Ages seen: pediatrics, adolescents, adults

Insurance accepted: Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Self Pay 

Main Phone Number:

224.360.0708

Email:

Mary Houser, MS RD

Mary focuses on… helping clients feel confident in their food choices. She wants to help you understand nutrition, achieve a truly healthy relationship with food and establish behaviors that you can mantain for the rest of your life. Her anti-diet apporach incorporates weight-inclusive care and Intuitive Eating principles. 

Outside of work… Mary is a wife and mom to two girls and a soft-coated wheaten terrier named Ada. She loves to travel with her family, run and eat dessert (anything coffee or chocolate flavored!). 

Mary’s passion is to empower individuals with tools to enjoy food without guilt and anxiety. Her personalized approach empowers a person to participate in joyful movement and love the they eat. 

Specialties include:

  • Food and Body Image
  • Intuitive Eating
  • Diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational
  • Prenatal & Postpartum Nutrition

Ages seen: adolescents & adults

Insurance accepted: Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO

Main Phone Number:

224.360.0708

Email:

Frankie O'Brien, MS RD CSSD

Frankie focuses on…helping clients navigate their relationship with food against diet culture and misinformation in the media. During her career, she has helped others find a healthy relationship with food so they can feel empowered to ditch diets and trust their bodies. Whether you are working on adding variety to your eating, are training for a race, or want to learn how to trust your body, Frankie would love to support you! 

In her free time… Frankie loves to run, hike, and spend as much time outside as Chicago will allow! She enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and is always looking for a new book!

Frankie strives to inspire others to joyfully nourish their bodies in a non-judgmental way. 

She understands there is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition and that it is possible to find simplicity and joy in fueling your body! 

Specialties include:

  • Anorexia, Bulimia
  • Binge-eating Disorder
  • Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
  • Sports Nutrition
  • Celiac, Gluten-Free Eating

Ages seen: 18+ years old

Insurance accepted: Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO

Main Phone Number:

224.360.0708

Email:

Jill Merkel, MS RD CSSD

Jill focuses on… practicing from a weight-neutral, inclusive perspective, which means she believes all bodies are good and everyone deserves respect, care, and acceptance. You are the expert of you. Jill supports you in figuring out what feels best for you, in your body. Her anti-diet nutrition approach incorporates Intuitive Eating principles, weight-inclusive care and focuses on health-promoting behaviors.

Outside of work…Jill is a mom to a mini schnoodle named Stella. She enjoys running, reading, traveling and photography. Jill has a goal to run a race in every state and is over halfway there! Jill’s favorite ice cream flavor is Ben & Jerry’s “The Tonight Dough.” 

Hello, I’m Jill Merkel (she, her, hers) and I am a Registered Dietitian, Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor.

I got my undergrad degree in nutrition from the University of Southern Indiana. I completed my master’s degree and dietetics internship at the University of Utah. I have worked in a variety of settings including collegiate athletics, professional sports, private nutrition and athletic performance, and private practice.

Specialties include:

  • Anorexia, Bulimia, Orthorexia, OSFED
  • Endurance Athletes (runners/triathletes)
  • RED-S (athletes struggling with underfeeding
  • Food & Body Image
  • Intuitive Eating

Ages seen: adolescents & adults

Insurance accepted: Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO (pending), Self Pay

Main Phone Number:

224.360.0708

Email:

KeyVion Miller, RD/LDN

Office Manager

you deserve
food freedom