Hi, I’m Kat!
I’m a pediatric dietitian, an infant and toddler growth specialist, and a mom of two toddlers. After years in corporate healthcare, I became increasingly frustrated with the lack of resources and guidance available to parents of children with poor growth.
They didn’t need to be told to “just add butter and cream” or to fortify more formula. They needed someone who would actually take the time to figure out why their child was struggling so much with feeding and growth — especially when all the tests came back normal.
So I created the @failure.to.thrive.dietitian Instagram and my Time to Thrive Nutrition Program to fill that gap.
My Start & My Career
🎓 Virginia Tech Graduate
My training began at Virginia Tech, where I built a strong foundation in nutrition.
👶 First Job: Pediatric Specialty Clinic
I founded the nutrition department at a multi-specialty pediatric clinic and built it from the ground up. I worked closely with teams across GI, endocrinology, neurology, genetics, NICU follow-up, G-tube management, and feeding therapy — gaining deep experience in complex, medically fragile cases.
🏥 Second Job: Large Children’s Hospital
From there, I transitioned to a major children’s hospital where I primarily covered GI, cardiology, the PICU, and failure to thrive consults — sharpening my skills in both acute and chronic care.
🧠 Currently: Psychiatric Hospital (Part-Time)
Today, I continue clinical work part-time at a pediatric psychiatric hospital, supporting teens with severe eating disorders. This role reminds me daily that feeding challenges aren't just physical — they’re emotional, psychological, and deeply individual.
What Makes Me Different?
I get asked this question all the time by skeptical parents who feel like they’ve “tried everything.” They’ve worked with dietitians, collected every handout, and followed all the standard advice — so what could investing in my program possibly offer?
The simple answer? TIME.
What sets me apart from a typical clinic or community-based dietitian is the time and attention I’m able to give your family. You can’t truly help someone without knowing them — and you can’t get to know a toddler or their family in a 15-minute appointment every 3–6 months. Especially when their eating habits can change by the hour!
My program spans 4 months, which gives me the space to deeply understand your child’s feeding challenges, growth history, and family dynamics. And because we’re checking in often, we’re able to troubleshoot in the moment — not weeks later when things have spiraled or stalled.
“If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. If you teach him to fish, he eats for a lifetime.” – Lao Tzu
Handouts and high-calorie food suggestions can only take you so far. But learning how to confidently apply nutrition strategies to your child’s specific needs? That’s where the real change happens. That’s where the growth begins.
☕ I LOVE coffee — and I drink 100% decaf!
Switching to decaf significantly reduced my anxiety, and now I can tell within a few sips if a barista accidentally gives me the real thing. 😅
🌲 My favorite color is a deep, forest green.
💭 I’m a self-aware cycle breaker, and my #1 goal in parenting is to create a space where my kids feel physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually safe to be their full, authentic selves.
📐 Fun fact: I started college as an architecture major. Within the first month, I realized my brain was more analytical than artistic — by second semester, I’d switched to nutrition and exercise, and never looked back.
🐦 My latest hobby is backyard birding. I’ve been teaching my daughter the birds that visit our feeders, and it’s become one of my favorite ways to slow down and connect.
🍗 My favorite foods? Easy: fried chicken, wood-fired pizza, and brown butter chocolate chip cookies.
🫶🏻 I don’t share my political beliefs in this space because I want every family — from every background — to feel welcome here. I don’t care what color your skin is, who you love, or who you voted for. If your child needs support, you’re in the right place.