Healthy Nest: An Evolution in Personalized Nutrition

It’s been 15 years since Robin Hutchinson launched Healthy Nest Nutrition (HNN), a private nutrition therapy practice in Denver. Robin’s vision of helping people eat better to feel better unfolded with a newly minted degree in holistic nutrition therapy. With all three kiddos happily in school, Robin worked hard from 8:30am to 2:30pm for years. Then, she’d dash to pick up the kids, run carpool and make dinner. Those were very busy years. We’ve been working towards an evolution in personalized nutrition ever since.

Food as Medicine

It took a minute to connect the dots and learn how to talk about food as medicine, but that became a cornerstone for the practice. There are a couple of other important guiding principles that have made Healthy Nest stand the test of time. Personalized nutrition is key. No one’s life is the same as their neighbor’s. Their body needs, schedules, likes and dislikes, etc. are different and that translates to different food needs. Also, meeting people where they are and nudging them toward more delicious homemade real food is key. The notion of food as fuel — and also honored for its cultural significance — acknowledging that we use food for many things, including celebrations. 

We’ve realized it’s not about making perfect food choices all the time, but rather more of the time, and being happy for the sweet and salty foods that are not perfect, but certainly feed us in other ways. Put these important factors together and it is a gentle way to create food changes that most people respond to beautifully.

A Shift in Focus

In the early years, the practice focus was geared toward women and health, weight loss + maintenance, digestive health and family nutrition. Fast forward to today, with a small team of dedicated food-obsessed nutrition researchers—still led by Robin—and all three kids in college or beyond, Healthy Nest is busy. And now, as Robin has grown and matured, so have her curiosities. No longer talking about picky eaters in the house, the emphasis has shifted slightly to what she currently struggles with. Middle age health and wellness, specifically menopausal weight loss and maintenance, are in sharp focus. The weight thing is STILL such an issue for LOTS of people, but we’re also focused on staying strong in mind and body and aging gracefully.

Weight Loss Evolved 

Using technology to help guide personalized nutrition priorities, getting help in the kitchen in many different forms, watching the body’s numbers—all kinds of numbers from exercise, to circulating glucose to tests like cholesterol panels, hormones and HbA1C—we get as precise with food as possible for the best possible outcomes. We don’t lose sight of the fact that food is supposed to be fun, delicious and easy. If we just looked at the numbers, we’d feel like robots. So, keeping the yum is part of our special sauce. We’ve gotten pretty good at figuring out a well-rounded approach that includes detailed plans for the omnivore, vegetarian and pescatarian. We continue to do weight loss in a big and positive way.

Testing

Many times, people come to us with stubborn weight loss, or wanting more energy, more focus and clarity, more memory, more sleep and less bloating. Changing foods can help with all of these things. Sometimes, food changes alone will help, but not solve the whole problem. Sometimes you need more info. That’s what testing is used for at Healthy Nest. There are fantastic evolved food sensitivity panels, detailed hormone panels, micronutrient tests, and comprehensive microbiome panels that we can use.

Vitamins + Supplementation

Also, there are bioavailable supplementation answers for hormone health and balance, gut bacteria reinoculation and support, micronutrient targeting, digestive assistance, and generally feeling good. We tend to suggest supplementation as an added work horse to be used in addition to food changes. 

So, in 15 year’s time, we’ve learned a lot and have adapted to Robin’s focus and clients’ needs. We’re still talking about weight loss and weight maintenance in a meaningful way. We’re also talking about other age-related issues, because SO many of them are impacted by diet in a positive and negative way. And we STILL believe that finding your best diet is a worthy life-long gift.

We LOVE solving your issues with food changes. Let us help you eat differently and toward your better health. Reach out for a complimentary consultation to see if Healthy Nest Nutrition is right for you.