Inspiring Conversations with Karina Nava

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Nava.

Hi Karina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My interest in nutrition began when I was in high school after my mom was diagnosed with stage four cancer. She received many rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, which lead her to lose a significant amount of weight. She experienced a lot of nausea and vomiting due to the medications she was taking and had low energy. It was devastating to see her health decline but it also motivated me to learn about the details of her treatment plan. Especially because several friends and family were recommending home remedies to treat her cancer. This sparked my curiosity and I began reading about nutrition for cancer patients online. Luckily for our family, we had the support and guidance from my aunt who is a doctor. I turned to her with a lot of questions and she helped me realize that the role of nutrition is complex but vital in treating cancer, among other health conditions. With the help of western medicine and my mom’s medical team, she was able to regain her strength and energy. I am happy to say that after 15 years since her diagnosis, my mom is thriving and is in good health.

When it came time to apply for colleges, my dad was the one who suggested looking into a career as a Registered Dietitian since I had a strong interest in health. What my family and I experienced was difficult. Although, this experience taught me how important nutrition can be for our bodies and that is why I view food from a different lens – it gives us nourishment, energy, and the ability to overcome serious chronic illnesses. Nowadays, it seems as if dieting has consumed our way of living – labeling food as good or bad, obsessively tracking our calories and scheduling cheat days. It is disheartening to see the magnitude of misconstrued nutrition information and that is why I feel passionate about using a non-diet approach when working with patients.

I received my bachelor’s degree in nutrition from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 2014 and completed the dietetic internship with Utah State University in 2016. I also received a master’s degree in Dietetic Administration with Utah State University. I began my career as a Registered Dietitian in 2016 working at a pediatric wellness center and educated families on nutrition. After that, I worked as a Cigna Health Coach for the employee wellness program at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, and most recently I worked at a community health center where I provided nutrition education to predominantly Spanish-speaking patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol.

In May of 2020, I launched my virtual private practice. With the rise of telehealth services, I felt like it was the perfect timing to start my own business. I offer one on one nutrition counseling sessions, group cooking classes, as well as workshops and speaking engagements. I use a non-diet and holistic approach to health by addressing the whole person- physically, mentally, and emotionally. I focus on evidence-based nutrition principles to teach my patients about healthy eating so that they can trust themselves around food and move away from chronic dieting and disordered eating patterns. My goal is to help patients learn how to nourish their body and not feel stressed around food.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have faced many challenges in my career, especially since starting my business. Although looking back, I can say that I’m really proud of how far I’ve come in just a short amount of time! Ever since my undergraduate studies, I dreamed of one day working in private practice. I was hesitant to start my business because I thought you needed years and years of experience but I quickly learned that is not the case.

A couple of months after launching my business, my husband and I became pregnant with our first baby. My son, Leo, is eight months old and the biggest challenge I am frequently faced with is managing motherhood and my private practice. Raising a baby and running a business is handwork! The beauty of private practice is that I am my own boss. However, owning a business means being in charge of the marketing, managing social media, answering calls and emails from potential new patients, managing finances, networking with other health care providers, other administrative work and, of course, nutrition – counseling patients virtually and hosting virtual cooking classes. I am a stay at home mom but also a working mom. There is a lot of behind the scenes work that is involved in running a business. I’m learning how to pull back from work to spend quality time with my family and how to be present when it comes time to working with patients and managing my private practice.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Karina Nava Nutrition?
Karina Nava Nutrition is a virtual private practice based in Southern California that specializes in intuitive eating, pediatric and family nutrition, as well as prenatal and postpartum nutrition. My mission is to prevent and treat disordered eating habits to improve quality of life and to promote an optimal healthy lifestyle. What sets me apart from other nutrition programs is my holistic and integrative approach. I focus on how to keep things simple when it comes to nutrition so that patients can find the joy in eating without dieting. I feel passionate about helping patients develop a peaceful relationship with food, mind and body. Aside from nutrition education, I review different factors like stress, sleep, exercise, lifestyle, etc. to better understand my patients’ eating behaviors. I recognize that each patient is different, which is why I work collaboratively with them and offer individualized treatment plans to meet their needs.

Besides working with individuals in a one on one setting, I also offer other services such as virtual cooking classes, virtual workshops and speaking engagements. I host virtual cooking classes via Zoom about every three months, and my goal with these classes is to inspire people to cook more at home and highlight the fact that healthy eating can be very tasty! Food brings people together and serves as a platform for creativity. What I enjoy the most about my cooking classes is taking the pressure off of dieting and teaching people about nutrition.

Sometimes the hardest part about navigating a healthy lifestyle is not knowing where to start, figuring out what to cook, and struggling to understand nutrition information. My hope is that patients who work with me feel empowered and confident in taking ownership of their well-being to improve their quality of life.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice for those who want to work in private practice is to just go for it! Don’t worry about making sure everything related to your business is perfect. I was hesitant to start my business because I felt like I needed to have a website, business cards, a network of referrals, and lots of followers on social media in order to be successful. What matters the most is simply getting started. The experience will come with time and you will learn as you go. Overall, I’ve learned that being a good clinician is more important than being a savvy entrepreneur. Providing high quality of care to patients and addressing their needs is key to having a thriving private practice. Word of mouth is one of the best forms of marketing. Patients who feel supported and cared for by you will tell their friends and family, which in turn can help your business grow.

Contact Info:

• Email: karina@karinanutrition.com
• Website: karinanutrition.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karina.nutrition/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Karina-Nava-Nutrition-100572178435937

Image Credits
Cj Reed