At Eat for Life, I don’t offer quick fixes. I help you understand what’s really happening inside your body so you can make lasting changes that support your energy, focus, mood, and overall health. My name is Samantha, and I’m a functional nutritionist and nutrition counselor who has worked with clients across all ages, from kids with ADHD to adults managing anxiety, digestion problems, and burnout.
I began my practice in California, and now I offer virtual nutrition counseling based in North Carolina. Whether you live nearby or across the country, you can work with me to understand your unique health patterns and take simple, consistent steps to feel better.
What Is Functional Nutrition?
Functional nutrition is an approach that examines how your body’s systems work together. It’s not about counting calories or cutting out food groups for no reason. It’s about understanding how your digestion, brain chemistry, and nutrient levels influence your daily life.
Many of my clients struggle with symptoms like:
- Constant fatigue
- Brain fog and forgetfulness
- Mood swings or irritability
- Poor focus and restlessness in children
- Gut discomfort like bloating or constipation
- Difficulty managing anxiety or obsessive thoughts
Instead of masking these issues or labeling them as “just stress,” I dig deeper. As your nutrition counselor, I assess nutrient imbalances, such as zinc deficiency, copper toxicity, or gut inflammation. We also explore if you’re dealing with methylation imbalances like undermethylation or overmethylation, which are common in people with mental health or focus challenges.
From California to North Carolina: My Path as a Functional Nutrition Counselor
When I started practicing in California, I noticed a common pattern in my clients, most had tried everything else first. They’d worked with therapists, doctors, and diet programs, but nothing really stuck. That’s because none of those methods addressed the real issue: nutrient imbalances.
After years of counseling, research, and continuing education, I refined a process that helps people feel seen and supported while also providing real answers. Now based in Seven Lakes, North Carolina, I work with people locally and nationally through telehealth.
Virtual counseling has allowed me to support families from Raleigh to San Diego, and everywhere in between. Whether you’re a busy parent, a college student, or someone who feels stuck in their health, I’ll meet you where you are.
My Approach to Nutrition Counseling
When you work with me, the first step is understanding you. I offer a detailed intake that helps me identify where imbalances may exist. Then we work together to adjust food choices, supplements (if needed), and daily habits that support your goals.
Here’s what makes this different from traditional approaches:
- No generic meal plans – I don’t simply hand you a generic plan and send you on your way. Every protocol is personally crafted by me to match your body’s unique needs. I never rely on automated systems that generate one-size-fits-all solutions.
- No dieting language – I never label foods as “bad” or encourage shame around eating.
- Focus on root causes – We dig into why symptoms are showing up, not just how to cover them up.
- Support for the whole family – I work with children, teens, and adults.
As a functional nutritionist, I specialize in complex cases that often involve multiple systems. Many of my clients deal with both emotional and physical challenges, such as:
- OCD or anxiety disorders
- ADHD and learning difficulties
- Eating disorders or disordered eating patterns
- Sensory sensitivities or food aversions in children
- Autism spectrum-related nutrition needs
- Digestive disorders and gut inflammation
My goal is to give you practical tools to manage symptoms while supporting long-term healing.
Nutrition Tools You Can Use at Home: My New Cookbook Store
To help clients stay consistent at home, I created a new cookbook section on my website. These books are designed to work with my nutrition counseling programs, but they’re also helpful on their own.
Each cookbook was written with specific nutrient needs in mind. For example:
- My Low Folate Cookbook is helpful for clients dealing with undermethylation.
- My zinc and copper balancing guides help improve mood, manage irritability, sluggish thinking, menstrual cycle imbalances, and energy crashes.
- Other guides focus on gut-friendly meals that reduce inflammation and improve digestion.
These cookbooks are not restrictive or trendy. They offer simple, balanced meals that match the way your body works. If you’ve ever left a counseling session and wondered what do I actually cook now?, these books were made for you.
You can browse the new store and learn more here: eatfor.life.
Helping Children and Families with Nutrition Support
Some of my favorite work is with kids. Being a child nutritionist, I’ve helped families who feel overwhelmed by tantrums, trouble focusing, picky eating, and meltdowns. Often, parents are told their child just needs better discipline or more structure. But when we look at what’s really happening inside the child’s body, we often find clear imbalances that explain the behavior.
Whether it’s low zinc, high copper, low serotonin and dopamine, or gut issues, we can often make huge improvements in behavior just by adjusting nutrition. My process includes:
- Simple, child-friendly assessments
- Clear recommendations without medical jargon
- Honest feedback on supplements, foods, and routines
- Compassion for parents who are trying their best
I also offer support for teens struggling with eating disorders, anxiety, or depression. Nutrition is not a cure-all, but it does play a large role in how kids and teens feel day to day.
Why Functional Nutrition Counseling Is Worth It
Many people feel lost after trying diet programs, blood work, or prescription medications that don’t improve symptoms. If you’ve been searching for real answers, functional nutrition offers a different path.
It gives you:
- A clear picture of what your body needs
- A plan that fits your schedule and lifestyle
- A professional guide who walks with you—not ahead of you
My goal is to help you feel confident in your food choices, consistent in your routine, and supported no matter where you live.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re ready to understand your body and make practical changes, I’d love to work with you. You don’t have to figure this out alone. Whether you’re struggling with focus, digestion, anxiety, or low energy, functional nutrition can help.
Visit eatfor.life to schedule a free consultation or explore my new cookbooks that support your progress at home. I offer virtual services across North Carolina and the entire United States.
