Approachable Nutrition Counseling

Meet Melanie

Melanie Lehman, RD, LDN

Practice Owner

A bit more about me…

My journey began at the University of New Hampshire, where I laid the foundation for my career in nutrition. Following my studies, I embarked on a challenging, yet rewarding experience at Massachusetts General Hospital, completing my dietetic internship. Once I became a dietitian, I discovered my calling while working at a residential/partial hospitalization treatment center. There, I cultivated a deep passion for supporting individuals on their journey to achieving a peaceful relationship with food in all of the levels of care. With a strong desire to make a longer term impact on clients, I transitioned to a private practice - outpatient setting in 2018, where I provided personalized nutrition therapy to clients seeking healing/change.

Now, as the proud owner of Lehman Nutrition LLC, I continue to pursue my passion as a non-diet dietitian. My counseling style is casual, yet direct with a side of humor! My favorite food is a cheeseburger and you can find me reading a good "romantasy" book, doing yoga (the slow, stretchy, yin kind), cooking food for my family and friends, or enjoying a snickerdoodle (or any cinnamon based) iced coffee!

I am a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as well as MEDA (Multiservice Eating Disorder Association).

When my young nieces and nephews ask me what I do, my response is simple, “I help people eat”. Such a basic response for a wildly complex way I use my passion for all things food, to support people struggling with their relationships to both food and body. To the adults in my life I say, “I’m an eating disorder dietitian” as a way to point out I take a non-diet approach, which is in direct contrast to what most people think of when they hear that I am a Registered Dietitian.

I support clients with diagnosed eating disorders, as well as clients who have disordered eating patterns and behaviors at all varying degrees, as well as those who struggle with intrusive thoughts about body image/weight. Having lived experience of an autoimmune disease, I also create a safe space for clients to receive support/navigate the way such diseases impact eating and taking care of self.

In this diet culture filled world we live in, it can be exhausting to figure out how to eat best for you and your individual mind/body. My aim is to guide my clients through use of evidenced based nutrition education, nutrition therapy, and “meet you where you are at” mentality.

Ali’s passion for becoming a registered dietitian began with a desire to help make nutrition feel less confusing and overwhelming. There is so much noise around food, exercise, and health, and she knows how easy it is to get stuck in cycles of guilt, restriction, and feeling disconnected from your body.

Having experienced some of those struggles herself, she also understands the sense of freedom that can come from healing your relationship with food and movement. That perspective has shaped the compassionate, nonjudgmental approach she brings to her work with clients.

As an anti-diet, weight-inclusive dietitian, Ali’s goal is to help people build a more peaceful and sustainable relationship with food, movement, and their bodies. She loves helping clients figure out what they genuinely enjoy eating, what kinds of movement feels good, and how to build habits that support their well-being.

She truly believes that when we stop fighting our bodies and start caring for them with compassion, it creates space for more joy, connection, and fulfillment in everyday life. Being able to support people in that process is what makes this work so meaningful to her.

A bit more about Ali…

Ali studied dietetics at the University of Connecticut where she spent multiple years counseling students struggling with disordered eating/eating disorders in health services. She also has experience working in the private practice outpatient setting.

When Ali is not with her clients, some of her favorite things are spending time outdoors, being at the beach (Cape Cod is her happy place), running (she just ran her fourth half marathon), hiking, and playing with her family’s golden retriever Hadley. She also loves hosting friends for dinner and slow mornings spent reading a good book while sipping on an iced coffee!

Ali is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Meet Ali

Ali David, RDN, CDN

Registered Dietitian

Services

1:1 Nutrition Counseling

1:1 nutrition counseling  provides personalized and evidence-based guidance to support clients in establishing a healthy relationship to food and body. Through a tailored approach, we help clients navigate food challenges, address fears and anxieties related to eating/body, and develop sustainable strategies for maintaining nutritional and mental well-being. By fostering a supportive and non-judgmental environment, we empower our clients to make gradual but meaningful changes towards a fulfilling relationship to food and body.

1:1 Meal Support/Exposures

Meal support/exposures are a critical component of eating disorder/disordered eating treatment where individuals are gradually exposed to fear foods or eating situations. This structured approach aims to challenge and modify disordered behaviors and beliefs. By facing fears related to food/eating, individuals can heal their relationship to those foods and the eating experience as a whole. It is important for these exposures to be guided by healthcare professionals with expertise in eating disorders to ensure safety and effectiveness in the recovery process.

Cooking/Grocery Shopping Experientials

Cooking sessions are designed to assist the client in navigating and building confidence in the kitchen.  We offer cooking basics through demonstration or guidance in the client’s own cooking space (kitchen, dorm room, work etc.).  We aim to foster a realistic approach to building on the client’s baseline skill set to better meet their needs.

Grocery shopping/meal planning and preparation can present unique challenges for anyone. We assist in managing the logistics around grocery shopping and meal planning/prep, as well as providing guidance on ways to reduce overwhelm/cope with this sometimes daunting experience.

Insurance/Payment Details

We are currently in network with BCBS.

We also offer superbills for insurance reimbursement for clients who choose to private pay.

Please email Info@lehmannutrition.com for rate details.

Follow Melanie/Lehman Nutrition on Instagram - @Lehmannutritionllc

Social

Testimonials

  • “I heavily credit Melanie for getting me to the point of successful ED recovery, which until I started to work with her, I did not believe I could ever reach. My biggest obstacle in pursuing ED treatment was my fear of having to give up my control to a professional. Melanie eased this fear with her ability to to balance being gentle and firm with my care. I quickly trusted Melanie because of her ability to connect with me on a personal level while also reinforcing our work with science.” - ZL

  • "I truly do not know where we would be if we had not found Melanie. My teenage daughter had been battling anorexia for 6 months when we started with Melanie and she had not connected with ANY therapist and we were at a roadblock. I was not in favor of my daughter seeing a RD because I WAS a RD. I did not feel we needed to add a dietitian to the mix because I understood the general nutritional components. Little did I know that adding Melanie to our “team” was the true beginning of my daughters recovery...

  • Continued: Melanie has the ability to relate so well to her clients that they in turn, trust her. The trust that Melanie builds with her clients allows her to be firm - which is VERY needed in ED treatment. Melanie has done a tremendous job leading our entire ED team and coordinating all the needs of my teen. And most importantly, Melanie is very aware when we hit an area that is not in her “scope of practice” and she a true team player when she utilizes all members of the treatment team. I can not say enough positive praises for Melanie as not only a fabulous clinician but a 5 star human being.” - LC

  • "Melanie is the most caring and informative nutritionist. I went from eating the exact same thing for every meal to understanding intuitive eating, and being able to now practice it. I highly recommend working with Melanie!" - SP

  • "I first met Melanie in 2020, during one of the darkest periods of my life. She saw me when I was at my lowest mentally. For the first few months, it was like pulling teeth just to get me to open up, but Melanie never wavered. She stayed patient, persistent, and never gave up on me. Over the past four years, she's done more than teach me that it's okay to eat—she's shown me that food is meant to be enjoyed, even celebrated. Her impact goes far beyond that. Melanie didn’t just help me reclaim my life; she transformed it. Because of her, I’m no longer in constant battle with the eating disorder in my head. I’ve learned how to face it, talk about it, and finally, make it quiet." - AC