Jerlyn Jones, MS, MPA, RDN, LD, CLT

Getting to know…..

Jerlyn Jones, MS, MPA, RDN, LD, CLT

Imagine being an intern and having the opportunity to interview an award-winning registered dietitian

nutritionist, media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, public speaker, media

personality, and nutrition consultant. Well Jackie Perez, a dietetic intern in the Individualized

Supervised-Practice Pathways (ISPP) Dietetic Internship Program at California State University, San

Bernardino was granted such a wish and provide thought provoking questions to the fabulous Jerlyn

Jones, MS, MPA, RDN, LD, CLT. Read on to learn more about Jerlyn’s journey that has resulted in her

successful business.

Jackie Perez: How can our diet and consumption affect our general physical and mental health, and what does it mean to eat mindfully?

Jerlyn Jones: Nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, as well as lean sources of protein that provide amino acids support a functioning immune system. Foods naturally rich in magnesium, folate, zinc, and B vitamins naturally boost your mood and lowers risk of developing depression symptoms. Eating mindfully is intentionally enjoying your food without judgement and paying attention to how food makes you feel. Eat when your hungry and stop when your satisfied not stuffed.  

JP:As a media dietitian and entrepreneur can you share the best parts of your job as well as a couple obstacles you have faced within the field of dietetics?

JJ: The best parts of my job is the freedom to say yes to opportunities I didn’t have when I was employed in a full-time position. I’m able to connect with communities, organizations, companies, and brands that align with my philosophy and values. Fortunately, I haven’t had many obstacles within the dietetics profession. I learned early on to say yes to every opportunity that came my way which led to other opportunities. I’m considered a second career dietitian which means I was determined to use the skills and tools I acquired from previous positions to help me thrive in this profession.

JP: Please share a specific opportunity that was the result of networking.

JJ: My position as a medical reviewer with Healthline Media was offered to me after a

Healthline Media employee saw I was connected on LinkedIn with a registered dietitian who was

an editor. One of the many reasons networking is so important.

JP: What did you do to promote your business and build clientele?

JJ: One strategy that helped promote my business and build clientele was hiring a talented web designer who knows SEO really well. Majority of my clients have found me online.

JP: Can you share a memorable moment with a patient/client that has had a lasting impact on you?

JJ: I work as an independent contractor at Good Samaritan Health Center, a nonprofit health center in metro Atlanta. A few times a month I see patients for nutrition counseling sessions. During the pandemic, a patient reached out to me and asked if I would change our monthly nutrition sessions to weekly nutrition sessions. Weekly nutrition sessions are not common in an outpatient setting. Nutrition goals cannot be reached within 7 days. I agreed to meet with her and we started weekly in-person sessions. I didn’t realize it then as I do now that our weekly nutrition sessions helped her attain and maintain her nutritional status. She’s living with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and depression. She slowly started to implement the simple strategies we talked about during our weekly sessions. Gradually, the severe lower back pain that woke her up at night significantly reduced after she started losing weight--about 15 lband counting. At one of our nutrition sessions, she was delighted to finally fit into one of her mother’s uniquely designed dresses she hadn’t tried on in a long time because it was too tight. Her waist got smaller. She started keeping track of her blood glucose levels through an app on her phone and within a few months she lowered her A1C. As her weight, blood glucose levels, and inches decreased—her self-confidence, energy levels, and nutrition knowledge increased. She’s one of my favorite people.

JP: What is the best/most relevant personal or professional tip you would give to an entry-level dietitian?

JJ: Separate your personal social media accounts from your professional social media accounts. Make sure the personal social media accounts are private. Employers, colleagues, and other professionals look at your social media account for different reasons. You don’t want a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pass you by because of unprofessionalism. Another tip is to become a member of your state-affiliated dietetic association and volunteer.

JP: What is the best piece of business advice you’ve been given?

JJ: Hire a business coach within two years of being an entrepreneur. My nutrition consultation practice thrived after I worked with Lesli Bitel, MBA, RDN, a registered dietitian and business coach. She helped me attract more clients, develop programs, and know my worth.

JP: If I was to look in your kitchen cupboards/freezer or fridge, what five items do you always

have on-hand? 

JJ: An assortment of beans (red kidney, black-eyed peas, garbanzo, white northern). Frozen

edamame I like to add to stir-fry, soups, and pasta dishes. Raw or unsalted nuts and seeds such

as cashews, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, and sunflower seeds. Cage-free eggs for veggie

omelets and tuna salad and frozen seafood like scallops and shrimp.

Jerlyn Jones, MS, MPA, RDN, LD, CLT, is a media personality, nutrition consultant, and the owner of the Lifestyle Dietitian LLC in Atlanta. Connect with her at thelifestyledietitian.com