You are the expert of your body, and we will work together to find a sustainable nutrition plan that works for you!
Dena Don, MS, RDN, CDN's style
🎯 Direct 💙 Warm 🤝 CollaborativeWhy Dena Don, MS, RDN, CDN chose to be in the helping profession
I feel lucky that I knew I wanted to become a registered dietitian when I was just 16 years old. From early on, I understood how deeply eating in a way that truly nourishes your body can impact how you feel day to day. It is an honor to bring this knowledge into my work and support my patients as they learn to care for themselves through food. Nutrition is not one size fits all, and I love the creative challenge this field offers as I help patients find meals and snacks that fit their unique tastes, preferences, and lifestyles. It brings me real joy to show that there are many ways to eat well and still feel healthy and satisfied.
We live in a time when nutrition misinformation is everywhere, especially online and on social media, and it is easy to be pulled into the idea that restriction equals health. I chose to specialize in working with eating disorders and disordered eating because I wanted to offer a grounded, compassionate counterpoint to the black and white thinking and rigid food rules so many people struggle with. I find it incredibly fulfilling to talk through the real barriers to eating with my patients, whether emotional, practical, or belief based. Through education, curiosity, and new perspectives, my goal is to help patients rebuild trust with food and move toward a more peaceful, sustainable relationship with eating.
Dena Don, MS, RDN, CDN's approach
I believe in a balanced, flexible, and sustainable approach to nutrition. There are no fad diets or food shaming here, just thoughtful, realistic support that meets you where you are. We will work together to make nourishing your body feel approachable, enjoyable, and even fun, without asking you to give up the foods you love. My approach is non judgmental, collaborative, and evidence based, and I truly believe that you are the expert on your own body. Together, we will figure out how to fuel your body in a way that feels supportive, satisfying, and sustainable for you, drawing from Intuitive Eating principles and Motivational Interviewing techniques.
I specialize in working with patients navigating eating disorders and disordered eating, and this work is at the heart of my practice. I also support individuals managing concerns such as IBS, acid reflux, high cholesterol, and other nutrition related conditions, as well as those looking to build a stronger foundation around general nutrition and wellness goals. I am always happy to connect and talk through what support might look like for you. No matter what brings you in, I am committed to making sure we are also fostering a healthy, respectful relationship with food along the way.
What you can expect from sessions with Dena Don, MS, RDN, CDN
My style is collaborative, while also being direct and action oriented. I want you to leave each session feeling clear, supported, and confident about your next steps, with practical goals and takeaways you can actually use. We can work together on meal plans, grocery lists, or any other tools that help you feel more prepared to eat in a way you feel proud of. Everything we do is thoughtfully tailored to your lifestyle, preferences, and current needs, so it feels realistic and doable rather than overwhelming.
To help you stay fully present during our time together, you will receive a clear summary of what we discuss after each session, so there is no pressure to take notes or remember everything on the spot. This allows our sessions to feel focused and meaningful, without distractions. When appropriate, I am also very comfortable collaborating with other members of your treatment team and value a coordinated, supportive approach to care. My goal is for you to feel held, understood, and equipped with tools that support you both in and out of our work together.
Dena Don, MS, RDN, CDN's experience working with the Jewish community
During graduate school, I conducted a research project that highlighted a higher prevalence of disordered eating behaviors among Jewish women compared to the general population. While this finding was not entirely surprising to me, it deeply affirmed my desire to support members of the Jewish community who are struggling with their relationship with food. As a modern Orthodox Jewish woman myself, this work is both personal and meaningful. I am well versed in the laws of kashrut, the rhythms of Shabbat, and the many Jewish holidays, and I understand how these factors can shape eating patterns and attitudes toward food. This shared cultural and religious understanding allows me to connect with my Jewish patients in a way that feels natural, respectful, and deeply attuned to their lived experience.
Before starting my own practice, I worked as an in house dietitian within a therapy practice on the Upper East Side, where many of my patients were Jewish. Our work often included meal support at kosher restaurants and hands on grocery shopping for kosher foods, which allowed for practical, real world support. Prior to that, I worked at a group nutrition practice in Boro Park, where I gained extensive experience providing nutrition counseling to the Hasidic population. These roles strengthened my ability to thoughtfully adapt nutrition plans across a wide range of religious observance levels. I take pride in offering care that honors both nutritional needs and religious values, without asking patients to compromise either.
Dena Don, MS, RDN, CDN's Book Recommendation Zone
- Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
This book will help you reclaim what diet culture has stolen from your life and teach you how to trust your body! - How to Nourish Your Child Through an Eating Disorder: A Simple, Plate-by-Plate Approach to Rebuilding a Healthy Relationship with Food by Casey Crosbie and Wendy Sterling
A practical guide for caregivers looking to help a child with eating disorder recovery - Life Without Ed by Jenni Schaefer
The author compares her eating disorder (Ed) to a toxic boyfriend and shares strategies for how to break free from him
Dena Don, MS, RDN, CDN is facilitator of:
Approaches
Concerns
Languages spoken
EnglishAges
Children (6-12) Adolescents (13-18) Adults Elders (65+)People I work with
Men Women Individuals Families Couples GroupsPersonal religious affiliations
Modern OrthodoxJewish community experience
ExtensiveLicensed to work in
Connecticut, Florida, New York4 years in practice
Licenses
- Registered Dietitian by CDR 2021. License number 86172316
- Dietitian/Nutritionist by State of Connecticut 2024, 2025. License number 002495
- Dietetics-Nutrition by New York State Education Department Office of the Professions 2022-2027. License number 011004
- TLHT Dietitian/Nutritionist by Florida Health 2023. License number 011004-01
Degrees
- Masters of Science in Clinical Nutrition by New York University 2023
- Bachelor of Science in Dietetics by University of Maryland 2020
- Bachelor of Arts in Journalism by University of Maryland 2020
Certificates
- Certified Barre Instructor by American Barre Technique 2020
Trainings
- Dietetic Internship by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital 2020-2021
Average costs per session
$150 - $200
Payment Methods
- Insurance
- Sliding Scale
- Credit Card
Insurances
- Aetna
What people have to say about working with me:
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Working with Dena has changed my life. I have always struggled with my relationship with food, and it's finally getting better with Dena's help. She's incredibly knowledgeable, warm, and action-oriented. It's rare to work with a provider that is both an expert in their field and is genuinely approachable and supportive. She directs me to helpful tools and resources when applicable, & I feel the impact of our work beyond the session. She sends a follow-up after each visit with my goals for the week, which helps me stay on track. I'm finally feeling like a healthy relationship with food could be possible for me, and that's all because of my work with Dena. I am so grateful!
SM
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Dena is truly a wonderful dietitian. I worked with Dena in treatment for my eating disorder. Since working with Dena, I have achieved major milestones including but not limited to, trying almost all of my fear foods, avoiding sports injuries and eating regular meals and snacks consistently. Dena initially focuses on logging food through recovery record using the MyPlate model and eventually transitions patients to intuitive eating. Dena's caring, supportive and understanding nature helped reduce my anxiety associated with food and overall significantly improved my life.
FH
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I had the privilege of working with Dietitian Dena Don; her compassion, professionalism, and dedication are truly remarkable. With expertise and care, she helped my daughter create a tailored nutritional plan to overcome her eating challenges and guided us as parents in supporting her. Dena's personalized approach and unwavering support empowered my daughter to make significant progress on her journey to recovery. I'm immensely grateful for Dena's guidance and highly recommend her services to anyone seeking compassionate and adequate nutritional support.
AO
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Dena is amazing! She is very positive and sweet, and I have been doing so much better after I started to see her. She lets you talk about what's going on and helps work with you on any issues. She is extremely knowledgeable and understanding! She also has helped give me a sense of accountability with eating properly. I now am recognizing my hunger cues and incorporating foods in my day that I enjoy. She makes talking about nutrition fun. I would highly recommend her as a great dietician! She is always there to answer your questions as well as support you when you meet your goals or need more help.
SF
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I have known Dena for about 3 years when we worked in a private therapy practice together. I was a therapist and managing director there, and Dena was our in-house lead dietitian. I oversaw a number of projects that Dena worked on, and we collaborated on clinical cases together. Dena is a down to earth, empathetic, and bright dietitian that helps clients with challenges ranging from eating disorders to Hashimoto’s. She’s always wanting to learn more and serve her clients as best as possible, and she really did do that. Dena takes feedback extremely well and is a great team player and collaborator while always strongly advocating for her clients’ needs. I would highly recommend Dena to anyone I know!
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