Metrowest Nutrition and Therapy

Alison Tonsmeire grew up in a suburb west of Boston.  She is a Certified Eating Disorder Dietitian through IAEDP and a Clinical Supervisor at Metrowest Nutrition and Therapy.  Prior to joining Metrowest Nutrition and Therapy full-time, she was Lead Dietitian at Walden Behavioral Care’s residential program. She has extensive experience at all levels of eating disorder care and worked regularly on Alcott, Walden’s inpatient eating disorder unit, with both adults and adolescents. 

Alison has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston University, providing her with a good understanding of not only eating disorders but also the process of behavior change necessary to make dietary alterations.  During college, she studied eating disorders intensely, working closely with one of her professors for two semesters of directed study. She believes that complete recovery from an eating disorder is possible by empowering the individual and instilling skills necessary to work through the recovery process. After completing her undergraduate degree, Alison went on to pursue a master’s degree in nutrition, also from Boston University, where she gained the understanding and skills necessary to ensure her patients receive adequate nutrition and to help support them as they establish a healthier relationship with food. 

While Alison finds working with clients who have eating disorders both enjoyable and rewarding, her passion for helping others is not limited to those living with eating disorders. Alison has experience working with younger children. Prior to pursuing a career in nutrition, Alison taught preschool for four years, the last three at Beacon Hill Nursery School. While teaching, Alison expanded her appreciation of the value of healthy eating by incorporating nutrition into lesson planning, introducing new foods, reinforcing beneficial habits and helping the children to flourish.

Alison works with clients of all ages and genders, or no gender. She operates with a Health at Every Size (HAES) lens and pulls from all different techniques and models, as she feels there is not only one way to do things. Alison knows that dietary change is complex, and knowledge is not the only factor involved to create change. She typically uses motivational interviewing to non-confrontationally explore any ambivalence as well as provides nutrition education and compassionate support and feedback to help the client reach their nutrition goals.

Specialties:

• Eating Disorders
• Pediatrics
• Picky Eating
• Intuitive Eating
• Health at Every Size (HAES)
• Women’s Health
• Body Image