Irene Markulik

Irene’s interest in nutrition began in high school, a time when she, as an athlete, started recognizing the impact of food on her changing body. During her teens and twenties, she experienced challenges with emotional eating, chronic dieting, negative self-talk, and weight cycling. Despite years of education, passing exams, completing internships, and working as a clinical dietitian, Irene’s personal struggles with food ultimately led her to step away from the field of dietetics for several years.

After having 3 kids and healing her own relationship with food and body through intuitive eating, her passion in the field of dietetics was re-ignited and she has since committed to helping others who are struggling with disordered eating, self-deprecating thoughts, shame and guilt with food, overall unhappiness in their body and those stuck in diet and wellness culture. Irene advocates for and provides an evidence based, weight-inclusive approach that prioritizes emotional and physical well-being over weight loss.

Irene's training in Medical Nutrition Therapy can support clients with a wide variety of conditions including diabetes/pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease as well as disease prevention and overall wellness. Her history and personal experience with diet and wellness culture drive Irene's additional passion for disordered eating/eating disorders, emotional eating, body image support, chronic dieting and overall body dissatisfaction.

Irene believes there is a huge gap in health care which on one hand stigmatizes people for their weight and on the other hand doesn't provide adequate or appropriate support for them. She feels as though every single person struggling with food, body image, and/or their health in general can heal and make peace without dieting, and live a much more fulfilling and empowered life with the right support and behavior change facilitation. Irene thoroughly enjoys guiding her patients through their complicated and deep rooted history in order to uncover what's keeping them stuck and help them find their own, individualized path to food freedom and body peace.

Irene graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from James Madison University and completed a Master’s Degree from Bowling Green State University.

Irene enjoys DIY projects around her home, crafting, pottery, laughing at her husbands dad jokes, spending time with her 3 kids and lounging with her 2 rescue dogs.

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