Meet Jerlyn Jones | Owner of the Lifestyle Dietitian LLC and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jerlyn Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jerlyn, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’m not your typical small business owner. I didn’t have a business plan, a market analysis report, or 3-6 months of savings in the bank. I had a strong desire to start my own business in the health and wellness industry 3 years before I launched my nutrition private practice. I know it was God’s plan for me to be self-employed no matter the risks or obstacles. There are less than 3% of Black registered dietitian nutritionists in the United States and a much lower percentage are entrepreneurs. I knew I would make a much bigger impact in this field owning my own business and utilizing my skills and talents. I obtained information and advice from successful Black nutrition entrepreneurs who inspired me to take a chance on myself. I knew I was ready to make that move when my former supervisor at a nonprofit health center told me my full-time position was being dissolved after 5 years. They couldn’t afford my salary or benefits package. It was a sign from God. My mind and soul were at peace. My last day at the nonprofit health center was December 31, 2017. My nutrition private practice, The Lifestyle Dietitian LLC, launched on January 1, 2018. I haven’t looked back.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Lifestyle Dietitian LLC is a black-owned, female-owned nutrition private consulting practice based in Atlanta, GA. I started this practice on my Iphone 7. Yes, an Iphone. I didn’t have a website, a list of clients, or outside funding. I relied on my faith in God to give me what I needed. It wasn’t easy, especially without a day-to-day plan but the freedom of creating my own schedule, and content, and building my brand was thrilling and fun! Fortunately, my former employer, the non-profit health center offered me an independent contractor position which helped me pay my bills. Soon after, I was offered another contracted position with the Fulton-Dekalb Hospital Authority to host grocery store tours. One of the reasons the opportunities continued to flow was my relationships with people in the healthcare industry. I was told early in life never to burn bridges which has helped me connect to people who can hire me. This lesson has served me well. The Lifestyle Dietitian LLC has expanded and flourished over the past year and hired a part-time registered dietitian nutritionist. We assist adults with inflammatory health conditions along with disease prevention and chronic illness such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Each day is a new adventure; writing a nutrition-related article, speaking to a reporter, reviewing a medical article, counseling several clients, mentoring a nutrition student, or preparing for a speaking engagement. Reflecting back, losing my full-time position was the best thing that could have happened to me. I’ve learned how to pivot and navigate being a boss through difficult times. I’ve gained confidence, learned how to be humble, and thank God for how far I’ve come.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would explore the Atlanta Beltline, a 22-mile multi-use loop trail that connects, parks, neighborhoods, restaurants, green spaces, and retail shops. I enjoy walking along the Eastside Beltline Trail 1-2 times a week for exercise. Walking isn’t the only mode of transportation. You can run, roller skate, ride a bicycle, or an e-scooter. It’s a great place to people watch, partake in a free yoga class, or skateboard at the skate park. The Chattahoochee Food Works opened a year ago in the heart of Altanta’s Upper Westside. The food hall represents American and International cuisine in a historic industrial cool-looking space. I highly recommend empanadas from Belan de la Cruz. Delicious! Another fun place to hang out in downtown Atlanta is Centennial Olympic Park. This 22-acre park was built during the 1996 Summer Olympics. This urban oasis is surrounded by plenty of  exciting attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and my favorite the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shout out to God, of course, and my twin sister, Dr. Jeanine Moss. Jeanine deserves a lot of credit for my entrepreneurial journey. She is a podiatrist who owned and operated a successful podiatry practice for nearly 10 years. I’m inspired by her success and failures while navigating being a wife and mother of 2 daughters. She has supported me emotionally and mentally. I can always count on her to lift me up when I’m not feeling my best. She’s my biggest cheerleader! I’ve also surrounded myself with 3 smart and positive self-employed female registered dietitian nutritionists who are doing incredible work in this profession. The support system I can turn to for practical and emotional support. This group has done wonders for my mental health.

Website: www.thelifestyledietitian.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelifestyledietitian_/

Linkedin: https://wwww.linkedin.com/in/JerlynJones

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jerlynnutrition

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifestyledietitian/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvbACTd3BJS7bpAF7X8c8A?view_as=subscriber

Image Credits
Demetrius Williams