Meet Abby Jellinek-Johnson | Founder & Registered Dietitian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abby Jellinek-Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abby, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The tagline for Harmony Nutrition is “a body in harmony performs at its best”. That pretty much summarizes my mission. I sincerely believe that food is medicine and I live and breathe by that philosophy. I knew people were looking for healthcare professionals that would take the time to listen to them and help them to come up with lifestyle plans that don’t automatically include prescription medications. We take a preventative approach to chronic disease by looking for nutritional root causes for many of the issues our patients are suffering from. I wanted to provide a place that people can come to and be heard. So I came up with Harmony Nutrition and the rest is history.  In 2020 – much like many other people, I was looking to reinvent myself professionally so I actually started a new venture called Harmony Wellness Partners with a great business partner and fellow dietitian, Leslie Mack.   We are currently working with local businesses and fitness studios to provide quality nutrition and wellness programming.  This was just another way for me to share my passion for healthy living with a wider audience.  I love growth.  I love learning.  I love this journey.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
There are a lot of great dietitians in the world. I believe what sets us apart is the functional and integrative approach we take to health. Nutrition is a field of science. So as the science evolves, so must we. Exploring things like food sensitivities using mediator release testing (MRT) and micronutrient testing when necessary allows us to go beyond common nutrition therapy approaches by looking for the root cause of nutrition related issues such as difficulty losing weight despite a seemingly sound diet, chronic migraines, GI related issues, poor energy levels, and more. This allows us to recommend individualized dietary and supplemental recommendations to help our patients achieve an optimal level of wellness. I also love that our team has an array of specialties including two diabetes educators, one intuitive eating counselor, and three LEAP therapists who understand food sensitivities. Having these specialties allows us to match patients with the perfect dietitian. When I built my team, I looked for people whom I believe wanted to go the extra mile for patients by making sure patients fully understood how their dietary habits related to their health conditions. I looked for people who demonstrated the ability to tailor their teaching approach to meet the patient where they are. We use very few paper handouts in our office. We do that for a reason. We are not going to hand you a piece of paper full of things you could have looked up on the internet. Our recommendations are specific to each patient.

To answer the second question, no starting a business was not easy. But the number one thing I have learned along the way that I believe has helped me to be successful is to invest in people before you invest in things. The dietitians who work at my practice are my team, not my employees. Everyday I try to exceed the norm in how I treat and compensate my team. I want to create a work place that encourages growth, creativity, and positivity. At the end of the day, I want everyone to enjoy going to work as much as I do. Being the owner does not put you “above anything or anyone”. It just means that you are an “opportunity creator” and that is a privilege. When you practice those principles, you will overcome any business challenge you face. My practice belongs to my team as much as it does me, because without them we would not be Atlanta’s #1 nutrition practice.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Such a great question. We live in Woodstock so I love the Downtown Woodstock area with restaurants like the Salt Factory Pub and Kilwins for a nice treat. Being that we have three kids, I love parks like the Woodstock Downtown Playground and Mabry Park in Roswell. For adulting, I love Eclipse di Luna in Buckhead for some great tapas and drinks. Thai House in Roswell is also a family favorite and the owner is great.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Starting a business isn’t easy. Having a strong support system is so key. First and foremost, I could not have built Harmony Nutrition without my husband, Kobie Johnson. He has supported my dream and believed in me from day one. My mom has been one of my biggest fans and motivations. She encourages me and has showered me with unconditional love my whole life. My dad was actually one of my biggest cheerleaders. I believe that he thought more of me than I thought of myself. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2015 and didn’t get to see me fulfill my dream but I know he sees me. I have also had great mentors in the nutrition world, too many to name. I tell people all the time, “find someone who is doing what you’re doing but better and study them; surround yourself with these type of people; absorb every bit of knowledge you can soak up from others. That’s how we grow. I can only hope I am doing the same for others in my field who are also trying to make a difference.

Website: www.HarmonyNutritionATL.com

Instagram: @HarmonyNutritionATL and @HarmonyWellnessPartners

Linkedin: @HarmonyNutritionATL and @HarmonyWellnessPartners

Facebook: @HarmonyNutritionATL  and @HarmonyWellnessPartners

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcewybzdPSrHGENV-mU2PsA

Image Credits
Savvy Rose Photography