Meet Alissa Palladino MS, RDN, LD, CPT | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Certified Personal Trainer

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

Hi Alissa, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Practicing as a registered dietitian for over 7 years, and in a freelance capacity for nearly 2.5, has taught me the value of relationships and communication. Whether it is building rapport with clients during an individual nutrition consultation, gaining the trust of an audience when doing group nutrition education or giving a presentation, or establishing authentic, solid partnerships with other professionals, businesses and organizations, these connections become unexpected referral streams and open doors to other opportunities. Specifically when it comes to the practice of nutrition, it doesn’t matter how much you know if you cannot communicate that knowledge effectively to your clients and the public! So figuring out how to explain complex nutrition concepts simply, provide practical, realistic recommendations, and meet clients where they are in their journey is key not only to their success but ultimately to mine as well.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and certified personal trainer based in Atlanta. I have been practicing for over 7 years working with individuals and groups with different health conditions and goals in a variety of fitness, corporate, community and medical settings. I am passionate about the power of nutrition to optimize health, performance and overall quality of life.

As far as my background, after graduating from Yale University and working in the education field, I decided to combine my love of teaching and desire to help others with my longtime personal interest in health and wellness by pursuing a career as a dietitian. I earned my Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from New York University and completed my training at Emory Healthcare, where I also worked as a clinical dietitian.

In my current freelance role, I have the opportunity to do one-on-one nutrition counseling, develop and deliver group education both in-person and virtually, write on a variety of health and wellness topics for different audiences, and even work as a medical reviewer of nutrition/fitness articles for Healthline media.

As an avid runner myself, among the most fulfilling roles I currently have is writing monthly articles and giving educational seminars for the Atlanta Track Club.

In everything I do, my goal is to empower others with the tools, knowledge and motivation to make positive, sustainable behavior changes that enhance their health and quality of life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love being active outdoors, so top on my list would definitely be a walk or run (or bike or scooter ride) on the Atlanta Beltline. The Southwest part of the Beltline connects to some of my favorite breweries including Monday Night Garage. Near the Eastside Beltine is one of my favorite coffee shops, Dancing Goats. Atlanta has an amazing local brewery and coffee scene, some of my other favorites being Orpheus for beer (so many sours!) and East Pole, Press and Grind, and Spiller Park for coffee. Piedmont Park is also a must for outdoor enthusiasts – runners like me can do laps through the park or on the Active Oval, and everyone should check out the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, also the pool in the summer is a hidden gem. So many great restaurants in Atlanta, it is hard to name just a few, but Del Bar in Inman Park, Storico Fresco in Buckhead, and Barcelona (West Midtown and Inman Park) and Bantam and Biddy (Ansley) are some faves. There are some great historical and cultural spots, like the Jimmy Carter Center, MLK museum and home, Center for Civil and Human Rights, High Museum, Fernbank, and Atlanta History Center – which is just scratching the surface. I also personally love walking on the paths near the Emory campus, where I did my dietetic training, like Lullwater preserve, but there are so many great parks and paths from the Path 400 and Freedom Parkway to Grant and Chastain Parks (and even more OTP!)

Honestly, there has been so much development and expansion in Atlanta within the last few years, so just checking out all the different neighborhoods, which each has its own unique vibe, could fill up days – Grant Park, Old 4th Ward, Reynoldstown, Virginia Highlands, Inman Park, Summerhill, West Midtown…

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?
I had amazing mentors during my training to become a registered dietitian at Emory Healthcare including Michelle Gooden. My first nutrition job with an Atlanta-based non-profit (Open Hand/Good Measure Meals) which I held for 5 years, is where I gained essential hands-on experience and skills (including counseling, presenting, content development, and media) under the guidance of my manager Jess White and colleagues Sarah Shanahan and Rachel Baer, which allowed me to grow and gain the confidence to work independently. Additionally, in that role, I built a reputation and established partnerships that I was subsequently able to leverage and continue in a freelance capacity. Currently, I feel grateful to have many valuable connections in the fitness, corporate, medical and mental health spaces that have led to fulfilling and impactful professional opportunities, including Atlanta Track Club, Corporate Health Unlimited, and Kaiser Permanente, and the many personal trainers, physical therapists, coaches, psychologists and even former clients that continually refer new opportunities to me.

Website: https://alissapalladinonutrition.squarespace.com/

Instagram: @akpalladino

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alissapalladinord/

Twitter: @alissapalladino

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alissa.palladino