Meet Val Schonberg: Registered Dietitian, Sports Nutritionist & Certified Menopause Practitioner

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

Hi Val, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
There were two driving factors behind my decision to start my own nutrition practice. First and foremost was to find a better work/life balance. I had worked for an eating disorder treatment program in Minnesota for many years and I loved my work! I worked with some of the most brilliant and talented clinicians in the field and was grateful for the experience and expertise I gained. At the same time, my kids had always been my number one priority, and up until a certain point, I had been able to work, attend all my kids activities and functions, and most important be at home for family meals every night. While my oldest was already off at college, my youngest had only two years left of high school and I started to realize that my work obligations were preventing me from being the mom I wanted to be. As a single mom for many years, I had worked diligently to “make everything work” and when I realized the job had shifted, I decided it was time for me to pivot as well. I grew up in a home where my parents had their own photography business. So I was well aware of the time and pressure that went into running a business, but also recognized the opportunity to have more flexibility with managing time. I had already written a business plan many years earlier in graduate school, so I knew it was a viable option to take that leap of faith and start my private practice. The second reason was to establish a practice where I could fulfill my passion of working with individuals vulnerable to disordered eating and strive to prevent the development of pathological eating problems. I was also driven to accomplish my mission of helping people, especially women, discover a peaceful relationship with food, exercise, and weight as I had also struggled with this in the past. When I was working in an eating disorder treatment program, by the time individuals came to me for treatment, they were entrenched in a full-blown eating disorder and their physical and emotional health had been seriously affected. Too often, I had witnessed young, talented athletes whose eating disorder was entangled in misleading and inaccurate information about nutrition, and often led to believe that they needed to diet or restrict food groups to achieve a certain weight or “aesthetic look” to be successful, Others were midlife women who had been on and off diets for many years (some as early as 8 years old) and consequently were suffering from disordered eating and years of shame and guilt about their bodies. I wanted to be able to make a difference by doing what I could to prevent this from happening and provide proper nutrition guidance to help individuals, teams and groups achieve their health and nutrition goals, while decreasing the risk for those susceptible to disordered eating or clinical eating disorders. I now work with recreational and professional athletes, dancers and performing artists, women in midlife and menopause, and individuals with disordered eating concerns.

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?
My nutrition practice is based on sound, science-based principles to help individuals achieve their health goals. I offer an un-biased, weight-inclusive, personalized approach that addresses not only what a person eats, but how they approach food and eating. I believe each person has a unique and intimate relationship with food and their body and I strive to meet each person where they are at with practical and realistic strategies to promote healthy behaviors – no matter what their body size. One thing that sets me apart is that I am the only registered dietitian in the area who specializes in midlife and menopause and is certified by the North American Menopause Society. I’ve worked hard to take on the additional training and education required for this certification, which has helped to guide my clinical recommendations so that women are able to make informed decisions about their health. In addition, this training, coupled with my experience as a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics and as an eating disorder clinician, I provide quality nutrition therapy for a variety of conditions that my clients suffer with, including digestive disorders, amenorrhea, and bone stress injuries. There are numerous challenges I’ve had to overcome, but one in particular that I continue to wrestle with on a daily basis is battling today’s societal body image, anti-aging and nutritionally sensationalized world. A multi-billion dollar diet and supplement industry continues to be a major competitor for sound, evidence-based nutrition messages that often lack the same hype and allure of quick-fix solutions or the message that “the perfect body equals the perfect life.” I’ve learned to be honest and transparent about my philosophy and approach, and for those individuals that desire to break free from diets and find a peaceful relationship with food, eating and weight, I continue to provide exceptional care to those I have the opportunity to work with.

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?
My husband and I moved to Atlanta from Minneapolis, Minnesota a few years ago and we have a blast showing our friends and family, who come to visit from the Midwest, around the area. The typical visit only lasts a few days and always starts with an evening at the Attic Bar at Old Vinings Inn where we are welcomed by our favorite bartender, “Uncle Ricky,” and are often entertained by the fabulous Kurt Thomas Band. The next day usually involves a trip to Piedmont Park or Stone Mountain to walk around, and then a stop at Ponce City Market for some shopping and up to the rooftop to Nine Mile Station for sunset, beverages and great food. There’s always a trip to Buckhead with a stop at Gypsy Kitchen or Southern Gentleman, followed by a fun night of dancing at none other than the infamous Johnny’s Hideaway! We love a good brew, and since Atlanta is home to a lot of great breweries, we also enjoy taking our visitors to any one of the many breweries in the area. One of our favorites is New Realm brewery on the beltline. Besides the great beer selection, the people and the view of the city is always a hit.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who have made a difference in my success, most notably my parents and my husband. They provide love, support and a listening ear during my ups and downs and are always there to encourage me when I get overwhelmed or feel discouraged. I also want to give a shout out to Mandy Blackmon, owner of MandyDancePT and co-founder of Atlanta Dance Medicine. Mandy and I met at a dance medicine function a couple of years prior to my move from Minnesota to Georgia. Since my move to Atlanta, Mandy has facilitated numerous opportunities for me to network, connect and get involved in the eating disorder and sports medicine community here in Atlanta for which I’m extremely grateful. Finally, my practice wouldn’t be where it is today without the advice and support of Annie Meehan, Speaker, Coach and Owner of AM Speaking and Consulting.

Website: https://www.enlightenunutrition.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/v.schonbergrd/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/val-schonberg-ms-rd-cssd-ld-ncmp-98a4616/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ValSchonberg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Enlightenunutrition/

Image Credits
Image credit for profile picture: Rich Rader, Rader Photography