Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nina Hall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My mission to provide “healing dietary guidance that will transform your life” began long before I became a dietitian. As a child growing up in Tuskegee, Alabama, I was unknowingly being groomed to become a dietitian. My mother was (and still is) a healthy diet enthusiast. I remember not having “regular” foods (i.e., foods that I saw in my friend’s houses) in our house, and we went to the health food store EVERY week. My mother preferred herbal supplements, vitamins, and minerals rather than over-the-counter medications. She was almost adamant about her children reading food labels. Not too many teenagers pay attention to food labels, and I was one of them. So, after graduating from high school, I went away to college and totally rebelled against all the healthy eating habits I practiced while at home. A couple of years of “not-so-healthy” eating habits resulted in me having a severe case of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). I couldn’t enjoy the one thing that I loved to do – EAT! This took a toll on me physically and emotionally, which prompted me to change my eating habits. I began to realize that my mother was on to something with the “healthy eating thing”. I learned to avoid the foods that upset my stomach and incorporate those that made me feel better overall.

My interest in nutrition grew throughout graduate school and beyond, subsequently leading to a doctorate in Nutrition Sciences. A few years into my research career, I decided to focus on a career that would allow me to directly impact a person’s life by providing dietary guidance. Becoming a Registered Dietitian was the best career move for me because I can honestly say that I’m finally satisfied and really enjoy what I do. I started Nina’s Nutritional Values because I wanted my own nutrition counseling business. Besides, I’d often get asked, “Do you have your own business?” My passion is healthy eating and encouraging others to adopt healthier eating habits without sacrificing flavor. I’m also on a mission to rescue those who have fallen prey to diet culture, which ultimately negatively impacts overall well-being. So, as you can see, I now do the very thing that I rebelled against as a teenager.  I had all the tools, but didn’t care to use them!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started prepping for a career in nutrition and dietetics as a graduate student in Nutrition Sciences. Nutrition was always at the forefront of my mind post-graduate studies (even if the research project had nothing to do with nutrition, directly). Friends and family often referred to me for nutrition-related issues and questions, thus I eventually decided to focus my efforts on a career that would positively (and directly) impact members of my community by helping them lead healthier lives.

Nina’s Nutritional Values (NNV) provides medical nutrition therapy, an evidence-based medical approach to treating certain chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Nutrition counseling for weight management and meal planning assistance are also offered services. Clients are assisted with working on a more positive relationship with food, improving stress management, becoming physically active and improving sleep hygiene. We also promote self-love, goal setting and giving yourself grace for the journey. At NNV, we meet clients where they are and make them feel comfortable. Clients often tell me they were terrified of seeing a dietitian and the thought of having to cut out all their favorite foods was very overwhelming. There are no “quick fixes” at NNV; education (and time) is the key to a healthier lifestyle. 

I’m very down-to-earth and sensitive to the needs of each client. We often go beyond discussing dietary intake to explore potential lifestyle changes with the goal of enhancing overall health and well-being. At NNV, there are no “good” and “bad” foods – foods have no moral value. I enjoy educating clients about using what they eat and drink as a tool for managing health conditions or simply staying healthy. At NNV, we focus on sustainable lifestyle changes that are REALISTIC and EFFECTIVE.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I’m in the process of building/growing my audience on social media. I’ll admit that I was a late adopter of the social media scene, but now realize that it can be an asset to my business. I recently hired a social media manager, who has brought me out of my “shell” when it comes to getting in front of the camera. Potential clients (and clients) get to see me being me, while getting a glimpse of my world as an African American registered dietitian. The number of social media interactions have increased as well as inquiries about services provided by NNV. Unless you are a social media guru (which I am not), I recommend working with someone skilled in business promotion/marketing on social media. Just remember to be yourself and stay true to your brand.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

These are some effective strategies that I’ve used to grow my clientele: 

• Being more active on social media allows me to tell my story and build excitement about my business
  • Asking satisfied clients to write reviews and refer me to others
  • Understand what my client wants; stay actively engaged with clients
  • Re-designing my website
  • Create blog content written with my ideal client in mind
  • Following up with potential clients that inquire about my services but never emailed/called back
  • Follow up with past clients to see if they need additional help
  • Build email list and stay in touch with subscribers (e.g., monthly newsletter)
  • Credentialing with insurance companies
  • List my business on professional directories
  • Offer telehealth (virtual) nutrition counseling

Contact Info:

• Website: ninasnutritionalvalues.com
• Instagram: @ninathefooddoc
• Facebook: fb.me/nnvforlife
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nina-g-hall-phd-rdn-ld-80865bb87

Image Credits
Jeffrey E. Hall