We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shana Maleeff. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shana below.
Hi Shana, thanks for joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
There are several factors that set us apart at FoodandFitnessPro. First is the frequency of sessions with our clients. Most dietitians see their patients/clients every 2-8 weeks. We understand that accountability is one of the key factors for success, so we make it a priority to meet with our clients every week not only for accountability, but to review the prior week, provide feedback and education, and set goals together with our client for the coming week. Second is a holistic approach. We look at the person as a whole. It’s not only about what you eat, but also addressing physical activity, stress management, sleep habits, supplementation, and more. Third, at FoodandFitnessPro we provide a structured, individualized way of eating that is simple to follow and effective for improved metabolism, blood sugar, cholesterol, energy, sleep, and more. Fourth, we use a skill and technique called motivational interviewing. This allows us to listen to the client and learn where they are at in their lifestyle, journey, and goals and then work with them at their pace to make changes more realistic, rewarding, and long-lasting.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I studied Nutrition at Penn State University over 20 years ago. From there, I worked several jobs in the nutrition field, including hospitals, wellness centers, and nutrition private practice. I’ve also always had a passion for fitness, so I started teaching group fitness classes at the premiere gyms in NYC and on Long Island, where I currently live. Along the way, I took bits and pieces from all of my experiences and the people I met along the way to create what I felt was an ideal model for a nutrition private practice. So many clients in my prior jobs wanted more options, more structure, and more feedback. So I built FoodandFitnessPro keeping in mind the busy lifestyles that we all lead in an effort to somewhat simplify a healthy lifestyle. I also knew it was important to address all aspects of health, not just nutrition. I am extremely proud to have grown from a one-woman operation to now employing a staff of 20! With such a talented and diverse staff, FoodandFitnessPro is able to address and help clients with any health and medical needs. We have grown organically by word of mouth primarily because our clients are so happy with how they look and feel, as well as their improved health markers!
Have you ever had to pivot?
COVID was a very scary time for everyone. We all felt paralyzed and had no idea what to do and what was coming next. For the first 6-8 months, we were able to maintain most of our clients who still wanted to prioritize their health. However, many Americans turned to food and alcohol to cope with the stress and fear of the unknown and being isolated at home. Most people were not in a place to start a new journey or take anything additional on. During the pandemic, all of us at FoodandFitnessPro had to figure out how to continue to connect with our clients without being able to see them in person in the office, like we were used to. In addition, about a year into the pandemic we started to get tons of calls with people realizing that they let their health slip and wanted to focus on getting healthier. So starting in 2020, we catered to the demands and the options and started doing virtual nutrition counseling. In addition, I hired several dietitians to join the team to keep up with the demand. Since 2020, we have reopened in our three offices for in person sessions, but now we have a very large virtual practice and can see clients from anywhere, so we are able to reach and help many more people than ever before!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
We have always thrived off of word of mouth. When clients are noticeably happier, healthier, and more confident, people notice! So we are always getting calls from friends, family, and colleagues of our current clients wanting to join our program. In addition, we are in network with most commercial insurance plans, so people looking for a nutritionist that is covered by insurance often find us through their insurance company. Also, good old Google… we have tons of amazing reviews for all of our Dietitians online so people find us online, read the reviews, and pick up the phone and call!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.foodandfitnesspro.com
- Instagram: FoodandFitnessPro
- Facebook: FoodandFitnessPro