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

Zarana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

I was interested in nutrition from a very young age. Growing up in India; I had witnessed food being used as medicine in my home all the time based on Ayurveda principles. I became a Registered Dietitian to help people lead a healthy life. It was my dream to have my own private practice to spread my knowledge and passion for nutrition to prevent onset of chronic diseases. After gaining a strong educational foundation on integrative and functional nutrition as well as years of clinical experience; I started my private practice in 2013. It took me a while to take a leap on this but; it was a Dream come true. I had to factor in many aspects while setting up my practice including the practice model, services to offer, finances, insurance coverage as well as licensure regulations. Initially, I felt overwhelmed by all the new things that I would have to learn and it kept me from starting my own practice for many years. I started my practice part time while working at a healthcare facility full-time. The biggest challenge I faced while setting up my own firm was very limited knowledge of running a business, marketing and finances as these topics were never taught in our clinical learning. I was a very good dietitian and now had to learn to be a business owner and be able to sell my services. I would advise young professionals to let go of fears and insecurities and pursue your passion sooner than later. I am so happy I did it as well.

Zarana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi, I am a Functional Medicine Registered Dietitian (RD), certified Leap Therapist (Food sensitivity) and Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner (IFNCP). I am very passionate about helping people eat better and live a healthy lifestyle to increase their vitality and prevent onset of diseases. I translate comprehensive science of nutrition into simple and practical recommendations for my clients to create lasting results. My practice specializes in Gut health, Autoimmune diseases and Metabolic health conditions. I provide individual consults virtually where I take detailed history of your current nutrition intake, health history, Symptoms, lab results, medications and supplements and perform a comprehensive nutritional assessment to develop a personalized nutrition and lifestyle recommendations to achieve your health goals. I also offer self learning as well as group programs, meal plans and ongoing support programs.

My Approach:

When it comes to nutrition; there is no one plan fits all. There are many diet plans out there to support temporary goals, but what is missing in most diet approach is connecting our food to our mind and soul that creates a sustainable lifestyle.

At NutriliciousbyZ, I will help you find the root cause of your health problems and develop a roadmap to your health and healing through the power of nutrition and lifestyle.

We begin by evaluating 4 pillars of health – Nutrition, Activity, Sleep and Stress Management to reconnect body and mind to optimize healing.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

I love what I do and would choose my profession over and over. The best thing about my work is how I get to impact my client’s health and their lives and make a difference. I strongly believe that food is the most powerful medicine that can heal as well as nourish. I love to guide them on their healing journey through food as medicine approach.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Most of my clients are through word of mouth. Being dedicated in providing best quality care to my clients and help them achieve results really helps me get a lot of friends and family referrals. Also, partnering with likeminded health practitioners helps in growing my clientele. I am also listed on Insurance company’s provider directory which drives a lot of self referrals from people who are interested in nutrition services.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nutriliciousbyz.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutriliciousbyz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nutriliciousbyz
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaranaparekh/