Accepting New Clients · In-Person & Telehealth

Nutrition Support
Designed Around
Your Goals

Personalized nutrition guidance that helps you understand your options, build healthier habits, and move forward with confidence.

18+ Years serving
Tennessee
MS, RD Advanced-trained
dietitian
CLC Certified Lactation
Counselor
3 Insurance plans
accepted

Who We Help

Nutrition care for adults navigating real challenges

Working with adults 18+ in-person at Sewanee Holistic Health and via HIPAA-certified telehealth throughout Tennessee and beyond.

Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating

Compassionate, non-diet support for those navigating anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, orthorexia, and complex relationships with food.

Medical Nutrition Concerns

Evidence-based guidance for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and related metabolic conditions — always through an intuitive eating lens.

Intuitive Eating & Body Acceptance

Learn to trust your body's signals, step away from chronic dieting, and build a sustainable, peaceful relationship with food and movement.

Prenatal & Postpartum Nutrition

Nutritional support during pregnancy and after delivery, including guidance on breastfeeding nutrition for both mother and growing infant.

Lactation Support

As a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Mary supports mothers with breastfeeding challenges — available prenatally and postpartum, in-office or at home.

General Wellness & Habit Building

For those who simply want to eat better without restrictive rules — building realistic, joyful nutrition habits that actually fit your life and schedule.

Common Goals

What brings most people to Mountain Dietitian

You don't need to have a formal diagnosis to benefit from working with a registered dietitian. Here are the goals our clients most often bring.

01

Heal your relationship with food

Move away from guilt, restriction cycles, and the diet mentality toward genuine nourishment and body trust.

02

Manage a medical condition

Address high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or digestive concerns through targeted, evidence-based nutrition changes.

03

Recover from an eating disorder

Work through anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or orthorexia with a clinician who combines nutrition expertise with psychological understanding.

04

Navigate pregnancy and postpartum

Get personalized support for prenatal nutrition, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, and infant feeding transitions.

05

Eat well without rigid plans

Learn how to nourish yourself in a way that feels intuitive, flexible, and sustainable — not like a second full-time job.

06

Feel confident making food choices

Cut through conflicting nutrition information and develop a clear, personal framework for making food decisions that support your wellbeing.

07

Support a family member's nutrition

Understand how to support a partner, parent, or other adult family member with their nutrition goals and medical dietary needs.

08

Build lasting lifestyle habits

Create a personal approach to eating and wellness that you can sustain for life — grounded in your real schedule, preferences, and values.

Services

What's available through Mountain Dietitian

All services are available in-person (Mondays at Sewanee Holistic Health) or via HIPAA-certified telehealth. Insurance is accepted for many services.

Primary Service

Nutrition Counseling

One-on-one, evidence-based nutrition support tailored to your health history, lifestyle, and goals. No calorie counting. No diet plans. Just a realistic, sustainable approach that works for your life.

Initial session: 75 minutes · comprehensive health assessment
Follow-up sessions: 50 minutes · weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly
Coordination with your other healthcare providers
BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, and TennCare accepted
Specialty Service

Lactation Support

As a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Mary provides specialized support for breastfeeding challenges before and after your baby arrives. Available at the office or with home visits.

Prenatal education: what to expect in the first weeks
Postpartum support for latch, supply, and comfort concerns
Certified through the Academy of Lactation Policy & Practice
Home visits possible · contact for pricing

The Client Journey

How It Works

You shouldn't have to guess what happens next. Here's exactly what to expect from your first contact to ongoing support.

1

Reach Out

Book online, call 931-636-8669, or email mpatebennett@gmail.com. New client? The online portal makes scheduling simple.

2

Discuss Your Needs

Your 75-minute initial consultation covers your diet history, health background, family history, and the goals that matter most to you.

3

Determine Best Fit

Together, we confirm whether Mary's approach is the right match. If a different specialist would serve you better, she'll help guide that referral.

4

Begin Personalized Support

Follow-up sessions build on your progress at the pace that works for you — weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly — for as long as it's helpful.

Self-Assessment

Are We a Good Fit?

Transparency is central to how Mountain Dietitian operates. Read this before booking — it'll help you decide if this is the right place for you.

Who We Help Most

  • Adults 18+ navigating eating disorders or disordered eating
  • Those wanting to build a healthier relationship with food without dieting
  • People managing diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol through nutrition
  • Pregnant or postpartum women seeking nutritional and lactation guidance
  • Anyone who's tried diets but wants a sustainable, real-life approach instead
  • Clients who value a non-judgmental, flexible, food-positive environment

Common Challenges We Address

  • Chronic dieting cycles that haven't led to lasting change
  • Guilt, shame, or anxiety around food and mealtimes
  • Confusion about contradictory nutrition information
  • Difficulty maintaining changes recommended by your physician
  • Emotional eating or loss of control around certain foods
  • Nutrition concerns during pregnancy or early postpartum

What to Expect

  • A non-diet, intuitive eating framework — no calorie counting or rigid plans
  • Collaborative sessions that center your goals, preferences, and lifestyle
  • Coordination with your physician, therapist, or other care providers
  • Flexible scheduling — weekly to monthly, in-person or telehealth
  • Transparent communication about progress and what's working
  • A warm, judgment-free space where you lead the conversation

When We May Refer Elsewhere

  • Clients under 18 who may need pediatric-specialized nutrition care
  • Acute psychiatric stabilization that requires a higher level of care
  • Complex medical conditions requiring a multi-specialty clinical team
  • When a different evidence-based approach is a clearly better match

If Mary isn't the right fit, she'll be upfront about it and help connect you to a provider who is. You won't be left without options.

Client Experiences

What clients say

"Mary helped me stop thinking about food as the enemy. For the first time in years, I actually enjoy eating. The intuitive eating approach changed everything."

S
Sarah K.
Intuitive Eating Client · Sewanee, TN

"My doctor referred me to Mary for my blood pressure. I loved that she didn't hand me a meal plan — she helped me figure out what actually works for my life."

R
Robert M.
Medical Nutrition Client · Monteagle, TN

"As a new mom struggling with breastfeeding, Mary was a lifesaver. She came to our home, was so patient, and gave me real confidence when I needed it most."

L
Lauren T.
Lactation Support Client · Winchester, TN

Common Questions

Before you reach out

Many insurance plans cover nutrition counseling as a preventative service — meaning you may owe nothing out of pocket. Mountain Dietitian accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield (including TennCare), Aetna, and Cigna. Out-of-state plans often transfer to in-state benefits. Contact your insurer or reach out to Mary to clarify your specific coverage. A Superbill is provided for out-of-network reimbursement requests.
Yes. All nutrition counseling appointments are available via a HIPAA-certified telehealth platform. In-person appointments are available on Mondays at Sewanee Holistic Health, 141 University Ave., Sewanee, TN 37375. Telehealth allows clients throughout Tennessee and beyond to access services without traveling.
Your initial consultation lasts 75 minutes and is a comprehensive intake session. Mary will review your diet history, weight history, family health background, current food intake, and what your goals are. Together you'll set realistic, collaborative goals and build an initial action plan. There's no pressure to follow a rigid protocol — the session is designed to understand you, not prescribe to you.
No — and that's intentional. Mary's philosophy centers on intuitive eating and building a realistic, flexible relationship with food. Rigid meal plans and calorie counting rarely lead to lasting change and can deepen disordered eating patterns. Instead, you'll work together on meaningful, sustainable habits that fit your actual lifestyle.
It varies based on your goals and needs. Many clients come in weekly or bi-weekly for the first month or two, then shift to monthly check-ins as they gain confidence. Eating disorder recovery may involve a longer period of support. There's no set program duration — you continue for as long as the sessions are valuable to you.
Absolutely — and this is often encouraged, especially for clients navigating eating disorders or complex medical conditions. Mary coordinates with referral sources and other providers as needed, ensuring your care team is aligned and working toward the same goals.
The easiest way is through the online booking portal at mary-pate-bennett.clientsecure.me. You can also email mpatebennett@gmail.com or call 931-636-8669. If you're unsure whether this is the right fit, don't hesitate to reach out with questions first — there's no obligation to book.

Take the First Step

Ready to start your nutrition journey?

Schedule a consultation to discuss your goals, ask questions, and find out whether Mountain Dietitian is the right fit. No pressure. No commitment required.