Elle Nourish - Ellen Handlan, RD

I have had the most remarkable experience working with Ellen. Completely exceeded my expectations. End of 2024, my mother had her second stroke, and the stress of everything that followed found me emotionally eating, eating very late at night, not getting enough sleep, water, or exercise, and all of it coming to a head in May of 2025 when I hit 229 lbs (I'm 6'1"). Some alarm bells went off, so I did what I usually did when I started approaching 230, which was to adopt some all-or-nothing plan (keto, intermittent fasting, extreme calorie deficit, etc.) to lose pounds quickly. It seemed to work for a couple of months, but then the efficacy completely dropped off, and I plateaued. Just couldn't seem to lose the weight. I finally decided I needed help and resolved to reach out to a dietician and found Ellen. What really caught my attention at the beginning is that she didn't talk to me about losing weight. She listened to me and asked questions about lifestyle and then focused right away on healing my gut. She told me that as I basically got my whole system working properly again, the rest would follow. During our conversations over the subsequent weeks and months, I felt like I was finally understanding nutrition for the first time—what fiber was, what the different kinds were, why water was so important and lots of it, why eating every 3–4 hours was important but also why grazing was working against my goals, the role of protein and carbs—and I started to make changes with her regular help (every two weeks). I kept waiting for her to get me into a calorie deficit, but nope, we went from getting my fiber intake dialed in, to getting a handle on my stress, to sufficient water, to proper sleep, to supporting my workouts and walking, to protein, to carbs, to working in more brightly colored vegetables, then to a little bit of a calorie deficit (that didn't feel like a calorie deficit). And then one day my weight-loss plateau ended. I started losing again. It was like she healed my system and the system started to do what it was supposed to do. I'm now down 32 lbs, recently breaking the 200 lb barrier. I haven't seen the one-hundreds on the scale in at least six years (and I wasn't working out then like I am now, so had little muscle). That day I cracked the one-hundreds was a really big day. I also had a physical last week, and every single blood marker came back in the green. That has never happened since I've been doing blood tests. I sing Ellen's praises to everyone who will listen. Her approach is so kind, so gentle, so compassionate, and her vast understanding of the science of nutrition ALWAYS meets my particular moment or phase that I'm in. For example, I hit this point a couple of months ago where I seemed to be in such a nuanced, delicate space, and I was so worried about losing progress. I was feeling a little depressed and wondered if I was going to plateau again. Ellen gave me like 12 simple solutions to what I was facing. I tried at least seven of them and came back for our next session having lost even more weight. But the best part was I didn't feel like I gave anything up but that I actually was eating more food more often (turns out I wasn't eating enough midday so I was stuffing myself in the evening) and enjoying it more. I have never lost this much weight and kept it off. I don't feel like I'm on a diet, even though I'm in a calorie deficit. I never think "How long do I have to keep this up?" or "How am I going to keep this up?" It's just part of my lifestyle now. My kids have noticed such a difference and commented on how much my stomach has gone down. 😄 I learned that they had been getting worried about me. They feel a lot better now. Because they know I'm not just lighter but healthier. I'm 54 and I want to be around a long time for them and feel so encouraged. I just can't say enough good things about Ellen and how she has changed my life. I'm SO GRATEFUL. Absolute highest recommendation.

Ellen is amazing! I'm so grateful to have been able to work with her during such a medically vulnerable time in my life while I navigated IVF & Long Covid. She is incredibly intelligent and dedicated to her work, detail oriented, willing to research anything she doesn't know, and is refreshingly non-judgemental, generous, and kind. Would recommend to anyone who needs support bettering their dietary needs and learning more about food as medicine! Thank you Elle!!!!

Working with Ellen has been truly transformative. She’s had such a positive impact on my relationship with food and has helped me take real steps toward a more balanced, sustainable lifestyle. Her deep knowledge, supportive approach, and realistic guidance make it easy to enjoy life while still working toward my fitness goals. I’m so grateful to have found Ellen and look forward to continuing my nutrition journey with her!

Setting up regular check-ins with Ellen has changed my life. She has educated me so much on the importance of protein, fiber, and other nutrients to help me gain more control of my food noise and cravings. She is incredibly knowledgable and always comes to our meetings with new information to help me make better choices with my health. From blood sugar balance to keeping me motivated with a workout routine, her guidance has helped me lose 20 pounds. She holds me accountable, always brings me fresh + creative ideas, all while encouraging me and cheering me on (even when I am not feeling the most confident about my wellness journey). I couldn't recommend Ellen enough!

I’ve been working with Ellen for almost a year and a half now, and I truly can’t say enough good things about her! She’s absolutely incredible and has truly changed my life in terms of nutrition in ways I never thought possible before meeting her. Ellen is a fantastic listener, and her approach to our sessions is always so beneficial. Every time we meet, I come away feeling more motivated and positive about my progress. I highly recommend Ellen to anyone looking for top-notch nutrition advice and support. She’s an amazing cheerleader and truly fabulous at what she does! 10/10!

I’ve been working with Ellen for about a year and a half, and the impact she’s had on my health has been remarkable. She takes a truly holistic approach, addressing the mind–body connection and tailoring her recommendations to my evolving needs, which has transformed both my gut health and my overall well-being. Her kindness, positivity, and solution-oriented mindset make every session encouraging, and she celebrates even the smallest wins. With her guidance, I’ve lost over 25 pounds, nearly eliminated my gastrointestinal symptoms, and developed a genuine craving for healthy foods—all while increasing my energy and improving my mental health. Ellen’s deep knowledge, paired with her willingness to seek additional insight when needed, gives me total confidence in her guidance. I recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone seeking sustainable, continuous improvement in their health.

Ellen is absolutely fantastic! Her warm, supportive approach and expert knowledge have completely changed the way I think about nutrition. She takes the time to understand your needs and creates a plan that feels realistic and empowering. Thanks to Ellen, I feel healthier, more energized, and confident in my food choices. I’m so grateful for her guidance!

Ellen honestly saved my sanity while helping me navigate SIBO during a really rough patch in my life. She’s incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and patient—and thanks to her, I was able to move forward and feel better. I’d give her more than 5 stars if I could!

I’ve been seeing Ellen for about 16 or so months, and the lifestyle transformation I have made because of her is AMAZING! She is always there to help with encouragement, recipes, or questions, and makes the conversation so easy!

Ellen is very caring and knowledgeable, she always puts my goals and needs first. I've learned so much and improved my quality of life working with her. Learning how nutrition works and implementing recipes Ellen shared has removed the stress of knowing if I'm eating well enough to support my body for my future goals. Can't wait to learn even more in our future sessions!