Rebecca Toutant, MA, RD, CSSD, LDN, CEDS, CDCES, cPT
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Rebecca Toutant, MA, RD, CSSD, LDN, CEDS, CDCES, cPT
Since a very young age, I’ve had a deep fascination with the human body. I’ve always wanted to understand why things work the way they do and what we can do to change and enhance the way it functions. It’s what drove me to explore research, neurodiversity, diabetes, eating disorders, and athletics.
Early on, I thought “success” meant pushing the body into submission – pursuing health and performance at any cost. And that if we did it hard enough, long enough, we would “arrive.” That curiosity is how I found endurance and ultra-endurance sports. I loved the exploration of human limits – seeing how far the human body can go.
But as I grew my practice and diversified my learning, I realized that health is a journey, not an outcome. We are never done. The body (and our lives) are not static – they are everchanging. That makes it crucial we align our health behaviors with experiences we value most in our life.
Moreover, we are more than a body and its functions. Our mind and mental health are integrated in the experience. Therefore, the pursuit of physical health must be inclusive of mental, social, and financial well-being.
Ultimately, that means what is “healthy” is going to look different person to person. Despite our efforts, there are changes that can happen to how the body functions. It is not the body “betraying” us nor is it necessarily a result of “negligence.” Rather, it’s important to take a step back to understand how we can take steps to work *with* the body and mind. We are on the same team.
I am a weight inclusive provider – weight change is not how I measure progress or success. Weight may change as a side effect of the work done together, but it’s not the primary target for change.
Instead, the focus is on helping people improve their relationship with food and movement. We work to reduce fixation and fear around health behaviors and ultimately see the body as an ally – to understand how to work with it, listen to it, and be in relationship with it. That doesn’t mean doing whatever the body wants, whenever it wants. But rather knowing when to honor and when to gently challenge.
I love the science of nutrition and believe in the impact of nutrition on the human body. But the work goes beyond simply telling people what, when, and how much to eat. It involves curiosity, reflection, and time.
My practice is largely informed by Cognitive Based Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and polyvagal theory. I’ve also done extensive training in trauma and anxiety. But please note I am NOT a therapist. I am NOT a substitute for mental health care. I work to incorporate polyvagal work, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and aligning goals with personal values. Ultimately I help people explore how thoughts, beliefs, and relationships might be influencing behaviors around food and movement.
While in undergrad, I started working as a personal trainer and fitness instructor to complement my study of nutrition.
I loved adapting movement to support those with different abilities and goals to enhance health and performance.
It was also the time I took up endurance sports.
After finishing graduate school and various internships, I took a role at Massachusetts General Hospital, coordinating research and quality initiatives to improve and set standards for clinical care of autism.
During that time, I started Nourishing Bits and Bites to support neurodivergent children and adults explore feeding and sensory differences.
I started working as an outpatient dietitian – supporting the underserved and diverse patients at the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA).
I not only had the honor of working with people from around the world and all walks of life, but I also taught Harvard medical students, residents, and fellows how to provide culturally appropriate, weight neutral, nutrition assessments and care.
I also developed a program for Waltham Public Schools designed to provide experiential learning opportunities for k-5 students.
I learned so much about the human experience, in particular how racism, oppression, and social structures impact individuals.
I took on the role of employee wellness manager at CHA. It was an opportunity to shift more into public health / communications to support colleagues with their own well-being.
During this time I also wrote 2 cookbooks and developed the nutrition curriculum for PLT4M!
My work as a wellness manager expanded my understanding of lifestyle factors that influence health such as sleep, mindfulness / meditation, and somatic practices. I worked closely with organizational development to support interpersonal relationships, personality differences, navigate burnout, and respond to crises. We also worked to establish a more formal Diversity Equity, and Inclusion program.
When COVID impacted the system, there was an increased need for mental health and resilience. I took a variety of courses to better understand how to support people with anxiety and trauma, using strategies such as CBT, DBT, and ACT as well as somatic practices like EFT, mindfulness, and meditation.
While I loved my work, colleagues, and patients at CHA, my attention kept returning to individual care.
I wanted to spend more time helping people nourish their health and well-being through food and movement.
I took a role with the Female Athlete Program at Boston Children’s Hospital and expanded my private practice.
I’m grateful to use my diverse background to support clients and provide supervision for clinicians through Nourishing Bits & Bites, LLC and am honored to be an affiliated provider with Birch Hill Behavioral Health .
