Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Lauren Shelton Vise, RDN, LD, CEDS-C.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Dallas, Texas, and began riding horses at just three years old. I competed in equestrian sport for most of my life, and that experience shaped so much of who I am today. As a competitive athlete, I worked with dietitians to learn how to properly fuel my body for performance which is when my passion for nutrition began. That was the first time I truly understood how powerful nutrition could be, not just for sport, but for overall health and well-being.
In high school, I started my first company, Ride Fit Café, catering nutritious and balanced meals to competitors at equestrian events. I had experienced firsthand how limited healthy options were at shows, and wanted to help fill that gap. Around that same time, I developed a strong interest in both psychology and dietetics as I became increasingly aware of the mental and emotional challenges athletes often face, particularly surrounding food and body image. Unfortunately, it is incredibly common for athletes to struggle with eating disorders or mental health issues, yet many avoid seeking help because they do not want to step away from their training or sport. Too often, this leads to serious health consequences, injuries, or even athletic careers being cut short, and I knew I wanted to be part of changing that.
I went on to attend the University of Kentucky, where I completed the Coordinated Dietetics Program and intentionally focused my training on sports nutrition and eating disorders. It felt like the perfect blend combining my passion for athletics with my interest in mental health. Following graduation, I moved back to Dallas and worked in various eating disorder and mental health treatment facilities, gaining experience across all levels of care as a Registered Dietitian. That time solidified my desire to help bridge the gap between higher levels of care and long-term outpatient support.
In 2018, I founded Nutrition DiscoveRD® with the vision of creating a practice that offers highly individualized, flexible, and accessible. I wanted to expand access to high-quality nutrition services, both in-person and virtually, and to provide ongoing support tailored to each client’s unique needs. Since then, I have obtained my Certified Eating Disorders Specialist-Supervisor (CEDS-C) credentials, allowing me to further my specialization and also support other clinicians pursuing specialization.
Through Nutrition DiscoveRD®, I have the privilege of working with athletes of all levels as well as individuals struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating. In addition to one-on-one nutrition counseling, I provide nutrition services for sports teams and organizations, lead presentations and workshops, offer professional consultation, serve as a dietetic intern preceptor, and create educational resources such as eBooks and guides. I find a great amount of joy in my career and deeply value the flexibility, creativity, and meaningful connection it allows me to have with others. I truly love what I do and am so grateful for the flexibility, creativity, and meaningful connection this career allows. It feels incredibly special to do work that so closely reflects my own journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road. Owning a business comes with its own set of learning curves and challenges. There is so much that goes into running a practice beyond seeing clients, and I have had to grow quickly in areas like leadership, systems, and marketing. At the same time, continuing to adapt our services to truly meet the needs of our clients requires constant reflection and flexibility.
One of the biggest challenges in our field right now is the overwhelming amount of health information available online. While access to information can be helpful, it can also be incredibly damaging when it is not accurate or evidence-based. Many of our clients come to us feeling confused, defeated, or frustrated because something they saw online did not work for them. A lot of that content is generalized and often not coming from a credible source, yet it is presented as fact.
There is also confusion around the term “nutritionist,” which is not a regulated credential. That can make it difficult for people to know who is truly qualified. We spend a lot of time educating our community on the importance of working with a Registered Dietitian, who has completed extensive education, supervised training, passed a national exam, and practices under a governing body with clear standards and accountability.
Another challenge is that diet trends and fads are constantly changing. At Nutrition DiscoveRD®, we do not promote diets. We are non-diet dietitians and focus on a balanced, sustainable approach to nutrition that supports long-term health rather than quick fixes. That sometimes means pushing back against popular narratives, but it is something I feel strongly about.
Through it all, I have learned the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive people and continuing to learn from others. I am incredibly grateful for my family, my community, my team, and our clients. Building this practice has stretched me in so many ways, but it has also strengthened my confidence and deepened my purpose.
We’ve been impressed with Nutrition DiscoveRD, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Nutrition DiscoveRD®, we provide evidence-based, compassionate, and highly personalized nutrition care, led by credentialed Registered Dietitians with advanced specializations.
While we support a wide range of clients, we are most known for our work in eating disorders, sports nutrition, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). One of the things that truly sets us apart is our expertise in the overlap between eating disorders and athletics. This is a highly nuanced area, and not many providers are trained to navigate both the performance demands of sport and the complexity of disordered eating. With a background in competitive athletics, we understand the balance firsthand, which deeply informs the care we provide.
In addition to these specialties, we work with active individuals, clients navigating body image concerns, and those seeking medical nutrition therapy for a variety of conditions. This includes pregnancy and postpartum nutrition, gastrointestinal health, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and support for busy families looking to simplify everyday meals. Our goal is always to meet clients where they are and tailor care to their stage of life, health history, and personal goals.
We offer in-person services in our Dallas office as well as virtual appointments in multiple states, expanding access to high-quality nutrition care. Our brand is built on being relational, genuine, and compassionate. We want every client to feel truly seen, supported, and understood. We also offer complimentary 15-minute consultations because we believe finding the right fit matters.
Beyond one-on-one counseling, we provide presentations, workshops, and trainings for teams and organizations nationwide, creating educational experiences that make complex nutrition topics practical and approachable.
At its core, Nutrition DiscoveRD® is about helping individuals build a sustainable, balanced relationship with food and their bodies—whether that means fueling for performance, healing from an eating disorder, managing a medical condition, or simply creating more ease and confidence around everyday nutrition.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5 to 10 years, I would love to see Registered Dietitians more widely recognized as the true experts in food and nutrition, and as the primary, trusted source of evidence-based information. There is so much noise in the nutrition space right now, and I believe there will continue to be a growing need for credentialed professionals who can translate research into practical, individualized guidance.
I also hope to see a larger shift away from fad diets and quick fixes, and toward more sustainable, balanced nutrition patterns. Many people are stuck in frustrating cycles of dieting and yo-yo weight changes, and I think there is increasing awareness that long-term health is built on consistency, flexibility, and realistic habits rather than extremes.
I anticipate the field will continue to grow and evolve as more research emerges, particularly in areas like gut health, women’s health, metabolic health, and the connection between nutrition and mental health. That is one of the things I love most about this profession. It is always changing, and we are constantly learning. It keeps us curious, humble, and committed to staying up to date for our clients.
I also see nutrition playing a larger role in disease prevention. Rather than only addressing health conditions after they develop, there is a growing understanding that food and overall nutrition patterns can be powerful tools for prevention and early intervention. I hope the healthcare system continues moving toward a more proactive, integrative approach where nutrition is seen as foundational rather than optional.
Overall, I believe the future of our industry will center on credibility, sustainability, and personalization—using science-backed strategies to support individuals in ways that truly fit their lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nutritiondiscoverd.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutritiondiscoverd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nutritiondiscoverd/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-lauren-shelton-vise-743690120/
