Our Practice

Providing in-person and virtual outpatient nutrition counseling to individuals across Montana since 2020.

Our mission is to provide expert nutrition education and guidance in a safe, non-judgmental space.

At Northern Nutrition Group, our dietitians practice from the stance that health can be achieved independent from weight – and that size does not equate to health. People come in all shapes and sizes, and we are here to support the whole you.

The Northern Nutrition Group Philosophy

We recognize there are factors that influence weight beyond diet and exercise. We are also aware of the known connections between weight stigma and discrimination, and the adverse impacts stigma has on the mind and body. Therefore, we use a weight inclusive, non-judgmental, respectful, client-centered approach that supports client autonomy. Our clients receive support in creating goals and identifying internal motivations for behavior change, while receiving current, evidence-based nutrition information, education and guidance.

We support clients from all backgrounds – including but not limited to gender, race, age, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, sexuality, education level – to provide nutrition recommendations and support that align with each client’s values and culture. Our team of dietitians strive to be culturally competent when providing food recommendations, knowing cultural differences influence when and how we eat.

We also support nutritional health by increasing access to nutrition services in the community, as well as collaborating with providers who offer spiritual, physical, economic, social and emotional well-being resources.

 

Information for New Patients

Kick-start your journey to greater well-being today, or simply learn more about the process

Information for Providers

Learn more about our collaborative treatment-model and become a partner provider

Conditions We Work With

We provide support and education to help you alleviate or manage nutrition related symptoms/conditions that may be a part of your daily life. Learn more about the conditions we manage and the signs, symptoms, and considerations that play into each.

 

  • Eating disorders can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, race, body type, or socioeconomic status. Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness, only behind substance abuse.

    Types of Eating Disorders We Treat:

    • Anorexia Nervosa

    • Bulimia Nervosa

    • Binge Eating Disorder

    • Atypical Anorexia Nervosa

    • Orthorexia

    • Pica

    • Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S)

    • Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

    • Rumination Disorder

    • Night Eating Syndrome

    Look for signs and symptoms, including:

    • Inability to maintain a consistent weight

    • Eating more rapidly than normal

    • Persistent mouth ulcers

    • GI complaints and dysfunction

    • Erosion of dental enamel

    • Fatigue, dizziness, cold intolerance

    • Regular laxative use

    • Acid Reflux/ GERD

    • Abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea

    • Hair thinning/ hair loss; decreased skin and nail integrity

    • Eating large amounts of food when not feeling hungry

    • Deviation from normal growth chart curves (under age 18)

  • Our registered dietitians provide a comprehensive assessment and create tailored nutrition interventions to address gastrointestinal symptoms. With support, you can mitigate symptoms while also maintaining nutritional integrity for your health.

    Types of GI issues we manage:

    • Constipation

    • Diarrhea

    • Crohn’s Disease

    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

    • Gallbladder Disease

    • Celiac

    • Ulcerative Colitis

    • GERD

    • Acid Reflux

    • Gastric Surgery

    • Gastroparesis

    • Diverticulitis

    • Ulcers

    • Cyclical Vomiting

    • Small Intestinal Bacterial Growth (SIBO)

    Look for signs and symptoms, including:

    • Bloating

    • Abdominal cramping and pain

    • Excessive gas

    • Heart burn

    • Urgent and frequent diarrhea multiple times in a week

    • Constipation or long periods of time without having a BM

    • Difficulty swallowing, gagging

    • Vomiting

    • Retching

    • Feeling full very quickly

    • Excessive or poor appetite

  • In conjunction with other medical treatments, nutrition therapy can prevent and reduce complications of chronic medical conditions. We use an evidenced-based approach to tailor your nutrition plan to your individual needs.

    Our clinicians are trained to manage the following chronic conditions:

    • Kidney Disease

    • Gastrointestinal Disorders

    • Diabetes

    • Cancer Care

    • Metabolic Syndrome

    • Heart Disease

    • Bariatric Surgery

    • Malnutrition

    • Unstable Weight

    • Failure to Thrive

    • Food Allergies / Intolerances

    • Drug-nutrient Interactions

    • Vitamin Deficiencies

  • Ongoing support from a registered dietitian is known to improve glycemic control, regulate lipid levels, reduce complications, and delay onset of further complications related to diabetes and/or heart disease.

    We provide education and support for those experiencing or at risk of:

    • Type I Diabetes

    • Type II Diabetes

    • Gestational Diabetes

    • Pre-Diabetes

    • Stroke

    • Heart Failure

    • Heart Attack

    • Coronary Artery Disease

    • High Blood Pressure

    • High Cholesterol

    • High fasting blood sugar

    • Abnormal lipid panels

  • We believe a person’s health status can not be determined on their body size. Come learn how misinformation and unnecessary fear mongering has contributed to the increased rate of obesity alongside the increased rate of dieting/restriction. At Northern Nutrition Group we strive for healthy weight stabilization, not a number based goal.

    Areas we’ll explore to develop healthy behaviors:

    • Nutrient Needs

    • Energy Intake

    • Eating Patterns

    • Movement and Energy Usage

    • Sleep Habits

    • Self-Care

    • Lab Test Results

    • Nutrition Education

    • Cultural Messaging and Misinformation

    • Social Determinates of Health

    • Relationship with Food

    • Medication Interactions

    • Habit and Behavior Change Needs

  • The role of an oncology registered dietitian is multifaceted, aiming to enhance the overall quality of life for patients undergoing chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery and radiation.

    • Personalized Nutrition Counseling: Tailoring dietary recommendations to meet the unique needs and challenges of each patient undergoing all stages of cancer treatment.

    • Weight Management: Addressing weight changes and providing guidance on maintaining a healthy weight during treatment.

    • Nutritional Education: Offering information on the importance of proper nutrition during chemotherapy, including its impact on energy levels, immune function, and overall well-being.

    • Side Effect Management: Providing strategies to manage common side effects such as nausea, dehydration, weight loss, taste changes, mouth sores, and appetite loss through dietary modifications.

    • Supplement Guidance: Recommending appropriate supplements, if necessary, to fill nutritional gaps and support overall health.

    • Hydration Support: Emphasizing the importance of staying hydrated and suggesting ways to maintain adequate fluid intake.

    • Collaboration with your Healthcare Team: Working closely with oncologists and other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care and address specific patient needs.

    • Long-Term Survivorship Planning: Providing guidance on nutrition and lifestyle choices for post-treatment survivorship, focusing on overall health and well-being.

    • Support Groups and Resources: Facilitating or recommending support groups and resources that can provide additional emotional and nutritional support for patients.

  • Enteral nutrition delivers nutrients through the gastrointestinal tract via a feeding tube.

    Parenteral nutrition delivers nutrients through the bloodstream (intravenously).

    • Nutrition Assessment: Conducting thorough assessment to determine appropriate caloric and nutrient needs for individuals.

    • Personalized Treatment Plans: For acute and chronic conditions across infant, pediatric, adult and geriatric patients. Adapted from American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) and other evidence-based guidelines.

    • Education and Training: Offering comprehensive education and training to patients and their caregivers on proper techniques, equipment use and maintenance.

    • Transition Planning: Assisting patients in transitioning to oral nutrition when appropriate, with a focus on restoring natural eating patterns and promoting independence.

    • Bridging the Gap: Coordinated care from the hospital to your home, ensuring a smooth and confident transition and providing ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

  • With our knowledge of nutrition and metabolism we develop your personalized nutrition plan to help you properly fuel yourself for peak performance and fast recovery.

    • Athletic Fueling

    • Sports Performance

    • Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S)

    • Endurance

    • The Female Athlete Triad

  • Throughout each age and stage of womanhood, nutritional needs vary due to our reproductive ability and metabolic rate. Nutrition affects the way you experience the physical, emotional, and mental changes of development. Nutritional guidance from a registered dietitian can improve the way your body functions and feels.

    Nutritional guidance to support each stage of a woman’s life:

    • Reproductive Health

    • Irregular Menstrual Cycles

    • Pregnancy & Fetal Health

    • Postpartum & Lactation Support

    • Gestational Diabetes

    • Fertility Difficulties

    • Menopause

    • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

    • Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) & Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

 

Meet The Team

Our dietitians use a real-life approach, catered to individual needs, goals, food preferences, budget, lifestyle, culture and more. Each dietitian on our team has specialized training and years of experience in specific fields of dietetics, delivering exclusive nutrition care to each client. In our approach, we work to empower our clients in their nutrition journey by never undermining their experience and aiming to create a positive relationship with food. 

All of our dietitians are Registered Dietitians and Licensed Nutritionists in the state of Montana.

 

Kim Johnson, RD | Owner

Kim's dietetic career began in 2016 with the treatment of digestive disorders, addressing weight concerns and nourishing the gut-brain connection. A few years later she moved her career towards working in the treatment of eating disorders, where she gained experience in helping people "battle" disordered eating patterns, body shame, and diet culture mentality. Marrying these fields of nutrition gives her the tools to intricately balance treating weight concerns, eating disorders and digestive disorders without causing harm.

Kim creates a space for support, nutrition education, encouragement and accountability to help clients move from wanting change to empowered action as they develop their own healthy relationships with food.

Kim works with: weight concerns in a weight-inclusive approach, chronic dieting, eating disorders/disordered eating, IBS and ADD/ADHD.

Kim sees clients in-person in Bozeman and virtually throughout Montana.

  • Kim is a Registered Dietitian and Licensed Nutritionist in the state of Montana. Kim holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Valdosta State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition from Montana State University. She completed her postgraduate dietetic training with the Montana Dietetic Internship.

 

Leah Egbers, MS, RD, CNSC

Leah has a depth of knowledge and experience in providing medical nutrition therapy to address a wide range of needs and health concerns and working towards advance training in nutritional psychiatry.

She practices from a Health at Every Size® framework and shows up with her whole self to sessions, bringing not only her expertise, but warmth, compassion, humor, and a collaborative spirit. Leah helps her patients navigate through nutrition challengers, offering practical solutions to alleviate symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Leah works with: Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, GI cancers, GI surgery, GI trauma, IBS/IBD, bariatric surgery complications, bone marrow transplant, solid organ transplant, neurology, kidney disease and nutrition support management (enteral and parenteral nutrition).

Leah sees clients virtually throughout Montana.

  • Leah has a robust clinical background, spending the first part of her career in the University of Washington Medicine system. Here she gained diverse experience working with a variety of specialties including: GI surgery, trauma, Bone Marrow Transplant, solid organ transplant, neurology and kidney disease. Most recently Leah has worked as a nutrition support dietitian playing a vital role delivering specialized nutrition support (enteral and parenteral nutrition) to patients in the comfort of their own home.

    She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Seattle University and a Master of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University. She completed her postgraduate dietetic training at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas and is a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician.

 

Sara Jay, MS, RD

Sara provides quality and effective care through evidence-based guidance in personalized nutrition therapy sessions. She guides clients to make positive lifestyle changes to help achieve their goals and improve their overall health.

Sara’s dietetic career began in 2016 with teaching fundamental nutrition courses, while simultananioulsy working in both in-patient and out-patient settings. During her healthcare career she has worked with many diseases states, while maintaining a focus on diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases, as she is working towards gaining the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist credentialing.

Sara works with: Diabetes care and self-management for people with type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes, pre-diabetes, cardiovascular disease, related comorbidities/metabolic abnormalities, prevention of diabetes and heart disease, and weight concerns in a weight-inclusive approach.

Sara sees clients in-person in Bozeman and virtually throughout Montana.

  • She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology Education from Northern Arizona University, and a Master of Science in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from Montana State University. She completed her postgraduate dietetic training with the Montana Dietetic Internship.

    Sara provides quality and effective care through evidence-based guidance in personalized nutrition therapy sessions. She guides clients to make positive lifestyle changes to help achieve their goals and improve their overall health.

 

Jessy Griffel, RD, CNSC

Jessy has dedicated the last seven years of her career striving to make positive impacts on patients' nutritional lives in various medical settings. Her hands-on demonstrations help individuals understand and feel at ease with how to effectively use feeding tubes to meet their unique nutrition needs.

Her approach is to provide nutrition guidance, education and support with the highest degree of ease, compassion and clarity, bridging the gap between the hospital and home for those navigating nutrition for cancer and those with feeding tubes.

Jessy works with: Athletes/outdoor enthusiast, plant-based (vegetarian/vegan) diets, nutritional deficiencies and abnormal lab values, weight concerns in a weight-inclusive approach, with an expertise in oncology and nutrition support therapy (enteral nutrition).

Jessy sees clients in-person in Bozeman and virtually throughout Montana.

  • She earned her Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences from the University of Wyoming and completed her postgraduate dietetic training through Idaho State University.

    She has previous work experience as an in-patient clinical dietitian in the medical/neurosurgical trauma unit at Intermountain Healthcare, St Vincent Healthcare. More recently, she has contributed her expertise at St. Vincent Healthcare Cancer Center in Billings, Montana, where she worked in both in-patient and out-patient oncology care. Jessy is also certified and specialized in providing nutritional support for patients requiring feeding tubes.

Join the Team

Northern Nutrition Group is hiring!

We are currently hiring dietitians all over Montana who are either specialized or wanting to become specialized in a specific field. Regularly accepting resumes/CVs. Learn more and begin your new chapter with us!