January 06, 2025Flower Person
An Inspiring Journey into Nutrition and Wellness with Amy Shapiro
I met Amy Shapiro a few years ago at a tradeshow and got connected over our love for real natural healings foods as medicine. Amy is an inspiring Registered Dietitian and the founder of Real Nutrition NYC. Her passion for nutrition, her practical approach to wellness, and her thoughts on the latest trends make her a true standout in the field. I'm excited to share the below interview with Amy.
Amy Shapiro: From Health Food Stores to NYC Nutritionist
Amy’s journey into the world of health and wellness began at home. Growing up in a family immersed in the health food industry, she learned about vitamins and supplements early on. But like many young adults, she initially followed a different path, starting a corporate career. It wasn’t long before her passion for nutrition pulled her back. After years of self-study, yoga training, and curiosity, she went back to school, earning her Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from NYU and becoming a Registered Dietitian just before her 30th birthday.
Fast forward to today: Amy has over 15 years of experience, three kids, and a thriving private practice in NYC. Her story resonates with anyone juggling real-life responsibilities while striving to make health a priority.
Q&A with Amy Shapiro
1. Can you tell us about your background in nutrition and what inspired you to become a nutritionist?
I grew up in a "health food household" when health food wasn't trendy! My dad worked (and still does) in the vitamin and supplement industry so we weren't allowed to eat anything growing up! We also owned a health food store where I worked during high school and college summers. So you can imagine studying nutrition in college was not anything I was interested in. After college I worked in corporate for many years but started to find myself taking classes, becoming a yoga instructor and reading everything I could get my hands on that had to do with nutrition and health (mind you there was no social media at the time). Finally, I couldn't resist any longer and decided to go back to school and fully commit to my passion. I left my career and returned to school at NYU to get my masters in Clinical Nutrition becoming a Registered Dietitian, officially making a career change right before my 30th birthday!
I never take for granted how good I feel and I want to help people understand and experience how great they can feel too. It doesn't have to be hard, it comes back to a few basic strategies that I know everyone, if given the knowledge, can incorporate into their lives.
2. How would you describe your approach or philosophy towards nutrition? Do you follow any particular framework or philosophy, such as intuitive eating, traditional diets, or holistic wellness?
My approach is very realistic in fact my slogan is: Real food. Real life. Real solutions. I believe your diet has to fit into your life, not the other way around. My clients are busy and I never want them to feel like they can't do what they love or enjoy their favorite foods. As a Dietitian for 15+ years, living, working and raising my three sons in NYC - I totally get it. I work with my clients to create personalized plans and strategies that work for THEM. I am clinically trained so I rely on evidence based research along with some holistic practices and supplements to help my clients meet their goals and maintain their results no matter what stage of life they are in.
My approach is very realistic in fact my slogan is: Real food. Real life. Real solutions. I believe your diet has to fit into your life, not the other way around. My clients are busy and I never want them to feel like they can't do what they love or enjoy their favorite foods. As a Dietitian for 15+ years, living, working and raising my three sons in NYC - I totally get it. I work with my clients to create personalized plans and strategies that work for THEM. I am clinically trained so I rely on evidence based research along with some holistic practices and supplements to help my clients meet their goals and maintain their results no matter what stage of life they are in.
3. When working with clients, how do you tailor nutrition advice to suit individual needs and lifestyles?
At my practice we make sure to fully understand our clients goals, health and diet histories along with lifestyles. We also review blood labs and tailor our programs to their health needs as well. During our sessions we review events that are coming up, hurdles and schedules. We help navigate these situations and even assist with menu reviews, recipe edits and food shopping. We curate snack lists and supplements that make sense for their schedules and support our clients between sessions through chat and email to make sure they feel supported and accountable. We also communicate with their care team to ensure we are on the same page and supporting them completely.
At my practice we make sure to fully understand our clients goals, health and diet histories along with lifestyles. We also review blood labs and tailor our programs to their health needs as well. During our sessions we review events that are coming up, hurdles and schedules. We help navigate these situations and even assist with menu reviews, recipe edits and food shopping. We curate snack lists and supplements that make sense for their schedules and support our clients between sessions through chat and email to make sure they feel supported and accountable. We also communicate with their care team to ensure we are on the same page and supporting them completely.
4. How do you address common nutrition myths or misconceptions that clients might bring up?
Our clients trust our expertise. When we discuss trends and myths I take the time to fully explain why or why not they are true or false. I share the science, I share why it would or would not work for this specific client and I make other recommendations that they can use instead.
Our clients trust our expertise. When we discuss trends and myths I take the time to fully explain why or why not they are true or false. I share the science, I share why it would or would not work for this specific client and I make other recommendations that they can use instead.
5. What role do you think culture plays in shaping our relationship with food, and how do you incorporate cultural preferences into your recommendations?
Culture plays an enormous role in our relationship with food. I always educate myself on cultures I am not familiar with, I ask questions if I don't know or have first hand experience. I never ask my clients to avoid their cultural favorites and always help them navigate meals, holidays and moments with loved ones.
Culture plays an enormous role in our relationship with food. I always educate myself on cultures I am not familiar with, I ask questions if I don't know or have first hand experience. I never ask my clients to avoid their cultural favorites and always help them navigate meals, holidays and moments with loved ones.
6. Can you share any recent trends in nutrition or wellness that you find promising, and why?
I am loving the focus on strength training right now. It is so empowering to feel strong and to not focus on being skinny. It is also so important to strengthen your muscles to help you live a long, active, independent and healthy life. I have been lifting weights since I was 13 and it makes me so happy that so many other women are leaning into it and not fearing "the bulk".
7. What’s your perspective on the use of supplements versus obtaining nutrients from whole foods?
As a Dietitian I always approach nutrition from a whole foods first perspective. I recognize that we can't always get everything we need from our diet and this is when I use supplements to support and fill in gaps where needed. I also use supplements to boost immunity, activity and recovery. Not all supplements are good for everyone so I personalize all recommendations per client. I only recommend third party tested products.
I am loving the focus on strength training right now. It is so empowering to feel strong and to not focus on being skinny. It is also so important to strengthen your muscles to help you live a long, active, independent and healthy life. I have been lifting weights since I was 13 and it makes me so happy that so many other women are leaning into it and not fearing "the bulk".
7. What’s your perspective on the use of supplements versus obtaining nutrients from whole foods?
As a Dietitian I always approach nutrition from a whole foods first perspective. I recognize that we can't always get everything we need from our diet and this is when I use supplements to support and fill in gaps where needed. I also use supplements to boost immunity, activity and recovery. Not all supplements are good for everyone so I personalize all recommendations per client. I only recommend third party tested products.
8. For clients with specific wellness goals, like managing stress, improving skin health, or enhancing sleep quality, how do you approach their nutrition plans?
I recommend minimizing ultra processed foods for everyone and then depending on the particular goal we get more granular. For all of these mentioned issues, I would start with the quality/quantity of caffeine, sugar and inflammatory foods. I would discuss eating windows, supplements and possible deficiencies and make sure that they are fueling up with foods that balance blood sugar, reduce cravings, decrease inflammation and promote healing. I would also focus on adequate hydration, movement and other wellness practices like sleep, stress release, nature, mental health and activity.
9. How do you educate and empower clients to maintain long-term, sustainable habits rather than quick fixes or fad diets?
I recommend minimizing ultra processed foods for everyone and then depending on the particular goal we get more granular. For all of these mentioned issues, I would start with the quality/quantity of caffeine, sugar and inflammatory foods. I would discuss eating windows, supplements and possible deficiencies and make sure that they are fueling up with foods that balance blood sugar, reduce cravings, decrease inflammation and promote healing. I would also focus on adequate hydration, movement and other wellness practices like sleep, stress release, nature, mental health and activity.
9. How do you educate and empower clients to maintain long-term, sustainable habits rather than quick fixes or fad diets?
I remind them that nothing happens overnight and that progress takes time. I speak to creating a lifestyle not a diet so they can feel good for the long haul. There truly is no magic bullet, even if they have been told there is one. I remind them that lasting results require long term changes and that results come with consistency and commitment. There will be blips that pop up but those are just moments, we don't let them turn into events. My clients know that they can't wait till Monday to restart, if you fall off you restart right away, no big deal we are always moving forward.
10. What are some common challenges or obstacles you see people face in achieving their nutrition goals, and how do you help them overcome these?
There are so many things from family to holidays, dining out, travel, kids, time constraints, stress, social media, illness...the list goes on. I am here to support my clients, talk with them, listen to them and help them to navigate anything that comes up. This is why I created my private practice so I can help my clients on an individualized basis and be there for them in a judgement free zone to support, educate, advocate and change with them so they can continue to feel healthy and strong no matter what comes up for them. Life happens but we can work with that!
There are so many things from family to holidays, dining out, travel, kids, time constraints, stress, social media, illness...the list goes on. I am here to support my clients, talk with them, listen to them and help them to navigate anything that comes up. This is why I created my private practice so I can help my clients on an individualized basis and be there for them in a judgement free zone to support, educate, advocate and change with them so they can continue to feel healthy and strong no matter what comes up for them. Life happens but we can work with that!
