Helping you find food clarity and confidence — no matter your journey.
Many people I work with notice that appetite changes make eating feel more complicated than expected.
Protein feels important but harder to prioritize. Some foods sit well one day and not the next. Instead of clear hunger cues, there’s often uncertainty — and a lot of second-guessing.
My work focuses on bringing clarity back to those everyday decisions, without rigid rules or pressure.
Hi, I’m Steph!
Registered Dietitian and Board Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management. I’ve been specializing in bariatric and obesity care since 2009.
I started Bariatric Food Coach in 2012 because I saw something too many people experience:
You make a brave decision — surgery, medication, or both — and then you still don’t know what to eat next. That uncertainty turns every meal into stress, and that’s not how anyone deserves to live.
For over a decade I’ve worked with patients across the surgery and weight-management spectrum — in clinics, outpatient care, and now online — helping people feel steady, satisfied, and confident with their food, long after treatment begins
Why this matters
You didn’t break anything. You’re not behind.
You’re reacting to a mix of biology, appetite changes, and noise in the nutrition world — and that’s normal.
My approach to obesity care
Appetite changes
When hunger cues shift, it’s common to feel unsure about when or how much to eat. Structure often helps more than restriction.
Protein without pressure
Protein matters, but forcing food rarely works. Learning how to include it gently and consistently makes a big difference.
Food confidence
Instead of rigid plans, I focus on helping you feel steady and confident around food choices in real life. And we can’t talk about food without talking about emotions and hormones that drive us to eat outside of hunger.
A little bit about my journey
Before Bariatric Food Coach, I worked on bariatric teams at multiple Centers of Excellence in Kansas and Oklahoma, partnering with surgeons and patients through every stage of weight-loss care.
I hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Food and Nutrition and became a Registered Dietitian because I love translating complex science into simple daily choices that actually work.
In 2015 I published a cookbook, Best Fork Forward: Everyday Dinners after Bariatric Surgery, and many of my recipes can still be found in popular recipe apps and databases.
Along the way, we’ve grown from my clinic materials to an online library with:
Hundreds of recipes
Guided resources
Courses and tools for food clarity
A supportive community of people who want lifelong success
Where we are now
Today, Bariatric Food Coach is a space for people navigating obesity care in real life — whether that includes surgery, medication, a combination of tools, or ongoing adjustments along the way.
My work focuses on helping you feel steady and confident with food through practical guidance, recipes, and education designed for long-term support. There’s no one “right” path here — just evidence-based help that meets you where you are.
Want to connect?
If you’d like ongoing guidance, my Sunday emails are where I share practical nutrition insights, recipes, and perspective to support long-term food confidence.
If you’re looking for a gentle place to start, I have to free guides to offer – one more surgical focused and other GLP-1 focused:
>> Food Clarity at Every Stage Post-op
>> Nourishing Your Body on a GLP-1
And if you’re ready for deeper support, I offer additional resources and programs designed to meet you where you are — without pressure or perfection.
I’m glad you’re here, however you choose to engage.
Contact me at steph@bariatricfoodcoach.com for any account questions, business, or other inquiries.
For account or payment, questions try our FAQ page or email support@bariatricfoodcoach.com
