Denise Lilienthal, RD

Hello! Thanks for taking a look at my profile. I am excited to help you on your nutrition journey. Having grown up on a farm, I was always reminded of the importance of nutrients to support and enhance life...whether it was human, animal or plant life. I can help you get the most out of your own nutrition.

I encountered my own ‘bump in the road’ when I was a teenager who was exercising too much and eating too little. It was at this time that my passion for adequate nutrition intensified. I wanted to learn how to fuel my body properly so that the exercise sessions I lived so much were enjoyable, not dreadful. I started working as a dietary aide, then became a cook soon after in a hospital/nursing home kitchen at this same time. I learned so much about what types of food people needed based on their health conditions. I knew I wanted to be a dietitian at this point in my life.

My path to become a dietitian was not a traditional one. I attended Minnesota State University, Mankato for my undergraduate degree in Dietetics and had a double major of Food & Nutrition. I got married halfway through my 4 year degree, and we decided to start a family at the end of my degree instead of doing the dietetic internship. Fast forward 20 years and 8 children later, I finally got back on track to achieve my goal of becoming a Registered Dietitian. I did my internship at St. Cloud Hospital in Minnesota, and passed the R.D. exam in 2020. Since that time, I have worked as a dietitian in nursing homes and hospitals, and have counseled people with a variety of health conditions.

During my time as a full-time mom, I did complete a Master's Degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition through Northeast College of Health Sciences. I learned a lot about ways to control disease without medication. Although I primarily work in facilities that favor medicinal intervention, the degree opened my mind to other options. I have also worked as a Health Coach for 2 separate weight loss programs and love to help those wanting to lose weight.

Please reach out if you’d like help on your health journey and want to learn more about my approach.