Madeline Crabtree, RD

I am a Mom of three and have a love for all things food and outdoors. I have been through a long, strenuous journey of finding myself and my own confidence. I was an athlete my entire life playing competitive basketball year round and volleyball. Nevertheless, I was very fit, lean, and had the metabolism of a 12 year old boy. When I hit the age of 17, naturally, I started having to be aware of what I was consuming and started feeling the lapse in my food choices.

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Alongside this realization, my Mother was diagnosed with brain cancer known as glioblastoma multiforme - my biggest comfort became food. Everyday chocolate cakes, donuts, marshmallows, chocolate bars, you name it, I ate it. I felt out of control, a feeling like if I just ate to the point that I couldn’t feel anything anymore, I wouldn’t have to face the pain of what was happening at home.

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 On November 3rd, 2009, my mom passed away at our home. After that, nothing could change the hole that was left inside me - alcohol, drugs, food…nothing, but still I tried to find some form of comfort.

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At this point in my life, I was a collegiate basketball player, so yes, I lifted and worked out like crazy, but because of my poor eating habits, I felt bulky, heavy, and sluggish. I found that I needed a change, and decided to step off the court and transfer to Bucknell University where I had to face every athlete’s struggle - transitioning into real life. 

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During my junior semester abroad in Tanzania, I contracted a parasite that altered my internal body chemistry, forever impacting what I could and could not eat without consequence. I came back 30 pounds lighter, no muscle definition, and countless people telling me I looked like a model.

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I loved it. And with that love came the fear of ever gaining weight again. After that, I started running everyday, twice a day, and eating mainly vegetables and salads for my meals. I was not happy, I was not healthy, and I was obsessed with being skinny.

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As time went on, I realized how weak I truly felt and hated feeling bloated, lethargic, and anxiety ridden around food. 

I embarked on a quest to regain my ability to eat the foods I once enjoyed, so my focus shifted to nutrition and exercise. I became a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and started my journey to have a career as a dietitian.

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Now as registered dietitian nutritionist with a Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics and a member of Dietitians in Integrative & Functional Medicine, I love that I actually enjoy a career within the world of food nutrition and exercise that can make a difference by helping others who want to live a healthy life.