Tracy Bjerke, RDN, LD
Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor
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I’m Tracy Bjerke (she/her), a registered dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. I specialize in helping my clients heal their relationship with food and body through reconnecting with their inner wisdom. I offer individual nutrition counseling from an anti-diet, weight-inclusive perspective which means I’ll never tell you what foods you can or can’t eat. Instead my mission is to help you find freedom from diet culture, get back to the joy of eating and reclaim your life.
I understand that starting to work with a registered dietitian can bring up all sorts of emotions as you begin to talk about food and body image. I believe you know your body best so I will ask you about your goals, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so I can work with you to create a plan of action. The journey of healing from an eating disorder, disordered eating or dieting can take some time. I want you to know that I am truly invested in your overall wellbeing and I am here to support you and walk alongside you on your journey. I believe all bodies deserve dignity and respect. I am passionate about hearing people’s stories and understand we all have different lived experiences and privileges that shape how we view and show up in the world.
My nutrition therapy includes these foundations: Intuitive Eating, Health at Every Size®, and Ellyn Satter approaches (fdSatter and ecSatter). I earned my bachelor's degree in dietetics from Minnesota State University–Mankato, followed by a Dietetic Internship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. I have been serving, educating and helping members of southern Minnesota communities as a registered dietitian since 2013. My experience involves working with ages 4 years - older adults, providing individual nutrition counseling and family-based feeding therapy.
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Individual Nutrition Counseling
During our first session together, I will get to know you further by listening to your story. We will discuss your health history, your relationship with food and body, food preferences, and more.
Follow-up sessions allow for discovery and clarity. They allow you to ask questions and work through challenges along the way. They will help you listen, learn and trust your body as you become the expert of you and rediscover the joy of eating. Please know that this journey will take time and patience. It takes vulnerability and bravery to create a life on your terms and find the joy and freedom of becoming an intuitive eater.
Group Programming
Are you ready to heal your relationship with food? Are you ready to rediscover the joy of eating? Based on the self-care eating framework of Intuitive Eating, this group program will provide you with the tools and support you need to say goodbye to the guilt and shame of diet culture. The program will guide you on a journey of discovery and curiosity to make peace with food and rediscover the satisfaction and joy of eating.
Consulting
To schedule a presentation or workshop for your business, local group or organization, contact me for options and pricing.
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How long is each session?
Initial sessions are 90 minutes in length and follow-up sessions are 45 minutes.
Do you take insurance?
At this time, I accept BlueCross/BlueShield, Blue Plus, South Country Health Alliance, Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, Aetna, Preferred One, Health Partners, Cigna and UCare insurance. For clients who have a different insurance you may request a superbill, which you may submit to your insurance company for reimbursement purposes. A superbill does not guarantee payment for services. I can provide you with a guide to check your nutrition counseling benefits to see if our time together is covered by your insurance plan.
How often would I come to nutrition counseling?
Scheduling frequency of appointments is flexible and always left up to the client. However, I prefer weekly appointments to start with reassessment along your journey.
How do I know if a registered dietitian is right for me?
It is important that you find a registered dietitian that is the right fit for you. Working with a registered dietitian can bring up all sorts of emotions as you begin to talk about food and body image. It is important that you feel comfortable with and trusting of the person you are working with. I invite my clients to tell me at any time if I am not the right fit for them.
How many sessions will I need?
Nutrition counseling is a very individual journey and the number of sessions varies from client to client.
Is what we discuss in sessions confidential?
Yes, everything we discuss in session is confidential unless you give me permission to share with others, such as your primary care provider or therapist.
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Books
Intuitive Eating by Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole
Intuitive Eating Workbook by Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole
Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff
Radical Acceptance: Embrace Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach
Embody: Learning to Love Your Unique Body (and Quiet the Critical Voice Within) by Carol Sobczak
Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls: A Handbook for Unapologetic Living by Jess Baker
Landwhale: On Turning Insults Into Nicknames, Why Body Image Is Hard, and How Diets Can Kiss My Ass by Jes Baker
The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor
Body Kindness by Rebecca Scritchfield
You Have the Right to Remain Fat by Virgie Tovar
Body Respect by Linda Bacon and Lucy Aphamore
Secrets from the Eating Lab by Traci Mann
Born to Eat: Whole, Healthy Foods from Baby’s First Bite by Leslie Schilling and Wendy Jo Peterson
Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family by Ellyn Satter
How to Raise an Intuitive Eater: Raising the Next Generation with Food and Body Confidence by Sumner Brooks and Amee Severson
Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison
More Than a Body by Lindsay Kite and Lexie Kite
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
My Body, My Home: A Radical Guide to Resilience and Belonging by Victoria Emanuela & Caitlin Metz
Burnout: The Secrets to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
Accounts to Follow on Social Media
Marci Evans
Fiona Sutherland
Haley Goodrich
Rachael Hartley
Paige Smathers
Sumner Brooks
Lindsay Stenovec
Anna Sweeney
Aaron Flores
Eff Your Beauty Standards
Virgie Tover
Leslie Schilling
Be Nourished with Hilary Kinavey & Dana Sturtevant
Julie Duffy Dillon
Christy Harrison
Rebecca Scritchfield
Podcasts
Food Psych with Christy Harrison
The Mindful Dietitian with Fiona Sutherland
Find Your Food Voice with Julie Duffy Dillon
Body Kindness with Rebecca Scritchfield
The Messy Intersection: Pregnancy, Motherhood and Feeding Our Kids with Diana K. Rice
Sunny Side Up Nutrition with Anna Mackay, Elizabeth Davenport & Anna Lutz
Client Testimonials
“I gained so much in the year that I worked with Tracy on Intuitive Eating. I had read the books and listened to the podcasts, but I needed more to help me truly start to integrate IE into my life. Tracy has knowledge and expertise, but even more importantly, she possesses the humor, warmth, and compassion that made each session meaningful and helpful. I grew so much in my journey with IE during my time with Tracy, as my guide and cheerleader. The lessons she helped me learn have been invaluable in helping me to have a better relationship with food and my body.”
“I hated a lot of food before I started working with Tracy and often felt guilty for eating certain foods. She helped me to unlearn those negative associations and start viewing different foods with a neutral lens. That helped guide me toward making food choices based on my body’s needs at the time without feelings of shame or guilt associated. Tracy listens and meets you at your spot in the journey every time you meet and does not judge you or your progress. She is an excellent active listener that cares about my issues with food and not just the result of my journey.”
“I was diagnosed with type two diabetes and felt defeated, exhausted, disappointed, and confused about how to start some major food changes. I would have binge eating episodes and there was no connection between my mind and actual hunger cues. I always fell into different diets but always failed. I knew I needed a different approach to be a healthier me. Tracy helped me really dig into the miscommunication my brain was having with my hunger and she helped me achieve the goals I set. After working with Tracy, I felt empowered, confident in what I was eating, and connected with my hunger/full cues. My overall lab results and sleep have improved, my stress level has decreased, I have more energy and my relationship with food is better than it’s ever been. I’m a happier person, a better mom, wife and employee. I am modeling a healthy eating relationship with food to break a generational cycle with fad diets and poor relationships with food. Tracy changed my opinion on dietitians as a whole. She is person centered, non-judgmental, empowering, supportive, and goal oriented.”