Hi everyone! My name is Nicole and I am a registered dietitian that graduated from Michigan State University with a masters degree in human nutrition—GO GREEN! I am also a wife and momma to my beautiful daughter, Cora Jane. Prior to starting my private practice I worked as a clinical dietitian at a community hospital located in Marshall, Michigan. Throughout the years of working as a clinical dietitian I was able to work with a wide variety of disease states such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, renal failure, gastrointestinal diseases, malnutrition, dysphagia, pregnancy & hyperemesis, post-op surgeries, and more! I am also a certified nutrition support clinician and have a deep passion for working with individuals of whom require alternative methods of receiving nutrition --- whether that be tube feeding through the gut or nutrition given via IV through the blood (I know… cool, right?). I truly enjoyed working in a hospital setting and am forever grateful for the knowledge and experience that I gained in doing so. 

So… what made me change career paths from working in a clinical setting to owning my own private practice?

Fast forward 4+ years of working as a clinical dietitian and BOOM-- I became a momma for the first time. Once I became a mom it became very clear to me that it was time for me to step away from the 9-5 corporate role and challenge myself in different ways... like by becoming an entrepreneur. I liked the idea of building my own brand. I liked the idea of becoming my own boss and not having to work for somebody else. I wanted to be able to set my own schedule to allow me to prioritize being a momma first, while still being able to have a career as a registered dietitian. I knew the private practice route was a better fit for me and my family. And besides, by going the private practice route I knew I'd be able to have more of an impact on the clients that I work with, as there are significant limitations that come with working in a corporate setting (like 10,000 rules and guidelines to follow while working for a corrupt healthcare system). I could be whoever I wanted to be by going the private practice route. 

So what was it that motivated me to finally quit my day job and take the risk?

My husband. The dreamer. My biggest cheerleader. The one that believed in me before I believed in myself. 

& my daughter. Everything that I do in life, I do for my daughter. It was time to lead by example and teach my daughter to not be afraid of failure, to not be afraid to take the risk. It was time for me to teach her that anything is possible if you truly believe in yourself. It was time for me to believe in myself and become the entrepreneur that I have always wanted to be. It was time for me to follow my dreams. 

& that my friends is how Nicole Baker Nutrition LLC came to life.