Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Silverman.
Hi Jennifer, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Sure! My name is Jennifer, but I go by Jen. I’m a mom of three, a wife, an avid fitness enthusiast and a nutritionist.
How to get to where I am today? That’s a longer story. Like most young adults, after college, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do with myself career-wise. I have a lot of family who work in health care, my mom, specifically, who was a nurse practitioner. She loved her job.
Fast forward to my twenties, I experienced a whole host of health ailments stemming from Lyme’s Disease. That really drove me into wanting to learn more about how to take control of my health. I believe healthcare system is more often a “sick-care” system. I wanted to change that. I wanted to focus on preventing disease through better food choices and healthy habits.
I went back to graduate school, earning a Master’s in Health Promotion Management with a specialization in Nutrition Education from American University in Washington D.C. earning an M.S. and Nutrition Education Certification. I spent nearly a decade consulting organizations in the public and private sectors on their employee wellness programs. I developed health education programs, led seminars, and worked closely with several Fortune 500 companies to create strategies to improve productivity and drive lasting behavior change.
After becoming a mother, I knew I wanted to travel less, spend more time with my family, and focus more on working 1:1 with individuals. I studied holistic nutrition and functional nutrition to broaden my area of expertise. I started in New York City, but the pandemic brought me back to Maryland in 2020. I now run my private practice in Bethesda, working with clients in the DMV and around the country. I’ve been fortunate to have had an opportunity to contribute to and serve as a subject matter expert for several publications – Shape Magazine, Business Insider, Reader’s Digest, Runner’s World, Eat This Not That, Aaptiv, and Ladders.
When I’m not working, I’m spending time with my family, playing tennis, or experimenting with new healthy recipes.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wouldn’t call it particularly challenging, but there were some bumps, as with any business. I had a really great experience working in corporate wellness but made a sacrifice for my family. You see, my husband travels a lot for work as well, and one of us had to scale back and take on more responsibilities at home.
When I left the corporate space, I spent years trying to grow my private client base. I connected with local schools and boutique fitness studios, leveraging relationships to gain more exposure. All in all, I’d say I’m still growing and learning. The science of nutrition is ever-changing and new research comes out often. I have to stay on top of it in order to best serve my clients. It can be discouraging at times, how conflicting the research is. The good news is, I love working with people and learning.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m still focusing on prevention through daily habit change. I really enjoy working with people to help them understand how to fuel and nourish themselves so they can live long and optimal life. As I’m aging, I have started to focus a lot on longevity. Most of my clients are my peers — women and men who work hard, play hard, and want to feel their best, so they can make the most of their time every day. They typically have similar goals.
When working with someone, I always consider the whole picture, from food to exercise, to stress management and restful sleep. I focus first on educating them about the power of food, debunking common dieting misconceptions then move to helping them develop a healthy relationship with food and eating.
Do you have any advice for those just starting?
I wish I had less fear. Don’t make that mistake.
Years ago, I was so consumed with the approval of others and the fear of failure, that I didn’t take many chances. Although I used social media to grow my business, I was afraid to talk to a camera and afraid to be controversial with some of my content.
Oh, and keep learning! It’s great for your health ☺
Contact Info:
- Website: jensilvermannutrition.com
- Instagram: @jensilvermannutrition
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jensilvermannutrition/
