Karina Almanza, MS, RDN, CDCES

Karina Almanza is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specializing in weight management, diabetes and metabolic health, and pediatric nutrition.

Karina’s work extends beyond medical nutrition therapy. She is deeply committed to helping clients rebuild trust with their bodies, heal their relationship with food and with themselves and integrates motivational interviewing and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) into her work.

Her approach is compassionate, collaborative, and rooted in sustainable change — because true wellness includes both physical health and a peaceful relationship with food.

 
 

Approach to weight management:

As a Registered Dietitian, I am passionate about helping individuals heal their relationship with food while building sustainable habits that support long-term health and well-being. I specialize in working with individuals seeking weight-management guidance who are ready to move away from the exhausting cycle of dieting and toward meaningful, lasting lifestyle change.

I understand that the journey with weight management is often deeply connected to years of dieting, frustration, body image struggles, and perhaps even stress, depression, and anxiety. My approach is rooted in compassion, collaboration, and individualized care. My goal is not to place you on another restrictive diet, but to help you break free from the diet cycle and rediscover confidence, balance, and enjoyment in your life.

Together, we will explore your personal “why,” identify the barriers that may be standing in the way of your goals, and create realistic strategies to overcome them. I believe nutrition should enhance your life—not control it. Through personalized nutrition counseling, I help clients discover nourishing foods that align with their goals while also honoring enjoyment, satisfaction, culture, and lifestyle.

I believe lasting change happens when we stop forcing ourselves into unrealistic expectations and instead learn how to care for ourselves in a way that feels sustainable and empowering. Life should not feel like one constant battle with food, exercise, or self-image. You deserve to enjoy what you eat, what you do, and who you are.

My mission is to support you in creating a healthier, more balanced life built on self-trust, nourishment, and long-term well-being.

 

What clients say

Before working with Karina, I was frustrated with out-of-control eating which led to feeling terrible physically and emotionally much of the time. You were very easy to talk to about a lot of aspects of my life that were frustrating me. Karina made very small and doable suggestions for me to try, and didn’t dictate what to do, what to eat, what to not eat. I felt - and feel - I could absolutely trust her with anything I needed to talk about.

After working with Karina, I’m easier on myself, more forgiving and patient, than I was before we worked together. I gained a lot of insight into myself - not just eating habits but how I see myself - working with Karina. And I appreciate it very much!

In my work with Karina, I learned how to incorporate mindful eating, adding vegetables, adding more rather than denying what you want. I learned how to practice radical acceptance and not getting upset about not meeting a goal. The compassion and kindness Karina practiced with me in each session was something that overtime, I started to lend myself more easily. She made small and fun goals with me like how to make better food choices and still enjoy foods I love, like adding vegetables to pizza. Instead of just a cheese sandwich, adding avocado and spinach. It's a revolutionary idea to add rather than to subtract. My way of thinking about food has changed to thinking more positively, focusing on the things to add, rather than "denying" myself, restricting or dieting.

Karina Almanza finds a manageable food plan by bringing in her research and experience with strategies that help children get personalized results aiming for nourishment and optimal development. She listened and addressed all our concerns and would go above and beyond to find answers to some of our more nuanced questions. At the end of each session she completed with a few goals that felt doable. We've met and exceeded important food milestones with Karina as our guide. Highly recommend!

Working with Karina felt supportive, and felt like you had accountability. It was nice and refreshing to have a goal to work towards. The equivalent to doing exercise with someone, Karina was a supportive partner in what you're trying to accomplish, similarly to having a coach. A kin to therapy. Most people lack support in their lives, it's different from friends or family support. Specialized and specific to nutrition changes and understanding more about it. What you feel like you know about nutrition is exactly that, Karina actually knows about nutrition who can give more concrete facts and information.

Approach to diabetes prevention and management:

As a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), I am passionate about helping individuals and families better understand and manage blood sugar levels through realistic, sustainable lifestyle changes. For the past four years, I have worked alongside an endocrinology clinic supporting families and individuals living with Type 1 Diabetes, giving me extensive experience in diabetes management, nutrition education, blood sugar monitoring, and compassionate patient-centered care.

The CDCES credential is a nationally recognized certification earned through specialized training and experience in diabetes care and education. To become certified, healthcare professionals must hold an active professional license or credential, complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of diabetes self-management education and support experience within a defined timeframe, and successfully pass a comprehensive national board examination focused on diabetes management, education, clinical care, and behavior change strategies.

My philosophy is that blood sugar management should not begin only after a clinical diagnosis. Every individual can benefit from understanding how blood sugar impacts energy, mood, hormones, hunger, long-term health, and overall quality of life. I believe nutrition counseling should empower individuals with knowledge and practical tools that fit their unique lifestyle, values, and goals.

I recognize that blood sugar levels are influenced by far more than food alone. Sleep quality, stress levels, movement, medications, daily routines, mental health, hormones, and overall lifestyle all play an important role in glucose management. Together, we will take a whole-person approach to your care by identifying patterns, barriers, and opportunities that support long-term success without perfection or restriction.

Individuals who may benefit from improved blood sugar management include:

  • Type 1 Diabetes

  • Type 2 Diabetes

  • Prediabetes

  • Gestational Diabetes

  • PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

  • Insulin Resistance

  • Reactive Hypoglycemia

  • Individuals experiencing chronic fatigue or energy crashes

  • Individuals struggling with wound healing

  • Individuals with cardiovascular disease risk factors

  • Individuals seeking weight management support

  • Individuals with elevated cholesterol or triglycerides

  • Individuals with metabolic syndrome

  • Individuals experiencing hormone imbalances

  • Athletes seeking improved energy stability and recovery

  • Individuals with a family history of diabetes

  • Individuals seeking preventative health support

During our sessions, we will explore your personal values, lifestyle, routines, and long-term goals to create an individualized plan that feels realistic and sustainable for you. Current recommendations from the American Diabetes Association will be incorporated into your care, including practical and flexible approaches such as the Plate Method, balanced meal planning, blood sugar-friendly eating patterns, and individualized nutrition strategies designed to support both your health and your relationship with food.

My goal is to help you build confidence in your choices, better understand your body, and develop lifelong habits that support stable blood sugar levels and overall well-being— without guilt, fear, or rigid dieting.

 

Approach to pediatric nutrition:

As a Registered Dietitian specializing in pediatric nutrition, I am passionate about helping children and families build a positive, supportive, and sustainable relationship with food. My approach is rooted in compassion, patience, evidence-based care, and meeting each child exactly where they are.

I have specialized training in the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding, which focuses on supporting children with sensory sensitivities, feeding challenges, and neurodivergent needs in a gentle, non-pressured environment. I understand that eating is a complex sensory experience, especially for children on the autism spectrum and other neurodivergent individuals who may face increased vulnerability to nutrient deficiencies, restrictive eating patterns, and digestive concerns.

In addition, I have completed training through Monash University in the Low-FODMAP diet to support children experiencing digestive conditions such as IBS and chronic gastrointestinal discomfort. I work closely with families to help relieve symptoms including constipation, diarrhea, bloating, indigestion, abdominal discomfort, and irregular bowel habits while also supporting nutritional adequacy and food variety.

My philosophy is that food should never become a point of fear, pressure, or conflict within the home. Instead, mealtimes should be opportunities for connection, learning, curiosity, and enjoyment. I believe the most successful outcomes happen when families work together as a team rather than isolating one child or making them feel different because of their food needs. Together, we create practical strategies that support the entire family while honoring each child’s unique sensory preferences, developmental stage, and emotional relationship with food.

I recognize that meaningful change takes time. Feeding challenges, digestive concerns, and sensory sensitivities are not resolved overnight, which is why I emphasize consistency, patience, and realistic progress throughout our sessions. My goal is to create a safe and encouraging environment where children and caregivers feel supported, empowered, and understood.