The Meaning behind Nourished 4 Life
Nourished 4 Life was founded by Rebekah Hilfiger after having her daughter. Rebekah had been a Dietitian for a number of years with experience in various areas of nutrition. When she encountered a difficult pregnancy fraught with food aversions & nausea she became determined to create the resources & offer the help for other moms she wished she had.
The concept behind the name Nourished 4 Life is that the foods and nourishment (or lack therefore of) women eat impact not just her health, but the health of her baby, her grandchildren, and generations to come. The “4” represents the four stages of childbearing; preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding/infantfeeding. We live in a society that glorifies dieting and restricting food intake to achieve a certain body type or that one’s character & morality depend on eating a certain way. However this comes at the cost of true health. Rebekah believes that nourishing our bodies with real food is the best form of self care and self love. Eating a healthy diet is more about balance than “eating this, not that”. When women walk into motherhood (pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding & beyond) well nourished, they are better equipped to withstand the challenges of a changing body & hormones, healing after childbirth, disrupted sleep and the other stressors that comes with this major life transition. Mothers go to great lengths to love and care for their children, let me help you feel your best, so you can be your best!
My Story
I am originally from Rochester, NY. My interest in nutrition developed at a young age after struggling with eating disorders in middle and high school. I was enamored with the important role food and nutrition play in our bodies and health. So I decided to study Nutrition and Dietetics at Messiah College. My favorite nutrition class in college was Nutrition Through the Lifecycle, as I had always had an interest in pregnancy & childbirth. I wanted to combine these two passions, but life took me another direction and it fell to the wayside for some time. In fall of 2018 I experienced a miscarriage and felt so alienated by my body. I thought I was healthy, but there were lots of signs that my cycle & hormone health were suffering. So I started to lean in and learn how to better take care of my fertility & reproductive health. Fast forward one year, my husband and I moved from upstate NY to Houston, TX and discovered shortly after our move that we were expecting! The excitement was clouded by six months of nausea & severe food aversions though. In the midst of my pregnancy I felt that there was not enough help and resources for women like myself; women that don’t have hyperemesis gravidarum, but still experience poor quality of life due to severe nausea & food aversions.
After my daughter was born, despite preparing myself well, postpartum & breastfeeding were still very challenging. I experienced first hand the lack of support and resources in our society for postpartum moms. So I started pursuing further education in the areas of pregnancy & postpartum nutrition. How can I replenish my body after such a challenging pregnancy? Is it possible to prevent the extent of nausea & food aversions I experienced in future pregnancies? How can we better prepare & support women for postpartum & breastfeeding? These questions and more led me to start Nourished 4 Life! I am also in the process of becoming a Doula & Lactation Consultant. So I can better help prepare & support moms during the vulnerable time of postpartum.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter, being active outdoors, and cooking old and new recipes in my kitchen.
Nutrition Philosophy
Rebekah believes food is medicine and takes a Functional Integrative approach to nutrition. Rebekah’s philosophy is nutrition as a lifestyle. Not a diet or one way of eating fits everyone. Each person is different and has individual needs. Each client receives individualized nutrition care plans based on the client’s health goals, medical history, fitness level, nutrition knowledge and lifestyle.
Rebekah focuses on nutrient dense whole foods, which minimizes processed foods. When foods are left in their most natural state the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are more prevalent. Eating nutrient dense, whole foods as a lifestyle is proven to reduce the risk of disease and promote overall health.
Rebekah empowers individuals to transform their health and life through behavior change and by teaching them how to eat real food intuitively. She helps clients develop realistic and sustainable goals that will lead to long term success and provides encouragement all along the way.
Professional Credentials
Licenses & Certifications
- Registered Dietitian Nutritionist accreditation by Commission on Dietetic Registratio
- Licensed Dietitian in the State of Texas
- Certified Dietitian Nutritionist in New York State
education background
- Bachelors of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Messiah College (now Messiah University) in 2013
- Completed accredited Dietetic Internship program with over 1200 hours of training & experience in clinical, community, & food service nutrition for eligibility to become an RDN.
- Ongoing continuing education in prenatal, postpartum, & breastfeeding nutrition, women’s health & hormones, diabetes, gut health, nutrient metabolism & more!
Professional Experience
- Nearly a decade of helping individuals and families develop healthful eating habits, manage diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, weight management & more
- I’ve worked in a variety of settings with all ages & stages including long term care, group homes, WIC & community cooking classes for kids, athletic facilities, dialysis, & private practice
- Each of these experiences has deepened my desire to help people achieve better health and prevent chronic disease through prenatal, postpartum & early childhood nutrition!
"Enjoying our food is just as important to
our overall health as the nutrients
in the foods we eat."