Nutrition Program

Our experienced Registered Dietitians provide a comprehensive nutritional evaluation during the initial stage of treatment and design a customized meal plan for each resident. Each resident will address the complex and varied eating issues as they meet with the dietitian for individual sessions, participate in meal planning classes, attend educational presentations, and engaged in experiential activities.

 
Rosewood's Nutritional program is designed to assist Residents in:

• Identifying their food rituals or "self-imposed rules and beliefs" that limit their ability to be flexible and enjoy a variety of foods.
• Constructing a comfortable, safe, and joyful association with food.
• Changing the way individuals think about nutrition by learning more about how their bodies function and operate.
• Leaving food and body myths behind and cultivating new thoughts and ideas for meeting their nutritional needs.
• Recognizing the connection between appetite cues and overwhelming feelings/emotions, and then using tools to uncover the “true” sense of hunger and fullness.
• Learning to plan for and prepare meals and snacks; at home or while dining out.
• Understanding and managing a variety of medical complications associated with eating disorders, including but not limited to: constipation, diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, electrolyte imbalances, anemia, reflux, heartburn, cardiac abnormalities, amenorrhea, dental sensitivities, osteoporosis, hypoglycemia and ketosis.
• Addressing individualized issues around phsyical activity.
• Reviewing family patterns and creating a relaxed and comfortable mealtime atmosphere that stems from improved communication skills.
• Constructing an individualized plan for continued professional support and abundant living after treatment.
• Specific support to binge eating issues and post bariatic challenges associated with eating disorders.
• WSork to educate and manage diabulemia and other medical issues related to dietary intake (Celiac's disease, food allergies, food intolerances, etc).
• Support around body image that presents throughout the treatment process.
• Underlying Rosewood Philosophy is that "Food is the Best Medicine" and the Registered Dietitians work closely with the clinicals, psychiatrists, and physicians to ensure best patient care.

Megan Kniskern, MS, RD
Executive Clinical Nutrition Director

Megan is the Executive Nutrition Services Director at Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders. She brings ten years of experience working with wellness programs and eating disorders in men, women and adolescents. Megan is also passionate about cooking and finding new ways to create a positive relationship with food. Believing that the mind body connection is an important part of the treatment and recovery journey, Megan has been a certified yoga instructor for seven years, who combines mindfulness practices and meditation techniques with traditional nutritional models. Megan has taught at the university level and is a popular guest speaker around the country.
 
 
   

Kristine Bott, MS, RD
Dietitian, Adult Services

Kristine has been a Registered Dietitian for 18 years and has been working for over 20 years with a specialized expertise in the area of eating disorders. Kristine has functioned as the Director of Nutrition inpatient and outpatient services for two inpatient/ outpatient eating disorder programs and has also maintained a private practice for the past 19 years. Kristine specializes in the re-feeding of high medical/nutritional risk adult male and female patients suffering from all types of eating disorders. She also has extensive knowledge and experience in nutrition therapy for alcohol/substance detoxification, gastric bypass surgery and patients dealing with specific nutrition related illnesses and conditions. Her extensive outpatient counseling experience includes individual, group and family nutrition counseling and education in inpatient and numerous outpatient settings, direct 1:1 mealtime support, home pantry and fridge renovations, cooking/recipe selection and implementation shopping and cooking experientials. Kristine follows a non-dieting philosophy as her nutritional approach to weight management and has led multiple didactic and experiential groups in support of health at every size. Kristine works only with a complete treatment team model, she is passionate about the importance of the relationship a client has with her Dietitian and treatment team emphasizing trust and safety as the key elements to her practice. The foundation of Kristine’s nutrition counseling style is motivational interviewing/education based and is directed towards helping clients to dispel myths relating to food and helping clients trust and reconnect with their bodies’ own physical hunger and satiety cues.
 
Kristine earned her B.S. undergraduate degrees in both counseling psychology and clinical nutrition from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, completed her pre-professional practice program (AP4) at Arizona State University, and her graduate degree in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics also from Arizona State University. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), the ADA practice groups of sports nutritionists (SCAN), Weight Management (WMPG) and The Central Arizona District Dietetic Association. Nutrition, cooking, strength training, fitness and exercise are personal as well as professional interests. She lives in the North Phoenix area with her four sons.
 
 

 Kim Vavrosky, MS, RD, CDE
Dietitian, Adolescent Services

Kim is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator that came to Rosewood with years of experience working with adolescent and adult clients. She has her Masters Degree in Dietetics with an emphasis in Counseling, which has assisted with working with the Eating Disorder population. Kim has specialized diabetes knowledge and is able to individualize nutritional care while assisting with the management of blood sugars. Kim takes a realistic approach to meal planning and combines that with the standards of practice for nutritional care.

Deborah Richardson, MA, RD
Dietitian, Outpatient Program

Deborah Richardson is a Registered Dietitian for Rosewood Center for Eating Disorders providing nutrition expertise to clients and families in an outpatient setting including initial assessments, meal planning, group therapy and ongoing counseling to normalize eating behaviors and improve health status. Deborah has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and Nutrition as well as a graduate degree in Training and Organizational Development. Deborah's work experience includes designing and facilitating nutrition education programs, counseling individuals and families on making appropriate behavioral and lifestyle modifications to achieve optimal health, and providing clinical nutrition assessment and consultation to patients in long term care, assisted living and behavioral health care facilities. Deborah is also a member of the American Dietetic Association and the Arizona Dietetic Association.

Kristen Schweers MS, RD
Dietitian, Partial Hospitalization Program

 
Kristen is a native of Arizona, graduating from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in nutritional sciences.  During this time she worked with the HIV/AIDS population, doing research studies, and volunteering for local nonprofits. She has worked as a consultant for skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities, monitoring medical nutrition therapies for both acute and chronic illness. Kristen has taught food and culinary science classes at the college level and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Dietetics.