Debra L. Benfield is a Master’s Level Nutritionist (M.Ed.), as well as a (Registered Dietitian (R.D.) and Licensed Dietitian/ Nutritionist (L.D.N.) with over 25 years of experience in the field.
Throughout Debra’s career, she has included behavior change, as well as mindful eating practices, as an essential component of her work with her clients. She has discovered the synergistic effect of yoga and conscious eating practices as she teaches smart nutritional choices. She uses this approach in individual and family nutritional therapy, as well as group programs and workshops. She is also a successful program developer, educator, and author.
Debra provided medical nutrition therapy as a clinical nutritionist at Wake Forest University School of Medicine for many years and was a faculty member of the School of Medicine for 10 of those years. While at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, she was responsible for a wide range of tasks: nutrition education of medical professionals and patients, clinical nutrition services, research, and administration. She was also in private practice part-time during those years with a transition to full time private practice in 2005. Debra’s experience also includes being a chief clinical dietitian, a clinical nutritionist for North Carolina School of the Arts, and a nutritionist in an addiction treatment center.
Debra is currently a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders, American Dietetic Association (ADA), and Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutritionists, Dietitians in Functional Medicine (also known as Complementary Medicine), Behavioral Health Nutrition, Weight Management and Vegetarian Nutrition, (practice groups of the ADA).