Dena Don, MS, RDN, CDN

A Bit About Me

My name is Dena Don, and I’m the creator of The Artsy Palate! I’m a New York-certified registered dietitian nutritionist specializing in treating individuals struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating. I am also a recipe developer and founder of Adulting Nutrition, a virtual meal-prep subscription program for busy young adults. All posts, photographs and recipes that you’ll find on this site are created by me, unless otherwise indicated.

I am so excited that you’re here! Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and my nutrition philosophy.

My Interests

When I’m not taking care of my sourdough starter (her name is Donna Don) or talking about how much I love avocado and plants, you can find me doing pretty much anything that involves expressing my creativity. This includes – but definitely is not limited to – drawing, painting, cooking, baking, writing and hairstyling. I also enjoy exercising – you can find me at barre class or biking outdoors when the weather is nice. If you couldn’t tell, I am definitely the kind of girl who enjoys keeping busy!

My Family

Here are some pictures of me with my #1 taste tester and husband, Avishai.

Here are some pictures with me and the rest of my immediate family.

My Education and Background

After graduating from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Dietetics and a B.A. in Journalism, I completed my supervised practice hours (dietetic internship) with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. I mainly rotated at the Weill Cornell and Columbia campuses. I then continued my education at New York University, where I pursued an M.S. degree in Clinical Nutrition.

You should know that I am Jewish, and I keep kosher. I am also a pescatarian (vegetarian who eats fish) due to taste preferences – nothing to do with health or nutrition! I share this because these factors both inspire my food choices and recipes.

The Mission of The Artsy Palate

My main goal in creating this blog is to combine my passion for nutrition with my love of writing. I’m here to teach you some tips for how to eat more healthfully and share some recipes while you laugh at the craziness of my life (and trust me, there’s a lot to laugh at).

I promise to keep my posts transparent, real, honest and straightforward. I can assure you that you’re seeing the raw, #unfiltered version of me here, recipe fails and all. Basically, I do my best to keep the “Instagram” version of me the same as the real version of me because I value genuineness, and I’m sure you do, too!

Though young adults will probably find this blog to be most relatable, the messages (and recipes) that I’m sharing here really apply to all audiences!

My Approach to Nutrition

Nutritious eating should be intuitive, practical, easy, fun and enjoyable, and I’m here to help facilitate that. Did you know that all foods can fit in a healthy diet?!

I see every eating occurrence as an opportunity to nourish myself optimally, but dessert is also an essential part of my diet (and not chickpea blondie dessert, real-deal dessert!). Now that we’re on this topic, you should know that chocolate has a special place in my heart, and I always have a steady supply available in my apartment :).

If I am craving something, I will eat it, regardless of its nutritional content, and I invite you to do the same! I believe that healthy eating is about inclusion rather than exclusion, and as you’ll see through my posts, seek to spread that message. I am not a fan of dieting or restriction, as it’s not sustainable for the long term. Additionally, through working with patients who have disordered eating, I see firsthand the harm that dieting can cause, so I stay as far away from it as possible!

When considering if a nutrition goal is appropriate, I invite you to ask yourself if you can see yourself sustaining the change for longer than 1 year. If the answer is no, then try to re-work your goals so that they align better with your lifestyle!

To me, healthy eating means eating mostly healthy most of the time, as the tagline of my blog states. In order to have a healthy relationship with food, it’s crucial to allow yourself to enjoy both nutrient-dense and less nutrient dense food options.

The Story of The Artsy Palate

The Artsy Palate was born in October 2015, when I spent a year abroad in a seminary in Israel after graduating from high school. Back then, my main purpose in blogging was to help other girls in seminary programs combat the infamous #sem70 – aka the 70 pounds that seminary girls supposedly gain while in Israel for the year. In reality, 70 pounds is a bit of an exaggeration (it’s usually about 10-15-20 pounds, but also no one is counting!).

Anyways, The Artsy Palate was a platform for me to share some of my favorite nutritious recipes and tips for how to eat more mindfully while surrounded by the delicious tastes of a new country. I continued this blog after my year in Israel to encourage others to join me in my mission to eat healthfully as a college student (and beyond!). The Artsy Palate has continuously morphed throughout my academic and professional career and will continue to adapt as I navigate through life. Stay tuned for what’s to come next! 🙂

Work With Me

Let’s Work Together!

Work with me Privately

I currently have openings to see new patients! Please email dena@theartsypalate.com if you are interested in hearing more about what working together could look like. I specialize in treating patients who have eating disorders and disordered eating, though I also see patients who are grappling with a variety of concerns, including GI issues, high cholesterol, meal-prep struggles and more! I practice from a non-judgmental, all-foods-fit approach, which means you won’t have to say goodbye to any of your favorite foods!

Adulting Nutrition

I recently relaunched Adulting Nutrition, a virtual meal-prep subscription program for busy young adults. I am super passionate about this program, as meal-prep is key if you are a busy person who wants to eat nutritious meals. Please click here to see more details about the Adulting Nutrition program!

Freelance Positions

I am currently accepting freelance writing, proofreading and recipe developing positions. Please email theartsypalate@gmail.com with any inquiries!

See More of My Work

Here is a link to my LinkedIn page, in case you’d like to see what I’ve done professionally. You can also follow @theartsypalate and @adultingnutrition on Instagram if you like what you see here and would like to hear from me more regularly.

To read things I’ve written for various publications, click on the “Other Writings” tab in the menu.

Thanks for Stopping By!

This blog would gain so much from the input of others, so I encourage you to please comment any thoughts, ideas, feelings, suggestions or pictures on any of my posts. If one of my recipes or tips has been working for you, I’d love to hear about it!

Contact Me

Thank you again for taking the time to learn more about me and what I do! Feel free to email me at theartsypalate@gmail.com with any comments, questions or if you’re interested in working together. I’d love to hear from you!

Wishing you health and the ability to enjoy all of your favorite foods guilt-free,
Dena

Disclaimers

The content on this blog is meant for informational purposes only and should not take the place of medical advice. Before making any changes to your current eating plan, be sure to check with your doctor and a nutrition professional, such as a registered dietitian, especially if you have any food intolerances, allergies or medical conditions. Nothing posted on this blog is intended to cause harm or offense of any kind.

Additionally, please understand that my views on nutrition and diet are constantly evolving. Though I do my best to keep this blog up to date, it’s possible that I no longer hold views shared on older posts.