Fiorella graduated with honors and Kappa Omnicron Nu with a B.S in Nutrition and Food Science at Hunter College in New York City. She completed her dietetic internship with Hunter College School Of Public Health and her clinical training at Lincoln Hospital and Mental Health Center in Bronx, NY. She served as the primary nutritionist at The Renfrew Center New York Day Treatment Program for eating disorders. Fiorella completed post graduate training (Eating and the Body) at the Women’s Therapy Centre Institute as well as a post graduate certificate from the William Alanson White Institute, Eating Disorders, Compulsions and Addictions (EDCAS) program. At Appleman Nutrition, she provides individual nutritional counseling to adolescents and adults struggling with eating disorders, body image and weight management issues as well as pre natal and post natal nutrition concerns. Fiorella is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Dietetic Practice Groups in Behavioral Health.

Mara graduated Magna Cum Laude from Villanova University School of Business with a B.S. in Business Administration and Finance. In 2006 she left Wall Street to follow her true passion: helping others. She earned her MS in Clinical Nutrition at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, and completed her dietetic internship at Montefiore Hospital. Mara primarily specializes in the treatment and prevention of pediatric/adolescent eating disorders and feeding difficulties as well as adult eating disorders and disordered/emotional eating. She employs a clinically-savvy, warm, non-judgmental approach in providing individualized nutritional counseling to adolescents, adults and families to optimize the patient’s nutritional status and to create a positive, intuitive relationship with food and body. Mara’s other specialties include medical nutrition therapy for digestive disorders such as IBD, Crohn’s, UC and Celiac, Diabetes management, and pre-natal/post-partum nutrition.

Prior to joining the practice in 2014, Mara worked at Montefiore Medical Center as an inpatient clinical dietitian-nutritionist where she treated pediatric and adult patients with a variety of medical conditions, including gastrointestinal disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and cancer. Mara is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Greater New York Dietetic Association.

Senior Clinical Supervisor

Laura graduated from Rutgers University with a B.A. in economics. After spending 6 years on Wall Street she decided to follow her true passion and pursue a degree in nutrition and dietetics. She completed her Master’s degree in clinical nutrition at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. Laura completed her dietetic internship at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital including intensive training at the Weill Cornell Medical Center inpatient eating disorder treatment program. Laura is also an accomplished triathlete and distance runner who has completed myriad competitions and has developed a specialty in performance based nutrition as well as treating female athletes. After 6 years with Appleman Nutrition, Laura accepted a position in the Sports Medicine division at Boston Children’s Hospital. She remains part of the Appleman team as an adjunct clinician and senior clinical supervisor. Laura is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Greater New York Dietetic Association, the National Eating Disorders Association and the Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group.

Carrie earned her Bachelor of Science with Honors in Advanced Nutritional Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin. After moving back to her home state of New York and completing her dietetic internship through Northwell Health on Long Island, Carrie began working as a Clinical Dietitian at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. There, she was able to use her Medical Nutrition Therapy background to work with a wide variety of patients, primarily those with oncologic and gastrointestinal needs. Carrie continues to counsel patients in an acute care setting as a senior and supervising clinician.  Working in a clinical setting has reinforced Carrie’s core belief that balanced nutrition plays a critical role in both the prevention and maintenance of chronic illness as well as overall quality of life.  Carrie is passionate about spreading nutrition education and helping others achieve a healthy, inclusive relationship with food through a non-diet philosophy, emphasizing intuitive eating and an ‘all foods fit’ mentality.  She is an experienced nutrition educator in the community and has discussed a multitude of nutrition and wellness topics with adolescents and young adults as well as in corporate settings. Carrie has also devoted her time and expertise over the course of several years to pediatric cancer patients in a summer camp setting, where she cared for children and managed their daily programming.  Carrie strongly believes that nutrition counseling should be individualized and that eating patterns should be sustainable and enjoyable. Carrie remains an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Greater New York Dietetic Association.

Specialties: Eating and weight disorders; Gastrointestinal Disorders; Pediatric and Adolescent Nutrition

Michele Rafeld, MS, RD graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park and earned her Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics from New York University, Steinhardt School of Education.  Michele completed her Dietetic Internship at Phelps Hospital/Northwell Health including focused rotations in advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy. Michele is also a graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts and has combined her clinical and culinary training to offer cooking demonstrations in a wide variety of settings and for a diverse age group, ranging from children to adults.  She also provides private cheffing services to clients with differing nutrition needs and preferences.  Michele’s clinical practice has centered on the treatment of eating and weight disorders across the lifespan.  Prior to joining Appleman Nutrition, Michele served as the primary clinical Dietitian for the Aurora Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Program in New York City for several years and was a lead clinician at Integrated Eating, an Outpatient Nutrition Therapy practice, also located in New York City.  Michele’s work emphasizes collaboration with families, therapists, physicians, and other adjunct healthcare providers to deliver comprehensive care to her clients. Michele is committed to establishing long-term, meaningful relationships with her clients in an effort to lay a foundation for lasting lifestyle change, and to empower them to make confident food choices that enhance their health and well-being.  Michele resides in Westchester County, NY, with her husband and two young children.