My Professional Journey
I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with extensive training in nutrition, wellness, and clinical dietetics. I translate complex nutrition science into practical, actionable health advice.
I hold a degree in Nutrition & Dietetics from Samford University, completed an intensive dietetic internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and pursued graduate courses in Human Nutrition at the University of Alabama.
Nutrition science fascinates me because I see the wonder and intricacy of our bodies as a glorious reflection of our Creator’s beauty and His care for us in the most personal aspects of our lives. This belief forms the foundation of my work, inspiring me to serve others with compassion and integrity through personalized health and wellness strategies.
Before starting my private practice in 2016, I specialized as a clinical dietitian at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, where I found deep satisfaction in working with patients and their families facing challenging health conditions.
I see the wonder and intricacy of our bodies as a glorious reflection of our Creator’s beauty and His care for us in the most personal aspects of our lives.
Bethany Thomson, RDN, LDN, CLT
Family Life on the Farm
I am blessed to be a wife to my husband, Rob, and a mother to five children—my “Little Farmers,” though many of them are now teenagers. In 2023, we transplanted our family from our beloved farm in Smyrna, Tennessee, to a new farm we have affectionately named The Farm at Rivendell, in Centerville, Tennessee (Hickman County). While we treasure the tranquility of our farm and the peaceful retreats it offers, we also experience our share of chaos and hectic moments, just like any family. As a mama myself, I understand the stressors and pressures of balancing it all. Our long walks and serene views are a reminder of the calm we seek amidst the everyday hustle and bustle.
My Faith & Community
As a devoted Christian and follower of Christ, I’m actively involved in my local church, where I have the privilege of teaching children, leading and coaching others, and being part of a life group with fellow believers. This work and community not only enrich my life but also deepen my commitment to serving others through my nutrition practice.
A Personal Turning Point
My journey into integrative and functional nutrition began when my health began to unravel after the birth of my fourth child. At the same time, my family faced a series of serious health challenges, including irritable bowel syndrome, unexplained anemia, autoimmune diseases, dementia, and chronic fatigue.
Despite my best efforts—milling my own grains, making everything from scratch, and culturing kefir, kombucha, and yogurt—I couldn’t find the answers we needed. My traditional dietetics training fell short, revealing the need for a deeper, more holistic approach.
Determined to find solutions, I immersed myself in integrative and functional nutrition. The insights I gained transformed my life and the lives of my family members in profound ways. Read more about my personal health story here.
Specializing in Functional Nutrition
When I discovered Integrative and Functional Nutrition, everything started to click. This approach offered a pathway to uncover the answers and solutions for which I had been searching. I dove into extensive reading, training, and education to learn how to address the root causes of health issues, focusing on treating the whole person rather than just symptoms. With these new tools and insights, I was able to support my family and tackle my own health challenges more effectively.
Is this the approach you want to take for your health and your family’s health?
Schedule a complimentary insight session with me.
One key discovery was the importance of identifying foods that were calming to my immune system. Utilizing the patented Mediator Release Test (MRT®), I created a personalized healing blueprint. This test revealed sensitivities to various foods (like soy, shrimp, and oregano, to name a few) and food chemicals (such as tyramine), which were causing symptoms such as:
I was experiencing significant
- Digestive issues – including fatty stools, excessive gas, and bloating. These symptoms made it clear that my digestive system was not functioning properly and I wasn’t absorbing nutrients.
- Shortness of breath – I felt like I couldn’t get in enough air. An expensive consult and full work up with a renowned pulmonary doctor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center left me with the diagnosis that there was nothing wrong… it might just be STRESS!
- Extreme fatigue – I couldn’t get my housework done, homeschool my children effectively, or have the energy to do the things I enjoyed. All I could think about was when my kids would go to sleep so that I could take another nap!
- Brain fog – I couldn’t concentrate on tasks and I was constantly forgetting things. I worried if I was going into early dementia!
- Stubborn weight gain – The weight I had gained after 4 children just wouldn’t budge. I feared I was headed toward the obese pathway of the other women in my family.
- With my personalized immune-calming food plan, I experienced significant relief in just 10-14 days from symptoms that had been plaguing me for years!
What brought the fastest relief was discovering the foods that were most calming to my immune system. I did this utilizing a patented test for food and food chemical sensitivities called the Mediator Release Test (MRT®) to create a blueprint for healing that was as unique as my fingerprints. I discovered that I had numerous sensitivities to foods (such as soy, shrimp, and oregano, to name a few) and also to food chemicals (tyramine being one of those) and these were wreaking havoc on my health and causing symptoms such as extreme fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, digestion, and stubborn weight gain to name a few. Once I calmed the inflammation with my personalized immune calming food plan I began to feel better for the first time in just a matter of 10-14 days! To learn more about this process, schedule a complimentary insight session with me.
Serving Women and Families
Driven by my desire to help others find answers, I launched my private practice, Ingrained Nutrition Therapy, in 2016.
As a Certified LEAP Therapist (CLT), I utilize LEAP diet therapy and the MRT (Mediator Release Test) to uncover food sensitivities and create personalized anti-inflammatory, immune-calming diets as unique as your fingerprints. My [Program Name] is particularly popular and highly recommended for clients seeking quick and lasting results.
I am honored to serve women and their families, nurturing both their bodies and souls. My goal is to equip you with the knowledge and confidence to make sustainable changes for a wholesome lifestyle. Committed to ongoing education in Integrative and Functional Nutrition, I am dedicated to helping you address the root causes of your health concerns and build lasting health—naturally.
If you want to take this approach for yourself or your own family, I would love to talk further. Schedule a complimentary insight session with me here.
Creative Passions & Simple Joy
I’m naturally drawn to creativity and find joy in the simple pleasures of life. There’s nothing I love more than curling up with a thick book, sipping hot English tea, or spending an afternoon water coloring. I’ll never get past the delight of reading picture books with beautiful illustrations and enchanting, engaging storylines with my children.
Rainy days bring me a sense of peace, and I cherish those quiet moments of reflection. I love browsing antique stores with my husband and family and discovering vintage treasures.
I love connecting with my neighbors in my new town of Centerville, Tennessee in Hickman County and supporting our local farmers and artisans here in Middle Tennessee.
Nurturing Growth & Resilience
During a season of profound adversity, when it felt as if the final chapter of my story had been written as a tragedy, I found myself in a place of deep grief and loneliness that I had never anticipated. Yet, it was during this challenging time that I discovered newfound joy and freedom through art and true, Biblical community.
This watercolor painting is one of my first creations. The subject, a pilea peperomioides plant (also known as the “friendship plant”), has been a constant presence on my kitchen counter for over five years. It survived our family’s move to a new farm and stood witness to the ebb and flow of our lives, providing a comforting splash of green during times of profound personal loss.
Much like this resilient plant, which thrived despite being transplanted to a new environment, I, too, found strength and resilience through seasons of growth and discovery. This happened as I leaned into a supportive community of women and believers who held space for my story and helped me realize that the Lord isn’t finished writing my story. I learned that sustained growth and healing are only possible within the context of community. This painting has become a symbol of perseverance and the beauty that can emerge from adversity.
…sustained growth and healing are only possible within the context of community
Bethany Thomson, RDN, LDN, CLT
This painting is the centerpiece of my “Keep Growing” collection of gifts and apparel, first introduced in the summer of 2024. Inspired by the resilience of the pilea plant, this collection celebrates growth, joy, and resilience in the face of change, heartache, and loss. For me, this plant symbolizes not only survival but also thriving in adversity. May it inspire you to keep growing, no matter what challenges life brings your way.
Step into Your Journey of Growth
My hope is that personal journey inspires you to embrace your own path of transformation. In the face of change, heartache, or loss, remember that you have the opportunity to cultivate joy and resilience. Lean into your own community, seek out support, and trust that your story is still unfolding.
If you are ready to embark on this journey of rewriting your health story and nurturing your growth, I would be honored to support and guide you. Click here to schedule a complimentary Insight Session with me, and let’s explore how we can work together to help you thrive.
May you find inspiration, courage, and a renewed sense of purpose as you continue to grow, no matter what challenges come your way.