Hi, I’m Christine.
I’m a registered dietitian, a wife, and a mom of three. I help teens and adults recover from eating disorders, and I help parents feed kids who struggle to eat, without shame and without pressure to change body size.
Christine Nanke, RD, LD. Pediatric and eating disorder dietitian in Dubuque, Iowa, seeing clients by telehealth across Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Why I do this work
Most often, the first person I hear from is a parent. They tell me, “I don’t know how to help my child eat with an eating disorder.” They feel overwhelmed and anxious, and they don’t know what to do next. If that’s where you are right now, you’re in the right place.
I’ve been a registered dietitian for more than 15 years. For over a decade I’ve worked with adolescents in eating disorder recovery, and for more than 11 years I’ve also served as consultant dietitian for Hills and Dales, a residential facility. Along the way, I saw how great the need is for eating disorder dietitians, especially for teens.
I started Life with Substance as a telehealth practice so I could reach more of the families and individuals who need that support, wherever they live in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Nourishing someone is about more than what’s on their plate. I look at the whole picture: your experiences, your fears, your family dynamics, and your relationship with food. Then we work to make nourishment feel more manageable and to build your confidence, one step at a time.
“A life with substance is one where food nourishes you without defining you.”
Recovery takes a team, so I stay in regular contact with your pediatrician or primary care provider and your therapist. Everyone supporting you works from the same plan.
My faith is an important part of my life and my work. I believe spiritual warfare can be part of the struggle with an eating disorder, because lies about food, body image, and worth make it hard to see ourselves through God’s eyes. For those who welcome faith into their healing, I want to help you see that God created you with intention and love, and that your worth reaches far beyond what you eat or how your body looks.
I work with children and teens facing picky eating and ARFID, and with teens and adults in recovery from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and other eating disorders. I also help people step off the diet cycle and heal their body image.
Outside of work, you’ll find me with my husband and kids, playing volleyball, baking, reading, or outside doing just about anything. I love to travel, and I never turn down mint chocolate chip ice cream.
I’d love to hear your story.
Christine
Christine Nanke, RD, LD
Compassionate care for every body.
All foods fit.
No food is “good” or “bad.” Flexibility and variety matter more than following rules perfectly.
Parents are partners.
With kids, I work alongside you, with strategies that fit your child’s needs and your family’s table.
Your body isn’t the problem.
Weight loss is never the goal. We focus on nourishment, body respect, and trust with food.
Progress beats perfection.
Small, steady steps add up, and setbacks are part of healing, not proof of failure.
In their words
Christine listened and helped me understand there are no bad foods. I send great gratitude to her for helping me get to a point where my life isn’t taken up by my past relationship with food.
I learned more in an hour consultation with her than I did researching for weeks alone. Christine is kind, empathetic and incredibly well-educated in pediatric nutrition. I feel much calmer and more confident in our family’s food and meal planning now.
The fine print
The details behind the work, for the curious and for insurance paperwork.
- Registered DietitianCredentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (RD)
- Licensed DietitianLicensed in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin (LD). Some states don’t require dietitian licensure, so if you live elsewhere, just ask.
- Experience15+ years of clinical practice, including 11+ years as consultant dietitian for Hills and Dales
- AppointmentsVirtual telehealth only, by appointment, starting with a free 20-minute discovery call
- InsuranceI currently accept BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS), Aetna, Medical Associates Health Plans, and Health Choices. I don’t verify benefits, so please check your coverage with your plan; anything insurance doesn’t cover is billed to you.
- Other paymentHSA and FSA accepted. Superbills are available on request.
I’d love to meet you.
Book a free 20-minute call. Tell me what’s going on, ask anything you like, and we’ll decide together whether we’re a good fit.
