Meet Emily Kate Thiel: A Day in the Life of a Registered Dietitian

In this episode, Kelly Springer introduces her newest in-office dietitian, Emily Kate Thiel, who brings a fresh energy to the Kelly’s Choice team. Emily shares what it’s like working one-on-one with clients across all ages—from 11 to 80—and navigating complex diagnoses like diabetes, Crohn’s disease, GLP-1 support, and more.

Emily gives us a peek into a “day in the life” of a Kelly’s Choice dietitian, including what she’s learning from real clients and how she’s helping reshape nutrition education for local hospitals using current science and real-world behavior change strategies.

• ✅ What dietitians really do in outpatient private practice

• 🧠 How nutrition advice has changed in the past decade

• 🥦 Why evidence-based education beats outdated diet handouts from the '80s

• 💉 GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic) and how dietitians help prevent deficiencies

• 🔁 How lab work and referrals from physicians guide personalized plans

• 🛑 Why restrictive “low-carb” diets are often misinformed

• 👦🏻 The wide age range of patients (from kids to seniors!) dietitians work with

• 🧾 How most patients are 100% covered by insurance—except Medicare (for now)

• 📣 Advocacy update: Kelly is working with policymakers like Dr. Oz to expand Medicare coverage for more nutrition conditions by 2026

“Every day and every patient is different—and that’s what I love.”
— Emily Kate Thiel, RD

“If you haven’t seen a dietitian in 10 years, your nutrition information is probably outdated.”
— Kelly Springer, MS, RD

“We are the highest level of nutrition. We’re not guessing—we’re using lab work and real research.”
— Kelly Springer, MS, RD

🩺 Covered Insurance Plans
Kelly’s Choice accepts most commercial insurance plans, including:

• Aetna

• Cigna

• UnitedHealthcare

• Blue Cross Blue Shield

• MVP

• CDPHP

• Empire Plan
  ✔️ All sessions are HIPAA-compliant and 100% covered in most cases

⚠️ Medicare Update:
Currently, Medicare only covers dietitian services for diabetes and chronic kidney disease. But Kelly is actively advocating to expand CPT codes so more people 65+ can receive the care they need for weight loss, GI disorders, and more.

📅 Book Your Dietitian Today:
https://www.kellyschoice.org/book-a-dietitian
Ask to schedule with Emily Thiel or the next available RD!

The New Weight Loss Era by Kelly Springer
A nutrition-forward guide to weight loss that addresses GLP-1 support, macronutrient balance, behavior change, and realistic lifestyle planning.
📗 Get it on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/New-Weight-Loss-Era-Kelly-Springer/dp/B0D1GJ9FJM

• Adults of any age struggling with chronic disease, weight management, or diet confusion

• Parents of children/teens needing support for healthy eating habits

• Anyone currently on GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic or Wegovy)

• Seniors 65+ with Medicare who want access to dietitian care

• Physicians & hospital systems looking to upgrade nutrition education materials

• People who’ve never worked with a dietitian—or haven’t in years!

🧬 What You’ll Learn:💬 Top Quotes:📌 Services Mentioned:📘 Recommended Reading:🙋‍♀️ Who This Episode Is For: