Nourish Your Fertility with Rachelle Mallik

I’m a dietitian and nutrition therapist passionate about helping you achieve a balanced and fulfilling life through a weight-inclusive approach.

Fertility Dietitian Rachelle Mallik of Chicago IL Smiling

My Philosophy

I believe that food is more than just fuel; it's a source of joy, connection, and healing.

My approach is rooted in the principles of weight-inclusive care, intuitive eating, and evidence-based nutrition.

I aim to empower you to make informed choices that honor your body's needs and your personal values.

My Journey

After earning my nutrition degree from university, I embarked on my career at the prestigious Weill Cornell Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility in New York City. As a patient coordinator, I guided thousands of patients through fertility treatments. This experience exposed me to the stress, anxiety, and feeling of being out of control that many women and couples faced. However, I also recognized that nutrition and lifestyle changes were factors within their control, capable of improving their chances of conceiving and enhancing overall wellbeing. This realization sparked my dedication to focusing on nutrition as a preventative measure and therapeutic tool—what I call food therapy.

Personal Experience, Professional Insight

My own pregnancies highlighted the gap in credible nutrition resources during the perinatal period.

The typical advice to "Take a prenatal vitamin" is insufficient, as vitamins should supplement—not replace—a nutritious diet.

Moreover, there is no standard formula for prenatal vitamins. Pregnancy, preconception, and postpartum periods each come with unique challenges that can complicate maintaining a healthy diet.

I experienced morning sickness and gastrointestinal issues during both of my pregnancies, but my knowledge as a dietitian helped me manage these symptoms through diet.

I offer the same patient-centered, weight-inclusive, and evidence-based approach to my clients, focusing on health-promoting behaviors and nourishment rather than restriction.

My Bio

Bachelors degree with Honors in Human Nutrition from Arizona State University
Masters degree in Food Studies - Food Culture from New York University
Trained on the use of a low FODMAP diet for IBS by Monash University
Continuing education focused on women’s health, reproductive health including female and male fertility, pregnancy, lactation, endometriosis, PCOS, hypothalamic amenorrhea, perimenopause and menopause, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the low FODMAP diet, eating disorders and weight-inclusive care. (RDs are required to complete at least 75 continuing education credits every 5 years.)
Owner of The Food Therapist private practice since 2017
Speaker for the Chicago Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics continuing education seminars (2019 and 2023)
Speaker at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine annual conference (2020 and 2023)
Reproductive Content Expert for the Nutrition Care Manual’s Board of Editors. I’m currently serving my third term in this volunteer role, in which I update clinical nutrition guidelines for other healthcare professionals as well as consumer education materials on nutrition for reproductive health.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)
- AND Dietetic Practice Groups: Women's Health, Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine, Nutrition Entrepreneurs
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
- ASRM Special Interest Groups: Nutrition, Social Media
Weight Inclusive Nutrition and Dietetics (WIND)

Just for fun

I live on Chicago’s North Shore with my husband Ronak and our two children. Originally from Sag Harbor, a small town on Long Island, I'm a beach girl at heart but have spent most of my adult life living in cities (New York, Melbourne, Sydney and Chicago).

Many of my favorite activities involve food, including cooking (if only I could outsource doing the dishes!), dining out, and frequenting farmer's markets. For movement, I enjoy walks, yoga, Pilates, and dance classes.

Fun fact: I performed on a Bollywood dance team when I lived in Melbourne, Australia!