Meet EDRD Pro member Ana Pruteanu, MS, RDN, LDN, CEDS-C (she/her)! Keep reading to learn more about Ana and her wonderful work!

Where are you from, and where do you currently live and work?

I am from Moldova, a country in Eastern Europe near Romania and Ukraine. I grew up there and moved to the US when I was 17. Now, I live and work in Chicago, Illinois.

What’s your favorite meal?

My favorite meal is “sarmale” – stuffed cabbage rolls. This is a traditional meal in Moldova and reminds me of home, family, and my childhood. And, of course, they have to be topped with sour cream and dill. This meal gives me all the feels!

Tell us about the journey that brought you to work in eating disorder treatment.

My first job after finishing my graduate degree and dietetic internship was at an eating disorder treatment center, where I stayed for almost six years. During that time, I worked across multiple levels of care and gained experience with all the different programs they offered. After that, I transitioned to an outpatient group practice, where I worked as a dietitian and eventually took on the role of Clinical Development Director. In that position, I had the chance to train and supervise a fast-growing team of 30 dietitians – something I found incredibly meaningful. I loved supporting clinicians in building their counseling skills and learning how to provide effective, compassionate care for clients in recovery.

In 2023, I launched my own practice, Be Well Nutrition Counseling. Now, I work one-on-one with clients, offer consultation and supervision to fellow dietitians, and give presentations to both community groups and professionals in the field.

If you could choose to have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?

I would choose to have dinner with my late grandmother Anastasia. I miss her witty stories and delicious homemade food.

What is a piece of career advice that you would share with someone starting off in the eating disorder field?

Never stop learning – stay curious! Read, ask questions, take courses, and connect with folks in other disciplines. Don’t assume you have all the answers or that what works for one client will work for everyone. And when you feel stuck, resist the urge to think a client isn’t motivated or can’t recover. Instead, get creative: explore new modalities, tools, and supports. There’s always more to learn and new ways to show up for the people we work with.

What’s something that’s brought you joy recently?

Sunshine! Living in Chicago means we spend nearly half the year in cold, gray weather, so when the sun finally comes out, I don’t take it for granted. It’s June now, the skies are clear, and I’m soaking up every bit of warmth I can, usually out on my deck whenever I get the chance.

What’s something you’ve learned recently?

I’m an amateur gardener and love growing herbs and a few veggies on my rooftop deck. I recently learned that basil is a great “companion plant” for tomatoes—planting them together helps both thrive! Basil attracts pollinators, keeps certain pests away, and even makes the tomatoes taste better. I’m excited to try it out this summer and see how it goes 🙂

Why eating disorder treatment? What drives you to do this work?

Honestly, it kind of happened by chance. In my undergrad program, we barely touched on eating disorders. Then, in my senior year, I became friends with someone who opened up to me about her struggles with an ED. Through talking with her, I realized that I didn’t have the knowledge or tools to support someone going through that—and it hit me that I’d probably come across clients with EDs no matter what area of dietetics I worked in.

That experience led me to apply to an MS/DI program that included extra training in eating disorders and gave me the option to do rotations at ED treatment centers. At first, I just wanted to be better at spotting the signs and referring people to the right help. But, as I got more into the coursework and those rotations, I realized I actually wanted to work in this field myself. Twelve years down the road, and I am still so glad to have chosen this path!

Do you have specific areas of interest or special populations with whom you work?

I’m deeply passionate about supporting individuals with feeding differences, selective eating, and ARFID. My approach focuses on reducing stress around food and creating a safe, supportive space where each person can discover a way of eating that feels right for them. It’s important to me that my clients leave our work together feeling empowered, confident, and heard. When someone is ready to explore new foods, we do so gently and without pressure—always honoring their pace and autonomy.

I also have a special interest in helping clients navigate nutrition changes that may be recommended for medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, PCOS, and others—especially for those in eating disorder recovery. Receiving a new diagnosis can be overwhelming, and being told to restrict certain foods may feel confusing or triggering. It is important to have support during this time and to know that you can still have food freedom while navigating a medical condition.

What’s your favorite part about being involved with EDRD Pro?

Being part of an incredible community of ED professionals and learning from each other.

What projects, products, or services do you offer that you want to share with our audience?

In my private practice, Be Well Nutrition Counseling, I provide one-on-one nutrition counseling for individuals in eating disorder recovery, as well as anyone looking to approach food and health through a weight-inclusive lens. I also offer professional consultation and supervision for dietitians who want to strengthen their counseling skills, navigate complex client cases, and have a supportive space to process their own experiences—whether that’s countertransference, burnout, or anything in between. In addition, I give trainings and presentations to both community groups and professionals in the field.