About Nutrition Services

Nutrition Counseling

Your relationship with food and your body has significant implications on your academic and job performance, physical health, and even your emotional well-being and social life. Working with a dietitian can give you the edge you need to reach your full potential.

Students with nutrition-related health concerns can schedule an individual consultation with a registered dietitian at UHS by calling 512-475-8010. Our dietitians work closely with the UHS medical and counseling staff to ensure consistency and quality of care.

Dietitian Approach

Our dietitians specialize in the prevention and management of nutrition related diseases, eating disorder assessment, and strategies to meet an individual’s nutritional needs for optimal health and longevity. Through ongoing nutrition counseling, they provide a nonjudgmental space to guide you through the abundance of nutrition information available while collaboratively developing a personalized eating plan for you. Our nutrition program uses intuitive eating and mindful based strategies to encourage sustainable lifelong health that encompasses mind, body, and spirit. Our team is most concerned about your health and well-being and therefore utilizes a non-diet, health at every size treatment approach.

Meet the Dietitians

Jennifer Barnoud, MS, RDN, LD, CEDS is a master's level dietitian and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist with nearly ten years of experience working with college students. Her undergraduate studies at Middle Tennessee State University in psychology, nutrition and food science, and recreation and leisure studies laid the foundation of her nuanced and holistic approach to nutrition counseling and education. While Jen brings a great deal of professional expertise, she does not underestimate the intelligence of your own body & experience and supports you in learning accessible ways to compassionately communicate with and effectively care for your body during your time at UT. In her free time, she enjoys moments of connection with the natural world, moving her body through yoga or rock climbing and spending quality time with her family and pets.

Marissa Buckley MS, RD, LD is a master's level dietitian originally from Northern California. She focuses on nourishing the body, while allowing you to continue to enjoy the foods you love. Marissa will work to create a personalized nutrition plan that aligns with your lifestyle, preferences, and nutrition goals to create long-term sustainable lifestyle changes. When Marissa is not in the office, you can often find her outdoors with her dog Pancakes.

Erika Garcia-Villatoro, PhD, RDN, LD is a dedicated and caring clinical dietitian with a strong background in applied nutrition research, teaching, advocacy for diversifying dietetics, and community outreach programs. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from the Autonomous University of Yucatan, Mexico, where she practiced as a clinical dietitian before obtaining her doctoral degree in Nutrition and Registered Dietitian credentials at Texas A&M University in 2021. In her role as a dietitian at UHS, Erika aims to provide weight-neutral medical nutrition therapy that promotes physical and mental health through the principles of health at every size, intuitive eating, and a culturally inclusive approach to wellness. In her free time, she enjoys reading, painting, searching for the best barbacoa tacos in town, and exploring parks with her partner and her dog Willow.

Common reasons that individuals work with a dietitian:

• Medical diagnosis with significant nutrition implications including diabetes, hypoglycemia, heart disease, high blood pressure, and/or high cholesterol
• Food and body image concerns
• Eating disorders
• Digestive problems like food allergies, lactose intolerance, celiac disease, irritable bowel, and/or colitis
• Vegetarian or vegan diet advice
• Family history of nutrition-related disease
• Recent appetite changes
• Recent changes in weight
• Vitamin or mineral deficiency
• Nutritional analysis - you want to get feedback on your diet and eat smarter

It is helpful to have a referral from a healthcare provider or counselor, but referrals are not required.

Appointments

Appointments with the UHS registered dietitian must be made by phone. Call (512) 475-8010 to schedule an appointment. Allow 1 hour and 15 minutes for your initial appointment. Charges apply.

Additional information regarding appointments with the UHS registered dietitian:

• Once you have called and scheduled an appointment, please log-in to MyUHS at least 24 hours before your visit to fill out a related questionnaire.
• Initial appointments should last no longer than 75 minutes.
• Follow-up appointments will be scheduled at the end of your appointment by the registered dietitian. Please allow up to 25 minutes for follow-up and up to 45-60 minutes for extended follow-up appointments.
• If it has been more than 8 weeks since your last appointment, you will be scheduled for an extended follow-up (45-60 minutes).
• Appointment cancellations or reschedules require 24 hour notice.
• UT Students Only: To help keep the cost of nutrition services office visits low, the Student Administrative Health Fee will cover 50% of the student’s financial responsibility, if any, for this charge. The office visit charge does not cover visit-related costs such as procedures, tests, supplies, medications, etc. The patient’s responsibility depends on whether they are insured, whether UHS accepts their insurance, and how much their insurance covers for nutrition services. Go to Charges and Insurance for more information.