Meet the Maven Practitioners: Maya Feller

At Maven, the digital clinic for women, our goal is to give women everywhere instant and affordable access to exceptional healthcare practitioners. We’re more than a little proud of our team — after all, our practitioners are the ones who make Maven what it is, and save you from waiting in a doctor’s office, using a search engine to diagnose a mysterious symptom, or worrying that you can’t afford quality, personalized healthcare.

So each week, we’re going to make an introduction. Get to know the Maven Practitioners who inspire us, and learn more about why they do the most important work of all: taking care of you.

Maya Feller
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Maya Feller is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a certification in lactation counseling. She sees clients in private and group settings for pre- and postnatal nutrition, family nutrition, weight management, and medical nutrition therapy. She is adjunct faculty at New York University in the Department of Nutrition Food Studies and Public Health.

What inspired you to become a nutritionist?

I was training for the Boston Marathon and logging 50+ miles per week. I noticed that when I made clear, intentional choices with regard to my food, my performance improved. I was able to run longer and stronger and have better recovery after longer runs. I had always been physically active and studied experimental theatre in undergrad, but training for the marathon demanded a more focused attention on the types of nutrients I consumed as well as on the timing of foods and their components. I’ve loved cooking and sourcing food for as long as I can remember, but during this time, food took on a new role in my life. As I read more on my own about the impact of food choices on health outcomes, I began to research graduate programs where I could study the science behind the digestion and metabolism of the foods I ate. Once I began my clinical studies, I soon realized that as a registered dietitian nutritionist I would be able to impact healthful and positive nutrition-related changes in women’s lives.

What concerns are your clients most hoping to address?

As a mother of two young children (one preschool-aged and the other in elementary school), I understand the desire that many mothers have to feed their children well and to nurture the development of healthy, balanced eaters. Many women come to me prior to trying to conceive, and then again once they are transitioning baby from breast to solids and trying to manage their own weight while making changes in their family nutrition. I work with mothers and women from a holistic perspective and take all of the components of their lives into consideration when creating the nutrition plan that is unique.

What do you wish more women knew about nutrition and diet?

I wish that women knew that food can be a remedy. The nutrition-related choices that they make can significantly minimize their risk of developing diet-related chronic illnesses, and can improve their general health outcomes and the overall quality of their lives.

Maven, the digital clinic for women, is a network of health practitioners who deliver video appointments via mobile device. Interested in becoming a Maven Practitioner? Request an invitation.