THE LUPUS DIETITIAN BIO

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Education

Tanya Freirich, MS, RDN, CDCES earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. She completed her dietetic internship at the busy New York Presbyterian Hospital and became credentialed as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. She holds additional certification as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) and is licensed to practice in 32+ states (and counting!)

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Experience

Tanya began her career in clinical nutrition at New York Presbyterian Hospital before transitioning to outpatient nutrition counseling — where she found her passion for long-term client relationships and the ability to witness real, lasting transformation. With more than a decade of experience counseling thousands of individuals, she has worked across a wide range of medical conditions before narrowing her focus to the population she is most deeply committed to: people living with lupus and autoimmune disease. During the pandemic, she launched her own virtual private practice and relocated to North Carolina, where she has built The Lupus Dietitian into a nationally recognized private practice serving clients across the country.

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Her Story

Tanya's relationship with autoimmune disease is not just professional — it is deeply personal. She was first diagnosed with an autoimmune condition at the age of 12, and went on to be diagnosed with Lupus as an adult after a debilitating flare that left her barely able to move. At the time, she was already a practicing Registered Dietitian eating what she believed was a healthy diet. It wasn't enough. She went back to the research, rebuilt her approach from the ground up, and through consistent anti-inflammatory dietary and lifestyle changes, achieved full remission — flare-free for more than a decade with no active symptoms. That experience is the foundation of everything she does, and it is what allows her to meet her clients not just as a clinician, but as someone who truly understands what they are living through.

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About The Lupus Dietitian

Tanya owns and operates a virtual private practice serving people with lupus and other autoimmune diseases, nationally, as The Lupus Dietitian. The practice specializes in anti-inflammatory nutrition, autoimmune disease management, and whole-body lifestyle support. Services include 1:1 nutrition counseling, group coaching programs — including The Lupus Breakthrough and The Lupus Solution — and digital education resources designed to meet clients wherever they are in their journey. Tanya also regularly speaks to Lupus foundations, nonprofits and support groups, and has partnered with organizations including the Lupus Foundation of America and Lupus LA to deliver community nutrition education.

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Philosophy & Practice

Tanya believes that quality nutrition care is one of the most powerful tools available to people with chronic illness — and that it should never feel punishing, or out of reach. She meets every client where they are, without judgment, and listens first. Her approach is whole-body: addressing not just what is on the plate, but sleep, stress, movement, self-care, and the relationship each person has with their own body.

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She does not believe in overly restrictive protocols or one-size-fits-all solutions. Her recommendations are practical, evidence-based, sustainable, and designed to work for real life — and for the whole family. Collaboration is central to her practice, and she works closely alongside rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, therapists, and primary care providers to ensure every client receives truly comprehensive, coordinated care.

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She is committed to an inclusive, anti-oppressive practice that honors each client's culture, cuisine, and the systemic barriers that shape their health — welcoming people of all races, genders, backgrounds, and lived experiences.

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Featured In

Tanya has been featured as an expert source by the Lupus Foundation of America, Lupus LA, Lupus.net, Carenity, and numerous podcasts and media outlets. She is an active and trusted voice in the lupus community on Instagram, Tiktok, Youtube, Pinterest and Facebook (@thelupusdietitian), where she has built a highly engaged following of people with autoimmune disease seeking credible, compassionate guidance.

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How to Work With Tanya

Tanya offers 1:1 nutrition counseling and group coaching programs delivered virtually, serving clients nationally. Whether you are newly diagnosed, navigating a difficult flare cycle, or ready to take back control of your health, there is a place for you here.

Contact me at tanya@tanyabnutrition.com