Staff

MELINDA CATER, R.D., LDN

At Commonwealth Psychological Associates, PLC, Clinical Dietitian Melinda Cater specializes in nutritional assessment, education and counseling. Ms. Cater helps patients of all ages build a positive relationship with food and make sustainable lifestyle changes that can lead to long-term wellness. She is also a Clinical Dietitian at Johns Hopkins Sibley Memorial Hospital, and has experience with a broad range of health conditions and nutritional concerns.

Ms. Cater prioritizes active listening to truly understand patients' concerns, preferences and challenges. She places a strong emphasis on patient education, explaining the nutritional science behind recommendations to empower clients to make informed choices. She strives to create a supportive and non-judgmental environment where patients feel comfortable sharing their experiences.

In addition to general nutrition education and guidance on overall healthy eating habits and nutrient balance, Ms. Cater specializes in maximizing patients' diet to help manage:

Behavioral Health: assist individuals in maximizing nutrition to help manage conditions such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD.

Heart Health: dietary advice for managing conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular diseases.

Diabetes and Pre-diabetes: dietary guidance for managing blood sugar levels.

Weight Management: assist individuals in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight through lifestyle changes and healthy dietary patterns, and help individuals who are on weight loss medications maximize the quality of their nutrition.

Women's Health: guidance on dietary management of conditions such as menopause and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Digestive Health: guidance to help manage conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, diverticular disease, and gastroparesis.

Geriatric nutrition: address nutritional needs and challenges faced by elderly individuals.

Pediatric Nutrition: offer nutritional guidance for children related to ADHD, weight management, and “picky eaters."

Pre- and Post-surgery Nutrition: provide dietary guidance before and after surgical procedures to enhance recovery and support healing.

Ms. Cater attained a B.S. in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Maryland, and subsequently a M.S. in Dietetics from the University of Rhode Island. She earned the Diplôme de Cuisine from Le Cordon Bleu in London, England, and incorporates practical skills and culinary knowledge into her nutrition counseling.

Ms. Cater is credentialed through the Commission on Dietetic Registration, and is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She has served as a volunteer dietitian at the Arlington Free Clinic in Arlington, VA, and as a founding member and treasurer of the Westover Farmers Market, also in Arlington.


"Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you."

-Unknown

Links to online articles featuring Ms. Cater

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