Who Are We?

Dietitian Nutritionists committed to helping you

leverage the power of food to optimize your wellness

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We are a Functional Nutrition Practice for Medical Nutrition Therapy, Weight Management, Prenatal & Child Nutrition Counseling, & Improved Wellness

As Dietitian Nutritionists, We Help Others Improve Wellness with Nutrition

Empowered Nutrition offers individualized nutrition therapy programs. We are based in Southern Pines in Moore County, NC. Our services also extend to Pinehurst, Whispering Pines, Aberdeen, Fort Bragg, Carthage, Vass, West End, Pinebluff, Fayetteville, and Sanford, NC. We provide nutrition counseling tailored to chronic ailments. Our specialties include:

• Weight Management
• Digestive Health
• Diabetes
• Prenatal & Child Nutrition Counseling
• Sports Performance
• Hormone Balance

As Certified Dietititian Nutritionists, we use a powerful assessment process to create custom nutrition plans. These plans are designed to be effective, clear, and realistic for YOU. In addition, we take into account your health story, lifestyle, preferences, and resources.

Our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists will support your wellness journey through:

• Individual counseling
• Group programs
• Quality supplements
• Specialty lab testing
• And of course, personalized meal plans  

We promise to make a nutrition and wellness plan that you can implement in your real life. As a result, you can acheive a dramatic improvement in your health and well-being. 

Empowered Nutrition was founded as a way of bringing healthcare to the next generation of everyday people.  Specifically, I’m referring to Functional Medicine, where we achieve incredible outcomes because:

• Simply addressing symptoms isn’t enough, so we find root causes of chronic pain, fatigue, weight gain, gut health issues, elevated blood sugar levels and more.
• We see you as a whole person. You are not just a fractured set of organs
• We create customized plans. Therefore, your nutrition plan is actionable and effective
• Your environment is also considered. In addition, this includes your sleep, stress levels, daily movement, toxin exposure, social support, and spirituality
• Finally, we support you with responses to questions, ongoing accountability, nutrition education, and community

Finally, evidence-based care is the core of our practice.  Therefore, we stay on top of the latest science so that we can bring you the best, most effective, and easy to implement plans.

We’ve supported thousands on their journey to Empowered wellness. We’d certainly love to support you as well!  Take the first step on your wellness journey by booking a free chemistry call!

Our Team of Licensed Dietitian Nutritionists and Administrators

Erin Skinner, MS, RD, LDN, IFNCP
Empowered Nutrition Founder

Hello, I am a military veteran and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. I have over 14 years of healthcare experience, which started with helping military aircrew and special forces optimize their performance through nutrition.  

Throughout my own health journey, I’ve felt frustrated and neglected by the traditional medical community.  So, I transitioned to the world of integrative and functional nutrition. I have since helped thousands of patients experience the relief of finding the root cause of their illnesses, and resolving them with individual nutrition plans.  

Seeing my patients’ success made me passionate about functional medicine. However, I was still frustrated by the lack of access and high cost.  As a result, I pursued my license to become an  Integrative and Functional Certified Nutritional Practitioner. Later, I co-created one of the nation’s first insurance-based functional medicine clinics, the Inspire Health Center. This clinic’s success proved to me that functional medicine can be accessed through insurance. Empowered Nutrition is, above all, a continuation of this vision: to make the next generation of healthcare accessible to all.

I also teach nutrition professionals how to develop nutrition plans for patients who suffer from gastrointestinal conditions. As the co-founder of the SIBO Academy, I have become nationally renowned as an expert in gastrointestinal-focused nutrition as a result.    

One of my key strengths as a dietitian is keeping close to the latest science. My current pursuit of my Doctor in Clinical Nutrition (DCN) through Rutgers University has helped me with this. Informing others has always been important to me, so I always translate nutrition science into layman terms. I’ve done so in my book, the Bone Broth Miracle Diet, and in the Empowered Nutrition Podcast.

Finally, I love to connect with and encourage others.  I am compassionate and always put the experience of my patients first.  Years of successfully coaching and counseling patients have led to my current philosophy: the perfect diet only works if it’s delivered in a way that is caring and supportive.

Personal Life

Aside from my nutrition career, I spend my time with my husband and three boys.  As a military family, we love to go exploring and create adventures.

Kay Graner, MNS, RD, LDN, IFNCP
Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

I am Registered and Licensed Dietitian with over 35 years of clinical and consulting experience. I am proficient in individualizing Nutrition Interventions and Personal Exploration to achieve Optimum Health using Food as Medicine in a Patient Centered Core. My top areas of expertise are eating disorders, gut health, mind-body nutrition, and culinary artistry.

I began my pursuit of Body, Mind and Spirit connection many years before I chose to go back to school to study Nutrition.  My history, both personally and professionally, has always intersected to encourage this direction. My studies began as an undergrad in Nutrition with an interest in Psychology. I finished my formal education with a Masters in Nutrition.  My experience as a Clinical Dietitian in a Hospital, Home Care, Skilled Nursing Facilities and as a Consultant for Children and Adults has been invaluable.   

At the onset of my clinical practice, I sought out professional training and experts who specialized in Eating Disorders and broadened my skills while pursuing a private practice in this field.  In 2015, I wanted more knowledge and a new perspective on my professional process.  I initiated an intensive course of study and training that certified me as an Integrative and Functional Certified Practitioner (IFNCP) in 2018.  Now, after over 35 years of professional practice, I am still excited about understanding how the Body, Mind and Spirit work collectively. My practice uses a Whole Body approach and I have many tools in my toolbox that enable my unique clients to find their way to optimum Well-Being.

Kirby Mitchell, MS, RDN, LDN
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist 

In my career as an RD, I have seen so many people frustrated with a healthcare system that tries to improve their symptoms instead of treating the underlying problem. That is what led me to functional nutrition.

I always aim to inspire my patients to reach their optimal health goals through food, in a way that is sustainable and makes them feel good. Everything I teach is driven by science, and I frequently work to broaden my knowledge in the nutrition field.

My background includes a Masters degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Samford University and a Bachelors degree in Exercise Science from East Carolina University.

Personal life:

I am a military spouse and mom of two boys. Originally from Durham, NC; the Army brought us down to Southern Pines. In my personal time you will find me spending time with my husband and boys, in the gym, or traveling as often as we can. 

Rachel Gary, RD, LDN
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist functioning as the Empowered Nutrition Podcast director. I love taking complex nutrition topics and helping them become palatable for a general audience—hence my love for podcasts!

I went to Iowa State University for my Bachelors in Dietetics and have continued education through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) as a certified health coach, with additional certifications as an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner and a 200hr Vinyasa yoga instructor. I also spent some time with the Peace Corps in Mozambique where I learned to speak Portuguese, how to make my own coconut milk without a blender, along with many other unique skills.

In my personal life, I love traveling and hiking with my husband and our two Australian Shepherds (Huck and Finn). I teach yoga and enjoy paddle boarding in the ocean. I also spend a lot of time training with my husband as he prepares for his various ultra-marathons across the nation.

Melissa Teel, MS, RDN, LDN
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Podcast Director

Hello, I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who became interested in functional medicine during my undergraduate years at UNC Pembroke as a Biology major. I was amazed at how important of a role nutrition plays alongside lifestyle factors to prevent or manage chronic diseases and conditions. Feeling compelled to study medicine in my parent’s footsteps, I was not satisfied with how little nutrition education I would receive in a conventional medical school.  This led me to my journey to become a dietitian. 

I received my Master’s Degree in Nutrition from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s coordinated dietetic program with a concentration in Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention. Fun fact: I completed the majority of my dietetic internships at Empowered Nutrition with my amazing preceptor, Erin! 

My strengths as a dietitian include an enthusiasm and passion for nutrition, empathy, humor, and cultural competence. 

Personal Life

I’m a military spouse and mama of three boys. We love traveling as a family to the beach, going to museums in DC, and unplugging for the summer in Alaska. In my free time, I love expressing my creativity through art, photography, dancing, and cooking – especially the traditional Mexican recipes passed from my grandfather. 

Lisa Peacock, BS
Administrative Director

Hello, I am Empowered Nutrition’s Administrative Director. I am an Air Force veteran, military spouse, and mama to three amazing girls. 

I became interested in healthcare management after struggling with the healthcare system while stationed overseas, and then even more so once back stateside. I decided to get my degree in Health Services Management to try and streamline processes and prevent others from experiencing many of the issues I had endured. 

I have long had a passion for health and fitness. I am always looking to expand my knowledge on the nutritional impact on overall wellness. When I met Erin and heard of her plan to open Empowered Nutrition, I couldn’t wait to become part of her team!

Personal Life

I have a passion for indoor tropical plants and gardening, distance running, and CrossFit! I am excited to assist our clients pursue their best selves and am here to help however I can! 

Our Clinic

Our practice is located near downtown Southern Pines in Moore County, North Carolina. See our CONTACT PAGE for full details.