From Clinical Dietitian to Private Practice: Why I Created Kendra’s Kustom Nutrition
I recently had the opportunity to join the NY Executive Podcast to talk about my journey as a Registered Dietitian and what ultimately led me to open Kendra’s Kustom Nutrition in Overland Park, Kansas.
Although Kendra’s Kustom Nutrition opened in December 2025, my career in dietetics began long before I became a private practice owner. I have spent the past 16 years working in nutrition and healthcare, beginning my career in the clinical setting. I spent approximately six years working in intensive care before moving into dietitian management roles within several hospitals. Those experiences gave me the opportunity to see nutrition care from many different perspectives—from caring for critically ill hospitalized patients to working with individuals in the outpatient setting.
Recognizing a Gap in Nutrition Care
As my career transitioned toward one-on-one outpatient nutrition counseling, I began to recognize a significant barrier: people often struggle to find nutrition care that is both personalized and affordable.
Nutrition recommendations can look very different from one person to another. Medical history, lifestyle, relationship with food, family responsibilities, finances, preferences, and readiness for change all influence what is realistic for an individual.
That realization became a major reason I decided to open Kendra’s Kustom Nutrition. I wanted to create a practice where clients could receive individualized nutrition counseling while also making care more accessible by working with insurance whenever possible.
Combining Nutrition Science With Behavior Change
Over the years, I also learned that knowing what to do isn’t always enough.
Nutrition knowledge is important, but long-term success often depends on understanding how to turn that knowledge into realistic changes in everyday life. This led me to become an ACE Certified Health Coach in addition to being a Registered Dietitian.
Today, my counseling approach allows me to combine the science of nutrition with principles of behavior change. Instead of simply giving clients a list of foods they should or shouldn’t eat, I want to help them understand their nutrition needs and develop strategies that can realistically fit into their lives.
A Career That Started With My Own Experience
My connection to the field of dietetics is also deeply personal.
As a teenager, I received treatment for anorexia nervosa and met with a dietitian for the first time. That experience introduced me to a profession I hadn’t previously considered and ultimately helped shape the direction of my career.
Sixteen years into practicing as a dietitian—and now building my own private practice—it has become even clearer that I chose the right path.
Opening Kendra’s Kustom Nutrition has allowed me to bring together the different parts of my career: clinical nutrition experience, one-on-one counseling, health coaching, and a personal understanding of how meaningful individualized nutrition support can be.
I’m grateful to the NY Executive Podcast for giving me the opportunity to share more about that journey.
Listen to the Interview
Want to hear more of our conversation? Listen to my full interview on the NY Executive Podcast, where we discuss my background, career path, and the story behind Kendra’s Kustom Nutrition.
Listen to the podcast:
https://ny-executive-podcast-info.simplecast.com/episodes/2225-kendra-hayes-06-22-26-nutrition-counseling-phill
Kendra Hayes, RD, LD
Owner, Kendra’s Kustom Nutrition
Overland Park, Kansas