What is the S.T.E.P.S. Program®?
S.T.E.P.S. is an evidence-based nutrition therapy protocol designed by licensed dietitian-nutritionist Miriam Wiener to help women and girls manage — or even reverse — weight loss resistance and other chronic health conditions.
S.T.E.P.S. is an acronym for the five central components of our program:
S: Superfoods
T: Testing
E: Energy
P: Planning
S: Supplements
In the S.T.E.P.S. Program® our students learn what each component is, why each is so critically important for their long-term success, and precisely how to use each component to get the fastest, most effective results.
Do you accept insurance?
Our online courses, at-home lab testing, and meal-planning memberships are not eligible for insurance reimbursement. However, our S.T.E.P.S. to Nourishment® Telehealth program is covered by many U.S. health insurance providers. The program is designed exclusively for women and girls. It includes an initial assessment with Miriam, followed by a series of structured follow-up visits delivered through our secure, HIPAA-compliant Telehealth portal. We are currently in-network with UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Humana, Medicare, and Medicare Advantage. We will be happy to verify your benefits for you.
Where are you located?
S.T.E.P.S. Nutrition Group is a Telehealth nutrition practice. Our physician partners and S.T.E.P.S. coaches are based throughout the United States. Miriam Wiener, MS, MPH, lives in Los Angeles and facilitates online group and private programs with women and girls from around the world.
I live in a different state. Can we still work together?
We are licensed to practice and bill insurance in most U.S. states. If there are any licensing restrictions in your state, we will be in touch with you.
I live outside the United States. Can we still work together?
Yes. While insurance billing is available only for clients within the United States, we offer nutrition consulting and coaching for women and girls across all continents. You will need a computer, tablet, or phone — and a reliable high-speed internet connection.
Do you make meal plans?
We provide a customized meal plan with every Mediator Release Test (MRT®) and a monthly meal plan membership for the general public.
How do I work with S.T.E.P.S. Nutrition Group?
To order labs go here. To subscribe to a meal plan go here. For our S.T.E.P.S. to Nourishment® Telehealth program go here.
What are your fees?
Fees for our self-serve lab tests are itemized individually for your convenience here. Meal-plan memberships are $180 per month and include unlimited text support and ongoing coaching with one of our trained S.T.E.P.S. coaches. Private consulting fees with Miriam are fully customized — once we’ve completed your intake and insurance verification, we will provide a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) to outline the exact details Miriam suggests to help you achieve your goals.
Do you provide reduced-fee services?
Yes. If there are special circumstances that require reduced-fee or pro bono care, we offer a number of services through the nonprofit arm of our practice. Please fill out an Inquiry Form and let us know your specific needs.
Do you work with other medical providers?
We collaborate with physician partners who are available via Telehealth to provide referrals and prescriptions, when needed, for our clients who live in the following states: California, Florida, Arizona, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Kentucky. Additionally, we require all private clients to maintain an active relationship with a local primary care provider to oversee routine health monitoring throughout our work together.
What is your perspective on the use of weight-loss medications?
Our perspective is nuanced. In some cases medication may be appropriate — on a short-term basis under the supervision of one of our prescribing providers. But you deserve full informed consent. You need to know the risks and side effects; and you need to have a plan of action for when the hunger and cravings return.
What types of payment do you take?
We work with clients worldwide — including the United States, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Central and South America. We accept all major international credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. U.S. clients may also use HSA or FSA funds. For those who prefer an alternative payment method, we accept secure bank transfers internationally. Flexible payment plans can be arranged for clients in any location.
Do you offer professional-grade supplements?
Through our online dispensary, we provide access to more than 20,000 professional-grade supplements that have been third-party tested and verified. Every product is guaranteed to be authentic and sourced directly from trusted manufacturers — never through resellers. Please note that our dispensary currently ships within the United States only.
You use evidence-based practice methods, what does this mean?
Evidence-based practice means recommendations are built on the strongest scientific research available, combined with clinical evidence and decades of professional experience. This ensures that every strategy, tool, and plan is grounded in real data, consistently validated, and tailored to the needs of human physiology — not theories, trends, “Dr. AI,” or generalized, low-quality advice.
What is the difference between a licensed dietitian-nutritionist and a nutritionist?
There is a big difference between a licensed dietitian-nutritionist and a nutritionist.
Nutritionist
Anyone can be called a nutritionist. There is no board or governing body that regulates the term. This means your neighbor, personal trainer, or social media influencer with no formal training in nutritional biochemistry can do some research on AI and say they’re a nutritionist. Their advice sounds generic because they lack any foundational scientific knowledge.
Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist
A licensed dietitian-nutritionist is a credentialed healthcare professional—either a registered dietitian (RD) or a certified nutrition specialist (CNS)—who is qualified to utilize an evidence-based nutritional approach to healthcare.
To become licensed, the CNS credential requires a master’s degree in nutrition science to qualify to sit for the CNS board exam. The RD credential requires a bachelor’s degree in dietetics.
Core academic requirements for both the RD and CNS credential are the same and include food and nutrition science, anatomy and physiology, lifespan nutrition, organic chemistry, nutritional biochemistry, and pathophysiology.
The CNS credential requires additional training in functional lab assessment, nutritional genomics, evidence-based botanical therapies, drug-induced nutrient deficiencies, supplementation, and detoxification.
RD graduates receive additional training in food services management for hospitals and nursing homes, with a focus on USDA Dietary Guidelines such as My Plate and The Food Pyramid.
RD graduates are trained to prescribe specific diets for specific conditions, such as The DASH Diet for hypertension or the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet for lowering cholesterol using a low-fat approach.
CNS graduates are trained to take an individualized approach when addressing complex chronic health conditions—with a focus on the reduction of systemic inflammation and the regulation of immunological response.
All licensed dietitian-nutritionists must complete a nationally recognized internship program. Internships are highly competitive and provide a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised clinical hours. CNS internships provide experience in functional nutrition with 50-90% of the internship hours in client-based clinical settings. RD internships are primarily in hospital settings.
Upon completion of the internship, the candidate is qualified to sit for the national board exam. Passing the exam earns them the title of either “Registered Dietitian” or “Certified Nutrition Specialist” and the candidate can then apply for licensure on a state-by-state basis.
Why is licensing so important?
Increasingly, we see individuals promoting themselves as nutritionists while having little to no formal training. For example, unscientific modalities such as “applied kinesiology” and “homeopathy” are repeatedly debunked in double-blind, placebo-controlled studies as being no more effective than placebo. Yet, despite overwhelming evidence that these modalities are neither effective nor rational, they persist.
Professional licensing laws help identify who is a qualified practitioner and who is not. Individuals who lack the objective accredited education, clinical experience, examination, and ongoing continuing education demonstrating their competency are not qualified for licensure.
Didn’t see your question?
If you have a question that wasn’t answered here, please fill out an Inquiry Form and we will do our best to respond within 2-3 business days—usually sooner.