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, MS, MPH, to help women and girls transition from the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) in order to manage — or even reverse — chronic health conditions such as weight-loss resistance, diabetes, and PCOS. Thousands of women have benefited from The S.T.E.P.S. Program® since its inception in 2010.
S.T.E.P.S. is an acronym for the five central components of the program: superfoods, testing, energy, planning, and supplements. Participants learn exactly what each component is, why each is so critical for long-term success, and how to use each component to get the quickest, most effective results.
Do you make meal plans?
We provide an individualized S.T.E.P.S. meal plan for every private client and a monthly meal plan subscription for the general public. If you’d like to get an idea of what our meal plans look like you can download a free meal plan here.
Do you accept insurance?
Most health insurers will cover medical nutrition therapy (MNT) services provided by a licensed dietitian. In some cases you may be eligible for unlimited benefits with no co-pay or deductible, while other plans may limit the number of visits you can have on an annual basis. We will be happy to verify your insurance benefits for you.
Our licensed dietitians at S.T.E.P.S. Nutrition Group are in-network with Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS), United Healthcare, and Aetna. If your insurance plan covers MNT but we are out-of-network, we will assist you in the reimbursement process by providing a “superbill” to submit to your insurance provider. However, full payment will be due at the time of service.
Will insurance cover my entire bill?
Our one-to-one programs are individualized and not everyone requires the same services or support. Once we’ve completed your initial assessment and a S.T.E.P.S. Strategy Call to get a better idea of your needs and insurance coverage, we will provide a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) to outline the exact details we suggest to help achieve your goals.
Do you provide reduced-fee services?
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. You may qualify for free or reduced-fee nutrition care services.
Where are you located?
S.T.E.P.S. Nutrition Group is a virtual nutrition practice. Our team of licensed healthcare providers lives in the United States and works virtually with women and girls in the United States. Miriam Wiener, MS, MPH, lives in Los Angeles and facilitates an online program with women and girls from around the world.
I live in a different state. Can we still work together?
We are licensed and/or certified to practice in 46 states including California, Florida, Arizona, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Texas, and most others. If there are any licensing restrictions in your state, we will let you know prior to our initial meeting.
I live outside of the United States. How can I work with you?
Due to licensure laws, we only work in a one-to-one model with clients in the United States. However, you can be a part of our online group program, and we encourage you to get on the Priority Notification List.
What types of payment do you take?
We accept all major credit cards and HSA/FSA cards. We also offer payment plans.
How can I use HSA/FSA to pay for your services?
When using an HSA/FSA card to pay for a meal plan subscription, group program, lab order, supplements purchased in our online dispensary, or nutrition counseling services, simply submit your HSA/FSA card number on our secure online ordering platform as you would a regular credit card.
What should I expect working with the S.T.E.P.S. Nutrition Group?
We work with women and girls who are ready to make changes to their diet and lifestyle. Since our Zoom sessions and lab reviews are conducted virtually, you’ll need a computer, tablet, or smart phone. You’ll also need a high-speed internet connection.
Please note: The S.T.E.P.S. Program® is based on traditional Jewish principles and the Jewish seasonal calendar. This is reflected in our Nourishment of the Soul and S.T.E.P.S. Inner Circle group programs. However, our private one-on-one programs focus solely on nutrition counseling and we welcome women and girls of all backgrounds.
Do you offer professional-grade supplements?
Our online dispensary offers 20,000+ professional-grade supplements at 15% off plus an additional 5% with auto-ship — that’s 20% off all professional-grade supplements purchased in our online dispensary.
Do you offer kosher supplements?
The majority of professional-grade superfoods and supplements that we recommend to our clients are certified kosher. All of the items included in our S.T.E.P.S. Starter Kits are certified kosher.
What should I do if I’m interested in working with you?
Prior to working with all private one-on-one clients, we provide a free S.T.E.P.S. Strategy Call via Zoom. This is a 20-minute initial assessment where Miriam will go over any previous lab work and learn more about you and what you’ll need to be successful. You may book a S.T.E.P.S. Strategy Call here.
For lab testing and analysis, you may order here.
To attend our Nourishment of the Soul online group program, we welcome you to get on the Priority Notification List here.
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 call themselves a nutritionist. There is no board or governing body that regulates the term. This means that your personal trainer or your neighbor with no formal training in nutritional biochemistry can do some research online and call themselves a nutritionist.
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. Only an RD or CNS can order therapeutic diets for patients in a hospital setting.
To become licensed, a person must complete a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college. In addition, 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 functional 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 in nutritional biochemistry.
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, experience, and examination 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.