What is S.T.E.P.S. to Nourishment™?
S.T.E.P.S. to Nourishment™ is a proprietary, evidence-based nutrition framework developed by licensed dietitian-nutritionist Miriam Wiener, MS, MPH for women and girls designed to manage — and in many cases reverse — weight-loss resistance and other chronic conditions, by correcting the physiological patterns that drive cravings. S.T.E.P.S. is an acronym for the five central components of the program:
Superfoods • Testing • Energy • Planning • Supplements
Participants learn what each component is, why it matters for sustainable results, and how to apply each in a clear, step-by-step way. S.T.E.P.S. to Nourishment™ is used in our clinical services and educational programs.
Do you accept insurance?
Our S.T.E.P.S. to Nourishment™ Telehealth program is covered by many U.S. health insurers — often at no cost to you. The program is designed exclusively for women and girls. It includes an initial assessment followed by a series of structured follow-up visits delivered through a secure Telehealth portal.
We are currently in-network with Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Medicare. We are happy to verify your benefits prior to your first appointment. Please note: Functional lab testing, supplements, and meal plan subscriptions are not covered by insurance.
Where are you located?
S.T.E.P.S. Nutrition Group is a U.S.-based Telehealth nutrition practice serving women and girls throughout the United States and internationally. Medical Nutrition Therapy (including insurance billing and laboratory testing) is available to clients within the United States only. Nutrition consulting and educational programs are available internationally.
I live in a different state. Can we still work together?
We are licensed to practice in most U.S. states. If there are any licensing restrictions in your state, we will let you know prior to your first appointment.
I live outside the United States. Can we still work together?
Yes. While insurance billing and lab testing is available only for clients within the United States, we are delighted to offer nutrition consulting, coaching, and educational programs for women and girls internationally. You simply need a reliable internet connection and a computer, tablet, or phone.
Do you make meal plans?
Yes. We offer a monthly meal plan membership for our U.S. and international clients. For U.S. clients only, a personalized meal plan is included with each Mediator Release Test (MRT®).
How do I work with S.T.E.P.S. Nutrition Group?
There are four ways to get started:
1. Begin Clinical Telehealth Services
If you’re looking for individualized nutrition therapy delivered through our S.T.E.P.S. to Nourishment™ Telehealth program, you may be eligible to use insurance and pay little to no out-of-pocket cost.
👉 Start Your S.T.E.P.S. Assessment
2. Join the Meal Plan Membership
Access structured monthly meal plans designed to support your S.T.E.P.S. goals.
👉 Meal Plan Membership
3. Order Functional Lab Testing (United States)
Advanced testing options are available to support individualized care.
👉 Functional Lab Testing
4. Join the 40-Day Cravings Cure™ (Launching Soon)
Our signature educational program based on the S.T.E.P.S. to Nourishment™ framework is launching soon.
👉 Join the 40-Day Cravings Cure™ Waitlist
What are your fees?
Fees for functional lab testing are itemized individually here. Meal Plan Membership details and pricing are available here. Private consulting fees with Miriam are customized and based on your needs. After completing your intake and insurance verification (if applicable), we will provide a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) outlining the recommended services and associated fees.
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 clients who live in the following states: California, Florida, Arizona, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Kentucky. Additionally, we require our 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 under the supervision of a qualified prescribing provider. However, medication alone is not a long-term solution.
You deserve full informed consent. That means understanding the potential risks and side effects — and having a clear, structured plan in place for when hunger and cravings return, which research suggests commonly occurs around 10 months for many weight-loss medications, including GLP-1 agonists.
At S.T.E.P.S. Nutrition Group, our focus is on correcting the physiological patterns that contribute to weight-loss resistance, whether or not medication is part of the plan. Your plan is tailored to your individual health history, goals, and clinical needs.
What types of payment do you take?
We accept all major international credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. Clients in the United States may also use HSA or FSA funds when applicable. For those who prefer an alternative method, secure international bank transfers are available. Flexible payment plans can be arranged regardless of location, and we work with women and girls worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Central and South America.
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. A.I.,” 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 in our HIPAA-protected private portal and we will do our best to respond within 2-3 business days — usually sooner.