Bariatric Food Coach

Bariatric Food Coach Bariatric Dietitian, Steph Wagner MS RD CSOWM www.bariatricfoodcoach.com
Bariatric Resources, Community & Support

Welcome to the page for Bariatric Food Coach! You can visit the webpage for a complete list of recipes, meal plans and services at www.bariatricfoodcoach.com

Any questions or request can be sent to me directly at [email protected]

I’m not usually a negative account or one to put other providers down. Even my insults are pretty lame.But I woke up sti...
08/07/2026

I’m not usually a negative account or one to put other providers down. Even my insults are pretty lame.

But I woke up still thinking about this one.

It’s one thing when providers don’t refer to dietitians because insurance coverage and access are a mess. That’s a whole other conversation.

It’s another when a patient is actively receiving nutrition therapy for weight management and obesity treatment—and instead of non-weight promoting options for constipation or referring her back to the dietitian already on her care team, the recommendation is daily butter in her coffee. I honestly guffawed.

It’s 2026. Wake up and smell the coffee.
Hold the butter.

08/03/2026

If you’re not the one in charge of meal planning in your house, here’s one of the most helpful things you can do:

Give them ideas.

Seriously.

The hardest part of dinner isn’t just the cooking. It’s carrying the mental load of deciding what everyone is going to eat… every night… every week.

Even throwing out a few suggestions like, “What about grilled chicken and green beans?” or “Didn’t you mention that chili recipe?” can take some of that burden off.

Speaking of manicotti… 100% my immediate relatives will be DMing me about quotes from the outtakes of Grumpier Old Men and now I need to watch that movie.
IYKYK 😆

And if you’re the designated meal planner, that’s exactly why I created Protein Forward Kitchen—to give you a running list of meal ideas so your brain doesn’t have to come up with them all from scratch. Link in bio 🫶

07/31/2026

A physician posted this question today:

“How are you delivering nutrition education to your Medicare patients who don’t have RD coverage?”

That question shouldn’t have to be asked.

Here’s the reality:

If you’re a Medicare beneficiary taking a GLP-1 for obesity, you may pay a $50 copay for your medication with the new Bridge model. But unless you also have diabetes or stage 3+ chronic kidney disease, Medicare won’t cover visits with a Registered Dietitian for Medical Nutrition Therapy.

So we pay for the medication…
…but not the nutrition expert who helps patients:
• tolerate protein
• prevent muscle loss
• manage nausea and constipation
• meet vitamin needs
• rebuild food and family dynamics

As a Registered Dietitian and Board Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management, I see every day how nutrition support improves outcomes. Yet too many Medicare beneficiaries have to choose between paying out of pocket or going without.

This is why the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act matters. Expanding Medicare coverage isn’t just about access to dietitians—it’s about giving people comprehensive obesity care instead of medication alone.

Nutrition shouldn’t be the missing piece.

07/30/2026

Yesterday, several patients told me the same thing:

“I’m just not a breakfast person.”

It’s a phrase I hear all the time. And it’s interesting because when we say, “I’m not that kind of person,” we’ve attached it to our identity.

The good news? Identities can evolve.

From a nutrition perspective, eating within the first 60–90 minutes of waking—especially including protein—can help support better hunger control, steadier blood sugar, and make it easier to meet protein goals throughout the day.

This can be especially important after bariatric surgery or while taking GLP-1 medications, when appetite is reduced and every opportunity to nourish your body counts.

Does that mean everyone needs eggs and toast at 7 a.m.? Nah dawg.

For some people, a protein shake is a potential starting point. For others—especially some post-op patients—the liquid texture doesn’t provide the satisfaction or hunger control we’re hoping for as the day goes on. The best option depends on what feels tolerable, realistic, and sustainable for that individual.

Nutrition isn’t about forcing yourself into someone else’s routine. It’s about finding a strategy that works for you.

So if you’ve always said, “I’m not a breakfast eater,” maybe ask yourself a different question:

“What could I comfortably eat in the morning that would help my body get off to a good start?”

Everyone’s solution was different. That’s what personal nutrition therapy is. 🫶

07/23/2026

Structure doesn’t have to mean rigidity.

I like to think of structured flexibility like a soccer field. ⚽

The sidelines define what’s in bounds and what’s out of bounds. That’s the structure. But there are countless ways to move the ball down the field.

Healthy living works the same way.

Maybe your structure is:
• Eating meals at regular times
• A consistent bedtime
• Prioritizing protein and vegetables

But how you make that happen can change from day to day.

Some nights it’s a home-cooked meal. Other nights it’s a rotisserie chicken and bagged salad. Sometimes it’s leftovers. Sometimes it’s takeout that fits your goals.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s staying in bounds while giving yourself the flexibility to live your life.

Structure creates consistency. Flexibility makes it sustainable.

What “in bounds” habit has helped you the most?

07/16/2026

Most likely to get in trouble for talking in school.

Turns out I made a career out of talking… sort of.

Speaking, teaching, podcasting? Yep, talking is part of the job.

But the biggest lesson I’ve learned as a dietitian is that my best patient sessions aren’t the ones where I’m doing all the talking. They’re the ones where I’m asking good questions, listening carefully, and helping someone find their own next step.

Turns out listening is a skill too. 🙃

07/14/2026

Your digestive system and your nervous system are in constant conversation.

If stress, anxiety, or overwhelm are high, it doesn’t just affect your mood—it can affect your appetite, digestion, food choices, and even how you tolerate GLP-1 medications.

That’s one reason nutrition on a GLP-1 isn’t just about knowing what to eat. It’s also about understanding what your body is experiencing.

The right support team can make a big difference. A dietitian can help you meet your nutrition needs while managing side effects, and a behavioral health provider can help address the stress, anxiety, or emotional patterns that may be making eating even more challenging.

You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. The goal isn’t just weight loss—it’s building habits that help you nourish your body and feel your best for the long term.

Have you noticed stress affecting your appetite or digestion?

HealthyHabits BehavioralHealth DigestiveHealth WeightManagement GLP1Journey

Love these candid moments from last week’s ASMBS conference in San Antonio! One minute I’m on stage talking about billin...
05/15/2026

Love these candid moments from last week’s ASMBS conference in San Antonio!

One minute I’m on stage talking about billing for dietitian visits and advocating for the value of nutrition care… and the next I’m at lunch with RDs turned real-life friends laughing over who knows what story I’m telling 😆

So grateful for this community, these conversations, and the people helping move obesity care forward together. 🤍 .thompson33

I’m heading back to DC today 🇺🇸I’ll be there with a team of dietitian advocates meeting with lawmakers to expand access ...
04/15/2026

I’m heading back to DC today 🇺🇸

I’ll be there with a team of dietitian advocates meeting with lawmakers to expand access to Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)… and we could really use your voice behind us.

This matters for our patients. It matters for access. It matters for the future of nutrition care.

💛 If you have 2 minutes, here’s how you can help before April 20th:
• Call or email your Senator + Representative
• Complete the action alerts (link below)
• Share this post with another dietitian

Even a quick message makes a difference—it strengthens the conversations happening in those rooms.

Kansas friends: Senator Roger Marshall (MAHA Senate leader) has already signed onto the MNT Act 🙌 Let’s keep the momentum going.

Easy script to use:
“Hi, I’m a constituent from [City]. I’m asking you to support and co-sponsor the MNT Act (S.3934 / HR 6199). It expands access to nutrition therapy for chronic conditions like obesity and heart disease. Thank you!”

Let’s show up together.



https://www.votervoice.net/EATRIGHT/1/Campaigns/134578/Respond

03/11/2026

Happy Registered Dietitian Day.

Confession: early in my career I thought this day felt a little… unnecessary.

Then I got involved in nutrition advocacy and realized something important.
It’s not about celebrating ourselves. It’s about awareness.

Medical Nutrition Therapy from registered dietitians has strong research showing meaningful improvements in chronic disease outcomes and reductions in healthcare costs.

And yet fewer than 7% of people can clearly explain what a dietitian does.

That gap matters.

Because nutrition support isn’t a luxury add-on to healthcare.
For many conditions, it’s part of the treatment.

So today I’m celebrating this profession, the dietitians doing incredible work for patients every day, and continuing to help people understand what we actually do.

Also… I will probably treat myself to an Americano in honor of all that healthcare money we’re saving ☕️

Happy RD Day to my fellow dietitians.

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Mission, KS
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