NAO Nutrition

My high school daughter and I worked with Nikki and she was loving, compassionate and very effective! She is a mine of information which she turns into very straight forward and helpful advice — including shopping lists and recipes. She has actually got our entire family eating well. She sorted out our issues so quickly and continues to be available for support and encouragement. We couldn’t recommend her highly enough. We love her holistic approach and her advice and suggestions are fantastic.

Nikki is an exceptional friend and mentor. She provides wonderful suggestions that truly feel comfortable. Nikki has helped me create healthy habits that feel natural and make me feel complete and at ease. Anyone who is interested in guidance regarding health I strongly suggest setting up an appointment with Nikki.

I have been working with Nikki for 3 years and can honestly say she is an amazing inspiration and coach for my family. I have 3 kids between the ages of 9 and 13 and they each have different eating habits, likes/​dislikes, and of course different needs. Nikki changed how we look at meals and food together as a family and has made our relationships with each other and with nutrition so much more positive. Nikki is also a special person who makes everyone she works with feel special and good.

I can honestly say that Nikki has saved my life! I began working with her after nearly 20 years of battling an extremely inhibiting eating disorder. Nikki was more than welcoming, kind, supportive, and knowledgable in helping me get started on an eating plan, which at the time was my biggest fear.
Before working with Nikki, I had relied solely on one meal a day while maintaining a dangerous sugar/​sweetener addiction. After my first NAO session, I put my full trust in Nikki and the eating plan she customized for me. Everything was tailored to my lifestyle, likes & dislikes, and in avoiding the trigger foods that had only previously led me down difficult roads. Nikki’s plan did not feel at all restrictive, but rather opened my eyes to the wide array of delicious and wholesome meals I could be enjoying on a daily basis. After several months on this plan, I now feel better and more energized than I can ever remember. I finally feel that I can trust my body to know what hunger and satiety feel like and I have the knowledge of how to navigate any scenario and find the foods that will work best for sustaining how great I feel.
Nikki is an amazing communicator and was always very quick to respond with questions between sessions. I truly felt that I had an extra arm (and a leg, and a brain) in this process of my recovery and it is all thanks to her.
If you are questioning whether or not a nutritionist is for you, then just write Nikki an email right now and the answer will be clear.

Nikki was great in getting me back on track to a healthy lifestyle. She educated me on what to look for when reading food and product labels as well as teaching me the impact that the ingredients have on my body. I suffered from a sweet tooth and Nikki provided multiple options on how to kill that craving (it actually worked). She provided multiple food options (ingredients and recipes) that catered to my picky tastes. She provided educational readings each week that further explained what she had gone over in the session. Nikki’s approach is not focused on dieting but rather finding a sustainable eating lifestyle. Nikki has completely changed my view on what is healthy vs. not healthy.

I began working with Nikki in the beginning of 2014, and it is January 2015 as I write this post.
I was looking for a long-​term plan to find changes in my life I would be comfortable with, and that would be manageable despite an intense job with unpredictable hours. The last time I weighed 145lbs was in high school.
By the summer, I was lighter than 145. Since summer, even with a pick-​up in stress and work, even during the most stressful weeks, my body doesn’t break past that number. My body feels like it has changed and become more comfortable at this lighter weight, so that any food or eating routine stabilizes at this lighter weight. The fact that this change has occurred simply by seeking out new foods and ways of eating that I WANT to eat, and that are healthy and satiating, is incredibly confidence-​boosting and gratifying. I feel excited at the idea of now aiming for ideal weight goal, whereas in the past weight loss was an anxiety inducing thought.
Her approach has helped me find routines for eating that dramatically improved my life, and helped re-​orient my thoughts on food so that I found an entire pocket of the world of food that I enjoy. In our work, we started out focusing on a program for the first few months removing the majority of processed and artificial food products. I did a preliminary 2-​week cleanse eating a vegan program of salads and vegetables along with fermented foods, essential oils, teas and water. After a week, I craved sugar and fat, and complained to Nikki, who encouraged me to eat sweet potatoes, green apples or yogurt when I was really craving. I wound up eating a huge steak! I told Nikki, who was not only supportive but glad to hear this, as we concluded I was iron deficient and therefore changed the plan and all future plans to make sure to include high-​iron foods in my diet, and to include meat. When I became bored with food, or wanted to try reducing meat, Nikki actively worked to find me the best new plan for eating that would give me enough iron and protein without meat. When I went traveling to several countries, Nikki assembled lists of restaurants and local dishes that would allow me to enjoy local foods and restaurants with options that supported my goals.
I can’t recommend her enough.

I worked with Nikki and NAO Nutrition for about 8 weeks. I had 4 – 5 sessions with her and in each session, I took home new information and new actions. I started working with Nikki for a couple reasons that span the psychology of eating along with ways to holistically manage my IBD.
Each meeting with Nikki uncovered new information that educated me about how my body works, what it needs, and different ways I could feed it to heal my ‘guts’ and my mind. I got real «science-​y» info about what different types of foods do to my body and my brain, I discovered the use of essential oils and how to incorporate them into my daily lifestyle (to promote digestion and sleep), I learned I wasn’t taking in enough protein, I got recipes and learned about different types of foods I could make at home that would create harmony in my body. I felt empowered with each meeting and more settled in what I need to do in order to eat properly FOR ME and not for anyone else.
Would recommend Nikki and NAO Nutrition to anyone who’s looking for a new way to approach their health.

Nikki Ostrower drastically changed my life. She is not only a beautiful and genuinely kind human being, but she knows her nutrition inside and out!
I went from a sugar addicted, processed food loving college student to a well informed, Paleo loving young lady. If you want to drastically change your life FOREVER! call Nikki! :)

I worked with Nikki for about 3 months and she has forever changed the way I relate to food. Yes, she helped me loose weight while getting to eat delicious things and never be hungry, but more importantly, she taught me how to think about food, how to make better food choices in all situations, understand my body and how it reacts to food, and most of all, my entire relationship with food. I can’t recommend Nikki enough!

NIKKI IS THE BEST NUTRITIONIST IN THE WORLD! SHE COMPLETELY CHANGED MY LIFE. I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease when I was 16. I went to doctors’ for years, taking numerous medications, going through various tests and procedures without anyone ever having a full grip on how to handle it. I lived with stomach aches everyday, and thought that was just the way it would be.
At our first session, Nikki made some changes to my diet– I followed her instructions, and to my complete amazement, I felt better within a week! I couldn’t believe it– it was completely life changing. I continued my sessions with Nikki-​and continued to follow the plan she put together for me and my crazy busy NYC life-​style. I have been Nikki’s plan for 6 years, and it’s has been life changing. I look and feel amazing!!!
She will teach you so many tips and tricks for eating healthy in any situation– work events, weddings, traveling, dinner parties etc. She will show you how to dissect restaurant menus, read ingredient labels, what to put in your grocery cart, and how to cook delicious healthy meals.
Her passion, talent and understanding of nutrition is like no one else. Go see Nikki. You won’t regret it! It will be the best money you ever spend. You feel empowered and know how to take care of your body. You will feel amazing. You will look amazing.

I am now a 40 year-​old successful and very busy banking professional with twins
to keep me even more busy. By the time I consulted Nikki 4 years ago, I had tried many «diets» and programs
for my then out of balance eating and metabolism, but nothing
worked. After being recommended by a friend I wanted to meet with Nikki and
she offered to meet either in her office or at lunch in the city, which
very much accommodated my extremely tight schedule. Already in our first meeting I came to
realize how much Nikki loves what she does and that I could trust her as my
personal nutrition coach. She mindfully incorporated practices that were
realistic for my busy schedule. At all times I could reach her via email
or text and she provided me with customized weekly meal plan suggestions
to enable me to gradually, and therefore successfully, change my eating habits.
Nikki also provided me with advice regarding Restaurant Menu choices, so
I had peace of mind and could enjoy Lunch or Dinner invitations with customers
or friends. She taught me what nutrition my body needs and caused a permanent
shift of my diet. So today we only meet once a quarter or so, but we are still in
contact via email once a month, though more related to my baby twins diet.
To summarize my experience: I can highly recommend her service. Nikki will coach you to gradually change your eating habits permanently to a healthy and balanced diet with the objective not to need a nutrition coach anymore.
Nikki really helped me change my life in a very positive way (and that of my husband and my children).

This practice received tons of fantastic reviews. I, however, will not be drinking the juice. Reason: at least 3 weeks ago now, I called and left Nikki a message in addition to following up with an email regarding an initial consultation… I am currently hearing crickets as I type this review, and in wait for a response to either of my messages. I don’t know whether or not Nikki accepts insurance plans but I was actually willing to pay out-​of-​pocket based on praises of her practice. Unfortunately, I will never find out how «great» she is with regard to getting clients on track nutrition-​wise, because she never bothered to contact me. I’ll simply stick to finding an in-​network practitioner, who is both covered under my health plan and will be responsive. Disappointing to say the least.

How can you adequately provide a recommendation for someone who’s so dramatically changed your life?
I first contacted Nikki in December 2013, feeling frustrated and lost. I watched what I ate. I exercised. I took a vested interest in my overall health. Yet, I was still fighting to feel good about my body. It didn’t help that I was constantly bloated and irritable. On top of eating foods that left me either undernourished and sluggish or overstuffed, I had been grappling with years of negative self-​talk about my body. As someone who has struggled with disordered eating in the past, I doubted I could change years of behaviors.
Nikki reassured me. I was provided with the tools and support to revamp the way in which I approached food. The so-​called healthy habits I had formed over the years were wrong for me and my body on so many levels. Nikki educated me about various foods and food behaviors. I took a real, honest look at how much sugar I was eating. I also looked at the old restrictive behaviors that controlled what and how much food I ate. I set a mindfulness plan for my diet.
Fast forward to today and I feel like a different person! In a few short months I’ve overhauled my eating habits and transformed my relationship with food. I’ve stopped many of the compulsions — like candy or gum. I’ve stopped calorie counting and grazing to «save» calories. I’ve stopped feeling bloated and my skin has improved. And those extra pounds, those were shed, too.
I still have a great deal to learn, but Nikki has set in motion a wonderful lifestyle change that I have fully embraced. I recommend Nikki to anyone who is looking to develop a healthy relationship with food and eating, and who is looking to improve his or her quality of life. She will guide you, support you, and care about you every step of the way.

I am the newest member of the cult known as Nikki. I echo the sentiments of everyone before me and also found her through Unilocal,which is why I felt the need to share my commentary.
I came to Nikki in a bad state — mentally, emotionally, and physically. I was at my heaviest weight of all time and didn’t know what else to do. I have tried so many different diets, workouts etc. The hardest thing for me is commitment to one thing for very long. I would start Atkins one day, the next day decide to be Vegan and the next day start a Master Cleanse. My behavior was self-​sabotaging and out of control because I didn’t know where to turn and what to do for myself next. I was also using food and drinking to suppress my feelings of what I was going through and I had been living in this fog for years. And then comes my Nikki into my life to kick start me into a new direction.
I won’t lie when I tell you the first couple of weeks are mind blowing and hard as hell. To basically retrain yourself from lifelong behaviors is overwhelming to say the least. I found the way Nikki delivered the information understandable and realistic for me to work into my day to day lifestyle. I travel so much for work and Nikki gave me invaluable info for living a clean life on the road. I have used travel as an excuse for years not to workout and be healthy and that was total BS I let myself believe. A couple months into the process I took up the notch a bit and cut alcohol and increased workouts. I have dropped 33lbs in a slow and controlled way with more to go. I feel so much more empowered in my life without the mental anguish and self hatred I dealt with on a daily basis 6 months ago (PN — pre Nikki). I have never felt so energetic and happy in my 34 years of life. My skin is on a different level and everyone wants the secrets to my success… the secret is Nikki. The best investment I have ever made on myself. Find a way to make it work because it will be with you forever.

During the summer of 2012, I lived in NYC while interning uptown. As someone who has battled with poor body image, anorexia, and malnutrition in the past I knew I needed to find an adequate nutritionist to guide me through the city and my meal plan. Upon meeting Nikki, I knew almost immediately that she was quite possibly the most positive, loving, and kind person I had ever met (let alone worked with as a nutritionist).
Over the course of 3 months, I met with Nikki in her apartment each week to discuss recipes, fear foods, natural remedies for poor digestion and acne, and personal victories. Her approach to nutritional counseling is equal parts education and advice. Nikki made me feel like I could tell her even my most illogical food fears and worries without the slightest bit of judgement. She helped me to come up with weekly goals (both food related and non), to learn more about what it is I put in my body, and to make a grocery list filled with nutritionally dense and body/​soul-​nourishing items. In the time since I have seen Nikki as a provider, she still remains in contact with me — checking in to make sure I am doing alright or offering sweet words of advice. I truly cannot recommend her highly enough, especially to young women who struggle with disordered eating or self-​perception. And, of course, she gets bonus points for her adorable dog, Kirby, being a wonderful comfort during appointments :)

The first time I met Nikki, I was like, I want to be you! She is the perfect picture of health that knows so much about nutrition. I came to her because I wanted to lose weight and have clear skin. She was a great listener to all my issues and she put me on a plan right away. The advice that she gave me was priceless. I heard about being gluten free and dairy free but I never thought it would work for me. It really did. As a snacker and frequently being hungry, she gave me so many recipes and meal ideas that I lost all my cravings and really started to enjoy all my foods. I seriously learned so much and it changed my life. I even had my gluten free oatmeal today and it was amazing! I don’t miss the real thing at all. I’m just so happy to have met such a wonderful person in my life that I can call a friend now. Nutrition is such a key part of your life. Thank you Nikki for being the best coach ever!

I don’t even know where to begin… perhaps I should start by telling you that Nikki has changed my life.
I am a fat girl in a skinny girl’s body. I used to be able to eat pretty much whatever I wanted, and because I’m 5’8″ with great genetics, I could do so with little to no fluctuation in weight. I grew up on fast food, and my mom and dad didn’t know much about cooking or nutrition. As my late 20’s were approaching… my weight started to change and I didn’t look as great as I did when I was a teenager. I also had major headaches. In an effort to loose weight I tried psychotic calorie counting (starvation) and eating lean cuisines (gross). Although it worked… I knew it wasn’t sustainable and I was miserable! I needed help… I didn’t know what to cook, I didn’t know what to eat, I was doing research online and feeling all together overwhelmed. I was ready to make big changes in my life, but I didn’t know how.
So I did the obvious when I’m in need of help: I turned to Unilocal and found NAO Nutrition.
After a couple of emails back and fourth and then a phone chat, I scheduled an appointment to see Nikki. Over the phone she seemed very experienced, professional, nice and caring. Over time she proved to be all that and more.
Changing your diet is very hard. I will make no illusions about that. But that is why you need a coach. It’s one of the hardest things I have accomplished in my life. But now, I am so much happier and have learned so much about myself. I had no idea that my eating habits were so incredibly emotional. Through this process of changing my life and diet I have come to think of Nikki more as a therapist/​nutritionist/​wellness yogi/​coach/​chef/​foodie/​friend/​babe (she’s adorable).
My headaches are gone, I feel so much happier and I am able to enjoy my life so much more. My skin looks great, I feel more confident with my body, I have more energy… and the list goes on!
As far as pricing goes… worth every penny. Every penny. I encourage you to talk with her and figure out some way to make it work for your budget. I wish every one of my friends and family could have the same experience I did with Nikki.

Nikki is simply the best. She doesn’t put you on a «diet,» she helps you navigate the lifestyle change of eating mindfully and making good/​healthy/​delicious choices when eating. For most of us, eating isn’t just about satiating hunger, there’s an emotional and mental element to how and what we eat. Nikki helps you figure out the emotional core behind «stress eating» so that you can redirect that feeling to something fun and productive.
I am not nervous about gaining weight back after I stop seeing Nikki, because she has armed me with the knowledge and desire to want to continue to treat my body with respect by feeding it well and taking good care of it!

Nikki really is as wonderful and well informed as everyone says!
I came to Nikki after years of struggling with restrictive/​binge eating patterns. I was unhappy. My weight was higher then it had been in years. I felt out of control and terrified.
From our first session I knew that Nikki would be able to help me. The first month was hard. Just eating and not worrying about every calorie was strange. I didn’t want to gain weight. For the first time in many years I just ate until full. I didn’t worry about every calorie. And guess what? I lost weight!
After a month of eating mindfully but not obsessing, Nikki suggested a juice fast… Um, what? Not eat for 5 days? Drink nothing but vegetable juice?! I voiced my concerns and Nikki was very supportive. She allowed me to express my fears and suggested we do 3 days instead of 5.
After 2 days of a pre cleanse diet before the fast I decided to take the plunge and «Juice Feast» for the full 5 days. I’m so glad I did! The juice cleanse was a revelation! I never felt hungry. The cleanse made me take a cold hard look at my relationship with food. I cried a lot but Nikki (and my amazing husband) was there the whole time as support. I never felt like I was alone.
The fast completely changed the way I look at food. My sugar cravings disappeared. I want more fruits and veggies. Refined carbs are no longer a part of my day to day diet anymore. I LOVE green juice! Even meat doesn’t have the allure it once did. I’ve lost weight but that’s not even the goal anymore. The goal is to eat mindfully. To eat what makes you feel good. I’ve learned a bag of pretzels and cupcakes do not make your body feel good. It seems like a simple lesson but one I would have never discovered without Nikki’s help!

Are there other nutritionists in NY? Who cares? Nikki was absolutely delightful and helpful. She’s so knowledgeable it’s scary. If there were instances where she did not have a clear answer to a question, she did the research and followed up.
For the first time in my life, I lost weight in a healthy and maintainable way. I suffer from depression and never knew to look at the effect of a bad diet on it until I saw the some improvement in my overall state after eating well. (am not claiming clean eating cures depression.)
I had no idea how nor desire to learn to cook before starting a wellness program with her. Since then, I look forward to trying new recipes and learning about different foods.
After seeing Nikki, I am much less intimidated by the grocery store and the produce aisle.
As a bonus plus, when I decided to try the paleo lifestyle, I was a step ahead of the curve due to everything I learned from Nikki.
Highly recommend seeing her for nutritional guidance.