Q&A With a Nutritionist: Marissa Lippert

by Meghan Neal

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Marissa Lippert is a registered dietitian in Manhattan, and she’s been named “Best Nutritionist” by New York Citysearch the past five years running. She’s a member of the American Dietetic Association and the Greater New York Dietetic Association, and she makes the most of her tiny kitchen.

So you have had the honor of being named “the best” nutritionist in New York City for five years. What makes you the best?

Well, it is an honor and I’m very grateful. I think what sets me apart is that I love food. I am very creative with it — visual. I write a lot, which also defines me in a different way. I think I speak to a lot of New Yorkers in terms of the lifestyle most of us lead. I like to eat out, I’m very social. I have a busy lifestyle, similar to most of my clients.

And you have this awesome-sounding shop opening soon, Nourish Kitchen + Table.

Yes! It will hopefully launch in early June. It’s a small cafe and take-away food shop in the West Village that focuses on seasonal ingredients, and local purveyors…Our goal in opening the shop is really to bridge the gap between healthful eating and amazingly delicious food.

What’s the gap?

I think that most people see healthful eating in really a negative light, or they’re really not sure how to do it. Essentially, we’re redefining “good for you” food. Eating fresh, clean, seasonally defined food is how we should be eating in general. We’re sort of visually and physically bringing it to the table.

Are you excited? Nervous?

I am all of the above.

You have a nutrition counseling practice. What’s the number one biggest mistake people make when it comes to eating well?

Misinformation. Too much information. Focusing too much on calories and less on what they’re actually eating, and how much.

Where’s the misinformation coming from?

The media. Or just things that they’ve heard. Hard to say.

Are there certain things you don’t eat? Like gluten, meat, those things.

Personally, I really eat everything. I’m always up for tasting and trying. But really I stick to what I prescribe: Probably over 50 percent of my diet — well over 50 percent — is fruits and vegetables. And I tune into what makes my personal body tick.

And how does one know what makes their body tick?

When you start eating more cleanly and healthfully, you’re sort of detoxing in a normal way. And you feel it. If there was a gray cloud covering you before, that veil is kind of lifted. And that helps you get a better sense of how good or not so good is gonna make you feel.

Do you think elimination diets can work though?

If they’re done strategically. I think a lot of people are doing them for the wrong reasons.

What are the right and wrong reasons?

I think oftentimes people will do it because there’s a fad that’s out, or if they’re reading something in the media or if their friends are going on a diet. Typically it’s motivated by weight loss. It can be beneficial, though, when it’s coming from a food allergy or intolerance. That’s actually really valuable. But oftentimes I think people are doing it for — i don’t want to say superficial reasons — but more because of a fad that’s going on. Especially with gluten — i think that’s the most interesting one — there’s a fine line between intolerance and sensitivity, right? You have to understand your body. If you eat gluten, how do you feel?

Right.

For a lot of people cutting out gluten means cutting out all carbs. And that’s not what we need to be doing.

Let’s talk about chocolate. Is it really a sex substitute? Mood booster? People seem to love chocolate… a lot. More than most foods. What’s the deal?

I think it’s delicious. Ideally it’s dark. It’s indulgent. And it should be had in moderation. I personally would not say it’s a sex substitute by any means. But I think it’s sensual in a way. It hits that craving.

Sensual how?

In a lot of different ways. It’’s dark. It’’s rich. It has a mouth feel to it. It’s been shown to boost mood a little bit, but you have to be careful. It still has calories.

What’s your favorite kind?

Brand-wise, it’s like asking me my favorite child. There’s a brand in North Carolina that’s called … Escazu. it’s out of Raleigh. It’s incredible. We will hopefully be carrying at the shop. I don’t know why but, talk about sensual…

What do you think about the, “I’m going to skip dinner so I can drink tonight” tactic?

Absolutely not! Because then you’ll be really hungover the next day. You have to be smarter about it, balanced about it. Either have fewer drinks or have a healthful dinner.

Where do you like to go out?

You’ll typically find me in, I guess, the East or the West Village or sort of the Noho area. Or Brooklyn on occasion. I like to try out new restaurants and neighborhood standbys. At the moment if I had to pick…

It’s hard.

It is hard. At the moment there’s a place in my neighborhood called Edy and the Wolf…

So, the food pyramid was revised. The current one — is it getting close? Are we close?

The plate is definitely close. MyPlate. They’re pretty spot on with the amount of vegetables. You could argue that there’s a huge dairy lobby, which is why they have the glass of milk sitting there. But it’s getting way better. And the administration and Michelle Obama are doing great things.

Is the secret to good health really as simple as Michael Pollan’s “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants”?

Yes. It is. He got a winner there.