Erica Litzner
Together we can help you nourish your unique body.
About Erica
she/her
Between growing up with undiagnosed Autism and ADHD, and spending my days with a patient and loving grandmother cooking huge meals for a huge family, I’ve had a lifelong obsession with food that focuses on everything from texture to family norms. After achieving a Bachelors of Applied Arts in Food Service Management with minors in nutrition and sociology, I became fixated on where food comes from, who has access to which foods, and how that food affects our bodies.
During my 27 years of experience in the restaurant industry (including four years as the owner of a farm-direct, nutrition-focused restaurant in Portland, OR), I discovered a passion for supporting people who are managing health conditions with medically specific diets. I sincerely enjoy helping people who are committed to their treatment plans but are struggling to navigate their changing relationship with food. One common theme I’ve noticed with all the people I’ve helped is that telling their stories about food had everything to do with them making meaningful changes in their relationship with food.
I take a holistic approach in my work, combining years of studying nutrition, food preparation, sociology, trauma and the mind-body connection, yoga, meditation, and more.
I draw wisdom from a variety of therapeutic modalities and social liberation workers, including Tara Brach’s Radical Acceptance, Richard Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems, Laurence Heller’s NeuroAffective Relational Model, Tricia Hersey’s Rest is Resistance, Michelle Cassandra Johnson’s Skill in Action, Kristen Neff’s Radical Self Acceptance, Devon Price’s Unmasking Autism, adrienne maree brown’s Pleasure Activism, and Hillary Kinavey and Dana Sturtevant’s Body Trust. So much of my philosophy and approach comes from the insights I have gained from studying these teachings that I had to give them credit here. I am forever in their debt.
I seek to hold a trauma-informed space for my clients to surface their food stories and memories, so that they may be witnessed, validated, and supported in finding deeper healing. I believe this approach builds a strong foundation for a meaningful, lasting change in a person’s relationship to food.
Empowerment through Storytelling: I honor and explore personal food stories as a foundation for healing and building sustainable nourishment strategies.
My Mission:
I guide people in exploring their food stories to cultivate nourishing, personalized habits that support their new dietary goals and holistic well-being.
My Vision:
I envision a world where people embrace nourishing habits, honor their unique food stories, and connect deeply with their individual needs.
My Values:
Individuality: I celebrate the uniqueness of every body’s needs, fostering confidence in creating personalized, easeful, and pleasurable food relationships.
Connection: I support deep, meaningful relationships with food, culture, and identity, recognizing their interconnectedness in shaping well-being.
Social Justice: I acknowledge and address how intersecting identities shape food access, habits, and relationships, promoting equity and understanding.
Flexibility: I advocate for balanced approaches that encourage nourishing choices while allowing grace for imperfect moments without judgment.
Compassion: I help create safer spaces for self-discovery, healing, and growth, encouraging kindness toward oneself and others.
Cultural Sensitivity: I respect the diverse cultural and personal connections individuals have with food, honoring these as integral to identity.