As a dietitian focused on supporting clients who struggle with GI-related diseases and conditions, Cheryl’s freebie and premium Well Resourced Dietitian content reflects her niche and expertise. Learn how she made nearly 2,500 product sales, generating a very impressive $12,000 over the past few years!
Welcome to the Well Resourced Dietitian Innovator RD Series! Meet Cheryl Harris, fellow dietitian specializing in digestive health.
In addition to a highly regarded private practice where she specializes in helping patients navigate digestive issues, concerns and diseases, she is a recognized speaker and has served via many professional organizations, assisting with development of professional resource materials.
Her Well Resourced Dietitian store consists of resources that support clients who have gastro-intestinal diseases and conditions, everything from gastroparesis to reflux. You’ll find a focus on elimination diet materials that support finding the root cause of those struggling with symptoms, plus materials that support gluten-free and low-FODMAP lifestyles.
Get to know Cheryl and learn about her success!
Meet Cheryl: Digestive Health Dietitian
Hello! I’m Cheryl. I’ve wanted to be a nutritionist since I was a teen. I was a competitive runner and came from a Middle Eastern family, so food was the center of my life. I completed my master’s in public health and have been a digestive health dietitian for 20+ years. I’m proud to say that I have counseled thousands of Celiac and other GI health patients in my private practice, Harris Whole Health.
Tell us more about your work across your practice + GI health. What makes your nutrition niche special? What drew you to it?
Interestingly, I began my career with a focus on breastfeeding programs for WIC, and loved it to bits. I had absolutely no interest in GI disorders.
But a memory, plus the onset of challenging chronic conditions in my own life, ultimately changed the trajectory of my career. I remember my boyfriend (now husband) experiencing a severe stomachache when we started dating, and I recall empathizing with him given the pain he was experiencing. Then, I developed Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) during grad school, a condition where my heart would start to race when I stand. I experienced dizziness and lightheadedness. Then I rapidly developed severe and humbling GI disorders around the time that I graduated. I felt at a loss – I felt like my dietetics training had done virtually nothing to prepare me for either health condition.
Wow, Cheryl – that must have been scary and challenging for you – where did you turn for support?
I spent the next decade reading everything I could and going to every conference that remotely addressed GI issues in the hopes of self-preservation. Nothing helped until I started following a gluten-free diet.
I eventually opened a private practice focusing on GI disorders and autoimmune health in 2007. During this time, when I introduced myself as a GI dietitian, I received quizzical looks; it just wasn’t a thing then, especially in private practice.
We love hearing about your path and education, Cheryl. Tell us more about your work and what makes your niche special.
I am both a GI patient and GI dietitian. I’m someone who has been to hundreds of doctors, many who told me my symptoms were “all in your head.” You can imagine my frustration. So I do feel for my patients, and I know which information will be helpful to them. I come from a place of empathy.
Given the lack of knowledge, research and understanding in the space in which nutrition intersects GI health, this meant that I needed to do that learning myself first.
"I spent years publishing my work and much of that is reflected in the content that I share with you via my Well Resourced Dietitian store! And I truly believe that it is important for all RDNs to have a basic understanding of GI health."
Your clients are fortunate to work with you, Cheryl. You really put a stake in the ground in this field, writing and counseling in an area that was not very well understood about 20 years ago.
I’m proud of this – I have presented and written widely on digestive concerns in publications such as the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, Practical Gastroenterology, Today’s Dietitian, Washington Post, ABC, Cosmo, The Food Network and Prevention Magazine. I’m eager to share more about how this translates into my resources on Well Resourced Dietitian!
Cheryl’s GI Resources on Well Resourced Dietitian
Cheryl – we’re eager to dive in, too. How does your expertise show up in the content that you create for Well Resourced?
My content is focused on GI conditions and disorders, like POTS and mast cell diseases. My ideal client is a dietitian who may be new to GI, but doesn’t have lists of recipes for Celiac clients, for example, and is searching for solid resources to make their work lives easier.
Like many other successful Well Resourced Dietitian vendors, the handouts I sell are based on inquiries I get from patients. My process has changed substantially over time. Initially, my focus was on providing information. I was keenly aware that the information I wanted didn’t exist, and I created pretty thorough, scientific resources. Unfortunately, one of the things I realized is that my handouts worked well when I was with patients because my excitement came through IRL. But clients simply receiving these materials as a handout from another dietitian might have found them a little dense.
I quickly realized that I needed to make my materials more visually appealing, and in full transparency, this does not come naturally to me. I dove in, learned more about design, and considered what layouts were most appealing. There are resources for this on Well Resources – I know because I used them! I then re-designed ALL of my handouts! My patients responded really well to them, and so did the dietitians who purchased them. My bump in sales speaks for itself!
Plus – another tip – most of my paid items on the site are paired with a free resource. I’ve found that those who buy from me want a sneak peek to see if the material and style are a fit – it’s a great way to see who opts into the freebie and then who ultimately buys the paid material. I recommend this approach!
Super smart approach, Cheryl – making resources paired with freebies for a sneak preview is such a great strategy, one that helps buyers who want to ‘try before they buy.’
Yes – and it’s helped me make approximately $12,000 selling on Well Resourced.
Win win!
Here is a mini roundup of my most successful freebies and premium products on the marketplace:
Freebies:
- Plan Your Plate – Gluten Free! – (approx. 375 downloads) This handout is a simple and easy way to convey concepts around portions, balanced meals, naturally gluten-free options and the plate method for clients on a gluten-free diet.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Fiber – (500 downloads) Insoluble? Soluble? This handout gives your clients a better sense for the types of fiber that are best if they have inflammatory bowel disease.
Premium Products:
- Mast Cell Activation and Low Histamine -(approx. 50 sales) Do you have patients with Mast Cell Activation? Or with Histamine Intolerance? Do you know the difference between the two? Learn the symptoms of both, which foods are best and which ones to avoid. And WHY.
- Tummy Tamers Kit – (75+ sales) This 100+ page goldmine supports your clients who have digestive problems. You need a toolkit that contains the strategies to help them navigate and understand what they are feeling and experiencing – the kit houses everything from easy recipes to simple tips to try for myriad tummy troubles.
Do you have a favorite?
Yes – I’d have to say my Gluten-Free Essentials Kit and the Tummy Tamers Kit. The Gluten-Free Essentials was one of my first and I’ve refreshed it time and time again to keep up with the science and new findings – I’m quite proud of it.
Cheryl’s Advice to Vendors and Vendors-to-be
When I’m asked about the advice I would give to dietitians who are thinking about creating materials for other dietitians, I’d suggest asking yourself:
- What am I passionate about?
- What do my patients respond to?
What types of resources do I have that are rare and valuable gems that patients truly need?
Great questions, Cheryl. We know client feedback can be invaluable when it comes to topics for materials and crafting content. We’re grateful that you took the time to share your story! Are you inspired by Cheryl’s story to build your niche, create resources of your own, or craft other nutrition materials that would help other RDs and patients? Get started – become a Well Resourced Dietitian vendor today.
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