Amanda Frothingham

Alumni Office, Nutritional Sciences

Frothingham has used her dietetics degree to create a private practice and build a big following on social media

Degree/Year

BSFCS Dietetics, 2019 

Current occupation/Location

Virtual Nutrition Private Practice Owner/Entrepreneur, Richmond Va.

What has been your proudest accomplishment since graduating?

My proudest accomplishment has definitely been trusting my gut and jumping right into my private practice as a dietitian. I knew I had the option of working in clinical for a few years but that ultimately didn’t help me reach my main goal, which was creating my own business and working in eating disorders. Since I started my  practice in 2021, I have been able to help over 75 men and women heal their relationship with food while also financially supporting myself and creating a business I am proud of. 

What was your favorite class in FACS?

10000% Food Principles. I still talk about that class and Dr. Brigman to this day.

Did you have a favorite – or most memorable – faculty member?

Easy answer: Dr. Laing. Dr. Laing became my biggest support system when I was trying to figure out my dietetic internship applications. I was definitely challenging because I knew I wanted to move to New York City but I had no idea how to get there, and Dr. Laing met with me more times than I can count to go over internship options and refine my application so I would stand out. I had more breakdowns in her office than I would like to admit, but every time I did, she offered me a chocolate and calmed me down. Becoming a dietitian is hard, but I always felt like I had a cheerleader in my corner with Dr. Laing. 

How do you think FACS prepared you for your career success?

The faculty in FACS are the most supportive team I could ask for. One of the most impactful ways that I feel like FACS helped prepare me for my career was going in-depth into all of the options I had with my degree. They really helped me to see that with dietetics, the sky is the limit, and exposed me to areas of nutrition I had no idea existed. The FACS faculty helped me grow into a diverse and well-rounded professional that now helps me in my work as a dietitian and business owner every day. 

What inspires or motivates you?

Two things: 1. My personal experience recovering from an eating disorder. It is the reason I got into nutrition in the first place and the reason I jumped right into private practice after my internship. 2. Seeing the huge difference good nutrition guidance can make on someone’s life. We live in a world now, especially with social media, where everyone thinks they’re a nutrition expert. Because of that, there is A LOT of misinformation out there that can seriously harm impressionable individuals. In my practice, I see the harm that fad diets and toxic body image standards have created in so many of us. I also see how, true, flexible and realistic nutrition can change a person’s life. That might sound dramatic, but when someone goes from obsessing over food 24/7 and hating their body to actually understanding how to nourish not just their physical body but also their mental health, their life literally changes. Seeing that change is what motivates me. 

What advice would you give a current FACS student looking to pursue a career in your field?

Never feel confined to “the right way to do things.” The field of dietetics is so vast and you can do with it so much more than you could ever imagine. If you want to go into clinical, that’s great! If you want to go into food service, that’s great! If you have no idea what you want to do or if you want to take a different approach to your career but you’re scared, don’t let that stop you. One of the things that has helped me push in my practice is the mantra “if they can do it, why not me?” You have your own unique approach to your career that is going to make a difference in someone’s life. FACS is helping you prepare to become the best professional you could possibly be. Trust in your education and take chances in your career.