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Mary Chojnowski, MS, RDN, CDN, LD

My interest in nutrition started when I was running track in 7th grade.  I was fascinated how the body could use food as fuel and how the right food choices positively impacted my running.  As an athlete, I grew to understand how the foods I ate impacted my performance.  My nutrition interest grew throughout high school, as I saw family members diagnosed with diseases that could have been prevented or treated with a better diet.  I knew changing their diet would have helped them better manage their conditions, which was when I decided to become a Registered Dietitian.

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In 2011, I attended Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where I competed in Division II Cross Country, as well as Track and Field.  Under the direct supervision of Clinical Dietitians and Seton Hill University Faculty Superiors, I participated in 1300 hours of supervised practice experience in the fields of Clinical Nutrition, Food Service Management, Long Term Care, Community Nutrition, Sports Nutrition, and Private Practice.  I graduated from Seton Hill University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Dietetics in 2015.  Later that same year, I passed the Dietetics Registration Examination and became a Registered Dietitian (RD).

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In 2016, I worked for Catholic Charities, Women Infants and Children (WIC) in Buffalo, New York as a CPAIII/Qualified Nutritionist.  In this role, I guided pregnant women, infants, breastfeeding mothers, and children to eat healthier while utilizing their WIC benefits.

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I was anxious to learn more and gain experience in the clinical field, so in 2017, I decided to practice as a Clinical Dietitian for Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo, New York.  Here, I created care plans, gave diet recommendations, and provided nutrition education to patients with chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, and gastrointestinal issues.  I also calculated enteral and parenteral nutrition plans for patients in critical condition.  While I loved helping patients during their hospital stay, it broke my heart that most of these patients were too elderly or too sick to initiate a lifestyle change.  I wished I could have made an impact on their health earlier in their disease state. 

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I decided to join Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County as a SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator in 2018.  In this role, I provided group nutrition classes and food demonstrations, both in-person and virtual, to low income populations throughout Western New York. My role was to teach SNAP participants how to live healthy lifestyles while on a budget.  This was very rewarding, as I was able to see that what I was teaching people was paying off in the community.  My down to earth and personable nature helped capture a classroom’s attention, while also making participants feel comfortable enough to be engaged and ask questions.  During this time, I decided to get my Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Canisius College in 2021. 

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To further grow my career, I joined Sodexo, a Food Service and Facilities company, in 2021 as an entry-level Accountant to get my foot in the door.  After working a few short months, I realized I missed the outpatient care setting. My ultimate goal is to help individuals live a healthier, sustainable lifestyle and I wasn’t helping anyone with my work at Sodexo.  I missed seeing smiles on people’s faces when they tasted the recipe I made, or the surprised look on their faces when they understood their diet was impacting their lab values.

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So, in 2022 I joined FoodSmart, a Telehealth Nutrition Company based out of California, as a Registered Dietitian.  Here, I am able to focus on the “Nutrition as Medicine” approach, a topic I was so passionate about.  My motivational interviewing skills helped me gather a complete overview of each patient’s lifestyle habits and allowed them to open up to me without judgment.  I created nutrition care plans and counseled patients regarding diabetes, high cholesterol, weight loss, binge eating disorder, and disordered eating.  I’ve also guided patients on how to eat healthy while sticking to a budget and how to use the FoodSmart app in order to create healthy meals, order groceries, and assess their diet.

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Because I value a “food as medicine” approach, I decided to go on to earn my Certificate of Training in Integrative/Functional Nutrition.  I am honored to be a part of the Buffalo Nutrition & Dietetics, PLLC team, where we utilize functional and integrative practices, as well as innovative technologies, medical nutrition therapies, and labs to promote optimal health. The mission of battling chronic diseases, as well as several other conditions, begins with nutrition and education, helping people understand the importance of food’s impact on overall health.  I am excited to help people with chronic diseases better manage their conditions by identifying root causes and implementing better nutrition habits while using these functional and integrative practices.  I highly recommend reaching out to Buffalo Nutrition & Dietetics, PLLC today to see how we can help change your life for the better.

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MEDICAL LICENSURES:​

  • Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

    • The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Commission on Dietetic Registration Certified Dietitian Nutritionist (CDN)

  • Certified Dietitian Nutritionist (CDN)

    • University of the State of New York Education Department, Office of the Professions

  • Licensed Dietitian (LD)

    • Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

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PROFESSIONAL AFFILLIATIONS:​

  • Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (AND)

  • Dietitians in Integrative & Functional Medicine (DIFM)

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DEGREES:​

  • Bachelors of Science in Dietetics (BS)

    • Seton Hill University (2011-2015)

  • Masters of Business Administration (MBA)

    • Canisius College (2019-2021)

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