Meet Em, the Sports Dietitian at Brick by Brick

My name is Emily “Em” Palmerton. I’m the human behind Brick by Brick Sports Nutrition. I am a registered dietitian nutritionist, lifelong athlete, and at my core a massive nerd.

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A little bit about your dietitian

Woman with glasses and long brown hair sitting on a beige chair, smiling at camera, holding a book titled 'Body Image Inside Out'. She is wearing a dark green sweater and light gray ripped jeans. In the background, there is abstract artwork on the wall.

I started my career as a movement instructor and massage therapist, earning a B.S. in Exercise Science from the University at Buffalo in 2016 and Massage Therapy Instruction Certification from the NY Institute of Massage in 2017. From my years as an LMT, I bring my understanding and appreciation of the body as a whole and challenges of navigating pain and injury.

In 2018, I went back to school to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Shortly after graduating, I officially “retired” from massage therapy, but I’ve held onto my movement certifications and the perspective they gave me. As a dietitian, I’ve been lucky enough to work with a wide range of humans, sports, and stories. I’m also a lifelong learner, which means I’m always finding new ways to expand my knowledge and challenge my own assumptions.

Outside of work, I’ve played women’s rugby through high school, college, and DII club. These days, I follow women’s hockey, women’s rugby, and, somewhat recently, the New York Yankees (and obviously the Buffalo Bills!)

In my free time, you’ll catch me at the squat rack over cardio any day of the week, but I love speed training. I enjoy baking bread, attacking a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle, and taking my adorable medium-sized-dog Rowdy for long walks with my husband, Derek.

Fun Fact: I recently read all six of Jane Austen’s novels and have been working my way through the various film and television adaptations!

Education & Certifications

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  • Registered Dietitian (Nutritionist) is a nationally regulated and recognized term.

    This means I have met all requirements to practice as a dietitian which includes offering medical nutrition therapy for medical and health conditions. I graduated from Buffalo State University’s combined program in dietetics in 2022.

    Not all nutritionists are created equally!

    Scope of practice is also based on specific training.

  • The CSSD designation is an advanced board certification through the CDR (also regulates dietetic licensure)

    To be a CSSD, you must have 2000 hours of specialty practice in sports as well as pass a board examination every 5 years.

  • CSCS

    This means I am qualified to program and lead exercise interventions in the group setting, and is highly sought after in the strength and conditioning field. I used to have a personal training certification but allowed it to lapse.

  • an RYT is registered through Yoga Alliance and has completed an hours based training.

    • 200 hour training through Love in Motion Yoga (now defunct) in Buffalo, NY. My certification was offered through a trauma-informed lens.

    • 300 hour training with Jules Mitchell focused on somatic and biomechanically informed yoga.

    Movement is certainly a passion project of mine. I don’t strictly teach “yoga” but instead borrow the philosophical elements of yoga in my work- union with the body, ahimsa or “non-harming” and the “glimmer of infinity” that embodied movement offers.

  • CEDS is a credential awarded by the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP) to clinicians who have demonstrated advanced knowledge, skill, and experience in the treatment of eating disorders.

    Being a CEDS means the professional (dietitian, therapist, physician, or other clinician) has:

    • Extensive supervised clinical experience treating clients with eating disorders.

    • Completed specialized education and training in all eating disorder diagnoses, medical and nutritional management, treatment modalities, and multidisciplinary care.

    • Passed a rigorous certification exam assessing both foundational and applied knowledge in eating disorder care.

    • Committed to continuing education and ethical standards specific to this field.

Circular logo with blue and black design, says 'Board Certified Specialist Sports Dietetics' and features a stylized flame or torch symbol.
Seal of a registered dietitian nutritionist certification, with words 'Registered Dietitian' and 'Registered Dietitian Nutritionist' surrounding a central circle with 'RD RDN' in the middle.
Logo of RED-S, an informed provider, with a circular design and dark blue center containing white text 'RED-S'.
Trained and certified by the original intuitive eating pros

Stuff I Nerd Out About:

  • Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor

    Intuitive Eating is an evidence-based approach developed by dietitians Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole that helps individuals cultivate a healthier relationship with food and body. It emphasizes internal cues and self-compassion while incorporating nutrition principles for long-term health.

    MB-EAT Practitioner

    Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) which uses mindfulness techniques to build awareness of thoughts, feelings, and sensations related to food and movement and has been shown to be helpful for individuals with binge eating disorder, emotional eating, and other health conditions.

  • Training and experience in exercise and movement recovery, including return to sport and reintegration of exercise using the Safe Exercise at Every Stage (SEES) Guidelines.

    Expertise in areas of compulsive exercise, exercise addiction, overtraining, and disordered or dysfunctional exercise patterns.

  • Whether you have a diagnosis or suspect you have some disordered eating, we can work on your relationship with food and eating behavior.

    I have professional experience at the PHP and outpatient level of care and am comfortable supporting individuals transitioning from higher levels of care to outpatient and/or for athletes navigating a return to sport while maintaining recovery through an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach.

    I work with ARFID, binge eating disorder, anorexia/”atypical” anorexia, bulimia and purging disorders, and OSFED (otherwise specified feeding and eating disorders) in clients as young as ten.

  • B.S. Exercise and Nutrition Science

    Contract dietitian with USA Hockey, has travelled internationally with the U18 Women's National Team.

    IOC Graduate Diploma in Sports Nutrition

    REDs Informed Provider Certification with Rebecca McConville, author of Finding Your Sweet Spot: How to Avoid RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) by Optimizing Energy in Sport.

  • I am committed to creating a practice where people of all identities, bodies, and lived experiences feel welcomed, respected, and supported. This includes affirming individuals across diverse backgrounds related to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, body size, ability, and neurotype.

    I am well-versed in presentations of ADHD and neurodivergence, including ASD and OCD, and I practice through a neurodivergent-affirming lens while remaining committed to ongoing learning and humility.

    My work is grounded in weight inclusivity and the belief that people in all bodies deserve compassionate, evidence-based nutrition care free from weight stigma or shame-based language.

    I strive for all of my digital content, educational resources, and learning experiences to be inclusive, robust, and accessible for individuals with disabilities, neurodivergence, and visual or auditory impairments, following WCAG 2.2 guidelines.

  • In 2025 I completed a Graduate Micro-Credential in Instructional Design through Buffalo State University of New York.

    This in-depth exploration of learning theory and understanding how people learn, change their minds, and change behavior greatly influences my individual, group, and online resources.