Hi, I’m Lauren. I’m really glad you’re here.

I’m a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and the founder of Planting Roots Nutrition, where I help women feel more confident eating in a way that supports regular periods, steady energy, and balanced hormones.

While I started my practice in Asheville, North Carolina, life has brought me back to my Midwest roots. I’m currently based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where I love hosting recipe parties, spending time in the great outdoors hiking or mountain biking, and laughing and singing with friends. I am known for my obnoxious number of houseplants, killer homemade desserts, and deep love for all things music.

One thing many people assume about dietitians is that we spend our days telling others what to cut out. That’s not how I practice. My philosophy is much more about helping you understand what your body needs more of — such as macro and micronutrients, antioxidants, mindfulness, or even self-trust — especially when your hormones and periods feel confusing or unpredictable.

Why being a period dietitian is so personal

I didn’t always have a healthy relationship with food or my body. After some unexpected weight loss after college, I fell into disordered eating and overexercising in an attempt to maintain that body at all costs. What started as “discipline” slowly turned into exhaustion, loss of joy, and (very quickly) the loss of my period.

I spent a couple of years going from doctor to doctor… running labs, frustratingly getting told birth control was my only option to get my cycle back, and continuously feeling dismissed. I was in my mid-20’s experiencing complete exhaustion, uncomfortable constipation, gas and bloating, and I was losing my hair. Not a fun time, to say the least.

At the time, I kept searching and searching for what was “wrong”. A PCOS and Hashimoto’s diagnosis started guiding me in the right direction, but the reality was, my body was totally DEPLETED, and nobody noticed. I was undereating, overexercising, and stressed out of my mind from work, yet even functional medicine practitioners were still telling me to do an elimination diet.

It took years, but I was able to unlearn those rigid rules and rebuild trust with my body. I learned to rest, enjoy food again, and accept the changes in my body as it found a healthier weight to sit at. My period returned naturally, my energy improved significantly, my gut is in a much better place, and I finally found a sense of balance that feels sustainable and freeing.

That journey, and the countless stories I hear from my clients, is what drives my work every single day. There's nothing more fulfilling than helping women restore their cycles naturally, build confidence in nourishing their bodies without extremes or obsession, and get back to living life again.

My role in your care

My work is about building trust, and helping you stop guessing.

Whatever you’re struggling with, I’m here to help you become deeply connected to your body and connect the dots between food, lifestyle, and hormones, without extreme diets, constant second-guessing, or feeling dismissed.

What you need right now is someone who will listen and can help you make sense of your symptoms in order to get you the results you deeply desire.

If you’re feeling ready to move forward, or even just curious, I would be delighted to connect. The first step is a free, no-pressure 30-minute discovery call where I can learn more about you and your goals.

Lauren Furgiuele, MS, RDN, LDN