Sara Harris has only served a few weeks as HOPE Family Health’s dietitian/nutritionist, but in that short time she has already demonstrated a passion for helping patients (and staff!) find better health through better nutrition.
Born and raised in Lafayette, Tennessee, Sara graduated from Macon County High School and attended Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin to pursue a career in nursing. But a nutrition course captured her interest, and she soon changed her major to dietetics, receiving an Associates Degree from Vol State in 2019 before graduating with an Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics from Western Kentucky University in 2022. She went on to earn a Masters degree in dietetics from the University of Central Arkansas in 2024.
Following graduation Sara earned hands on experience during a series of internship rotations that took her into a variety of settings. She worked with the food services manager at a clinic that treats eating disorders, served as a nutrition counselor for patients with eating disorders, and provided medical nutrition therapy at a nursing home. But she says her favorite internship rotation was the community nutrition internship that took her to work on a grant-funded community garden in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“We planted seeds, harvested crops, and sold herbs and veggies at the farmer’s market there,” she related. “It was really fun!”
Sara thrives on opportunities to share her knowledge with anyone who asks. “I really just love talking about nutrition and teaching people new things,” she said. “I like to help people achieve their goals. It’s really rewarding.”
She also clarified the difference between being a dietitian and a nutritionist. “All dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are dietitians,” she explained. “Becoming a dietitian requires a master's degree and over 1,000 hours of internship as well as passing the national exam and maintaining continuing education requirements.
“As for nutritionists, in reality anyone can call themselves a nutritionist because the title isn't typically regulated – although some states do require a certificate,” she said, adding, “Nutritionists can serve as wellness coaches but can't provide medical nutrition therapy.”
Sara feels fortunate to have found a position as a dietitian at HOPE. “I never expected to get
a dietitian job so close to home,” she said. “Most dietitians work either in hospitals or in nursing homes or have offices in Nashville. I thought I would have to travel a long way to work, so I was excited to become the first dietitian at HOPE.”
Through her new position Sara aims to provide nutrition education to people in HOPE’s service area. She has already produced a series of brochures giving nutrition information for specific diagnoses and life phases.
“I want to educate the community on healthy lifestyle habits and help people achieve their health and wellness goals,” she said. “Lots of people have never had access to a dietitian, so I want to show people how I can help!
“You know the saying, ‘You are what you eat’? This is so true,” she continued. “What we put into our bodies is what the body uses to rebuild itself. Every cell is made up of what we eat.”
Sara stresses the importance of diet and nutrition to every aspect of wellbeing.
“Research suggests that up to 80 percent of chronic diseases – such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers – can be improved or prevented altogether through lifestyle changes, including diet,” she said, adding, “And that’s just the physical aspect!
“On a mental and emotional level, diet affects how we think and feel. There’s a saying, ‘the gut is the second brain.’ We make serotonin in our gut, and our microbiome regulates its production. So, what we eat greatly affects our mood.”
“Diet is so much more important than people might think,” she said. “I want to educate people as much as possible so we can become healthier as a community.”
Married with a 10-year-old son, Sara and her husband also have a menagerie on their Macon County homestead – “lots of animals: dogs, cats, and ducks!” she says. In her spare time she enjoys creating brightly colored acrylic paintings and playing music on bass guitar and ukulele.
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