Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelli Yates, RDN.
Hi Kelli, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve had migraine for as long as I can remember – and like many people, I spent years chasing solutions that never really worked. Medications helped sometimes, elimination diets made me miserable, and the standard advice to “just manage stress” felt completely disconnected from reality. Eventually, I decided to go back to school and become a dietitian, hoping to better understand my own body.
Once I was working in the field, it became clear that migraine care was missing something big. Most approaches were either overly generalized or based on restriction and fear. I knew there had to be a better way … so I created one.
I launched my business, The Migraine Dietitian, to provide science-based, full-body support for people with migraine. My signature membership program, Raise Your Threshold, helps clients manage migraine better by improving their gut health, hormones, nervous system, and more – without extreme diets or unrealistic expectations. Over time, I’ve grown the business into a multi-stream model with membership, 1:1 services, digital offers, a podcast, and brand collaborations, and have been able to help thousands of people with migraine feel more in control!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road – but I don’t think it’s supposed to be. Growing a business while managing a chronic condition like migraine comes with built-in challenges. There were plenty of times I questioned everything, especially during slower months, algorithm changes, or launches that flopped. I’ve also had to learn (the hard way) how to manage my energy, set boundaries with clients, and stop trying to do everything myself.
One of the biggest struggles has been visibility. Most of my clients find me through Instagram, and over the last couple of years, reach and engagement have been all over the place. It’s forced me to get creative with how I connect with my audience, like launching a podcast and investing more in email marketing.
But honestly, the hardest part has been mindset. Being a business owner is its own form of therapy, and it’s definitely been a process to trust myself, hold the vision, and keep going even when things feel uncertain. Entrepreneurship is hard and emotional, but it’s also the most empowering thing I’ve ever done!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I run a virtual practice and membership called Raise Your Threshold, where I help people with migraine build resilience through a whole-body, science-backed approach. I specialize in functional nutrition, which means we look at the deeper systems that impact migraine like gut health, hormones, nervous system regulation, micronutrient status, and blood sugar. But most importantly, we do it all without food fear, restrictive diets, or wellness gimmicks.
What sets my work apart is that it’s both evidence-based and deeply human. Most of my clients have already tried cutting out gluten, dairy, wine, chocolate … you name it. They’re exhausted from being told it’s all in their head or that they just need to “try harder.” Inside RYT, they get clear frameworks, nervous system-friendly support, and a community that actually gets it.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that we’ve created something people genuinely look forward to being part of. It’s not just another health program. It’s a space that validates people’s lived experience while giving them the tools to finally move forward.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think both the migraine space and the dietetics world are on the verge of some major shifts.
In migraine care, we’re going to move beyond the food trigger model entirely. People are starting to understand that you can’t out-eliminate your way to stability. In 5–10 years, I think we’ll see more emphasis on identifying patterns – nervous system dysregulation, hormonal imbalances, gut-brain axis dysfunction- rather than blaming chocolate or cheese. The idea of “migraine resilience” will replace outdated trigger-avoidance models. At least, that’s what I’m hoping for and building towards!
In dietetics more broadly, I see the profession continuing to splinter in the best way. More RDs are specializing, creating their own practices, building scalable offers, and ditching the old clinical gatekeeping model. We’re finally moving past the idea that dietitians only belong in hospitals or weight-loss clinics. I think we’ll see more dietitians stepping into coaching, content creation, advocacy, and entrepreneurship, especially as clients demand a more nuanced, whole-person approach.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.themigrainedietitian.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.migraine.dietitian
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@themigrainedietitian
