Today we’d like to introduce you to Cathey Stoner.
Hi Cathey, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been a dietitian for 15 years, and like many in this field, I started out with a deep desire to help people feel better in their bodies and more at peace with food. For years, both Jessica Vancleave and I ran our own private practices, helping clients one-on-one—but over time, we both realized something was missing. We loved the work, but decided we needed community and collaboration.
That’s when we found Nan Allison and her long-standing practice, *Allison Nutrition Consulting*. Nan had spent more than three decades building something truly special in Nashville—a space where nutrition care went far beyond calories and lab values, and where clients were seen, heard, and cared for as whole people.
When Jessica and I joined Nan’s team, everything clicked. We found the collaboration and community we’d been craving. Nan became both a mentor and a friend, generously sharing her wisdom, her business, and her heart. For three years, she prepared us for the day she would retire and pass the baton.
In April 2025, after 37 wonderful years of serving Nashville, Nan retired—and we had the incredible honor of carrying her legacy forward as the new owners of the practice. With that transition came a new name: Iris Nutrition Group. The iris flower symbolizes renewal, growth, and connection—all things that represent where we’ve been and where we’re going.
Jessica is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor who specializes in helping clients heal their relationship with food through kindness and inclusion. I’m certified in Integrative and Functional Nutrition, focusing on women’s health, gut health, pediatrics, and family wellness. We’re both moms of three, juggling the beautiful chaos of family life while running a business we love.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Everyone knows that running a small business comes with its ups and downs, and we’ve certainly had a few along the way. But overall, it’s been a very smooth transition. We’re so thankful to have inherited such a strong, established practice with deep roots in the Nashville community and an incredible team that truly loves what they do.
Of course, there have been challenges—like in our first six months of ownership when Blue Cross Blue Shield cut reimbursement rates for all mid-level providers by 15%. Hits like that are tough to absorb, especially for a small, service-based business. But we’ve learned to adapt quickly and lean on each other!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Iris Nutrition Group, we offer nutrition therapy to help people build a healthier, more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies. Our approach is weight-neutral and rooted in intuitive eating, so instead of focusing on numbers or strict plans, we focus on how food can support energy, mood, and overall well-being.
We also know that sometimes people want to dig a little deeper into what’s going on with their health, so we offer functional testing like the DUTCH hormone test, GI-MAP stool test, and food sensitivity panels. We want clients to have a safe, supportive place to go through that kind of information—without judgment or confusion—so they can make sense of what’s really happening in their bodies.
Our team of dietitians has a wide range of specialties, from eating disorders and gut health to women’s and family nutrition. We’re proud to be an insurance-based practice, because accessibility really matters to us. We even verify benefits before the first appointment, so clients know exactly what’s covered.
In an age where so much healthcare feels automated or rushed, we try to do the opposite. Whether someone meets with us in person or virtually, we want every session to feel personal, human, and kind—like they’re being truly seen and supported.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Our Mission: At Iris we help clients regain trust in their bodies, navigate complex nutritional and health challenges and find freedom in their relationship with food without shame, assumptions, or dieting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.irisnutritiongroup.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irisnutritiongroup/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090539230466
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/93354460
