From 1998 thru 2013, Barbara owned and operated Neighborhood Nutrition, a Boston-based private-practice and nutrition counseling service that provided specialized services for eating disorder recovery, weight management, and sports/performance nutrition.
Barbara graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics and has an M.S. in Nutrition from Boston University. A former collegiate tennis player and rower, she is an all-around athlete who enjoys an active lifestyle. She competed in the 2013 USTA Nationals in Indian Wells, CA.
Barbara Ruhs, M.S., R.D., L.D.N. is a Registered Dietitian and Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist specializing in retail food & health marketing communications and brand strategy for food companies, commodity groups and supermarkets. She is an entrepreneur, strategic-thinker, and leader in the field of nutrition. She recently re-launched Neighborhood Nutrition LLC, offering nutrition counseling and consulting services in the area of supermarket dietitian outreach and retail health promotions.
As a former supermarket dietitian, Barb is passionate about helping people eat better and has studied and implemented innovative strategies using the local supermarket to influence healthier choices. Working with leading CPG companies, she created and executed a turn-key solution for a southwest-based supermarket chain to promote healthy food choices across all categories, driving $500K sales annually.
Barb launched one of the first Supermarket Dietitian Symposia and continues to develop this event with Oldways, a non-profit committed to promoting healthy lifestyles. This unique educational and networking event brings together retailers from across the country to share best practices in retail health.
As an accomplished writer, Barb has a regular column to share her perspectives in a popular trade magazine. She writes for several other periodicals - her work has been published in the Chicago Tribune, Reader's Digest and more.