Emily Reistetter of Grounded Health & Wellness Credits Natividad for Beginning Her Health Journey   

For Emily Reistetter, returning to Natividad Medical Center is personal. The holistic nutritionist and founder of Grounded Health & Wellness will lead a live cooking demonstration at Natividad’s Farmers’ Market on Wednesday, April 22, at noon — at the very institution where her passion for nutrition was first ignited.

Reistetter’s story begins during her second pregnancy, when she chose Natividad for her care because it was the only hospital in the area to offer vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC). It’s also where she met Natividad’s OB/GYN Service Chief, Dr. Peter Chandler.  

Struggling with persistent digestive issues, she had tried to manage them on her own. “I was throwing over-the-counter supplements at it, and it wasn’t helping,” she recalled.  

It was Dr. Chandler who suggested a different approach. “I finally met with Dr. Chandler around six months pregnant, and he asked if I’d considered a plant-based diet. I said, ‘No, but I’m willing to try anything.’ He recommended the book How Not to Die, and the results were swift and striking. It solved a problem I had been dealing with for months in just three days. It was life changing.”  

The experience didn’t just improve her health. It redirected her life. “It took almost a year before I decided to leave my job and take nutrition classes,” she said.  

Starting with traditional nutrition courses at Monterey Peninsula College, she soon sought other classes in holistic nutrition. Her approach considers not just diet but also movement, relationships and how we handle stress. She went on to earn a Master’s in Holistic Nutrition from the American College of Healthcare Sciences in Oregon, followed by board certification from National Association of Nutrition Professionals. 

Today, Reistetter runs Grounded Health & Wellness, where she specializes in gut health. “I work with a wide variety of clients and focus on healing the gut through food and supplements, if necessary,” she says. “So many of our chronic diseases come from inflammation, and it often starts in the gut.” Her practice uses functional tools, such as food sensitivity testing, and she takes a whole-person approach to wellness. “I prefer to call it plant-based or plant-centered vs. vegetarian or vegan.”

Her April 22 demonstration will feature her recipe for Braised Chard with Creamy Polenta, a dish she chose with intention. “My goal is to help people experience and adopt easy, nutrient-dense recipes into their lives,” she explains. “I chose chard because it’s underrated, but it’s also a really important food. What’s interesting about chard is that it’s bitter. Bitter foods are important for stimulating our digestion. The more you can adjust your palate to bitter foods over sweet ones, the better.” 

The cooking demo reflects the broader mission of Natividad’s Farmers’ Market, which partners with Everyone’s Harvest to bring farm-fresh produce, wholesome prepared foods, and health resources — including cooking demonstrations and tastings — to patients, staff and visitors every Wednesday. The market runs from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm at the hospital’s main campus in Salinas. 

“Food can be medicine,” said Chief Ancillary and Support Services Officer Andrea Rosenberg. “When someone explores a new flavor, recipe or vegetable at our year-round farmers’ market, it’s one way Natividad can inspire healthy lives.” 

For Reistetter, the work is driven by a simple but powerful vision. “The big motivator for me was to feel like I had control over my health in a way that I hadn’t before. That’s what I want for my clients. I want them to take back ownership of their health. I’m like a sherpa on their journey. The goal is for them to thrive, not just be alive. I want my clients to live a life where their chronic condition symptoms are resolved, not just managed so they feel like their best self no matter their age.” 

About Natividad Farmer’s Market 
Natividad’s Farmers’ Market is operated in partnership with Everyone’s Harvest and runs every Wednesday from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm at 1441 Constitution Blvd., Salinas, CA 93906. The market features fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, teas, coffee, baked goods and a variety of freshly prepared foods. For more information, visit www.natividad.com/farmers-market.