About

About MELA

Welcome to MELA health, a private nutrition practice co-founded by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists Merrill Krusen, MS, RDN, CDN and Lauren Bloch, MS, RDN specializing in personalized and approachable nutrition and wellness. MELA provides virtual holistic health and nutrition counseling to individuals, groups and corporations throughout the United States.

Our areas of expertise include, but are not limited to: sustainable healthy eating, weight loss and/or improved relationship with food; women’s health and nutrition throughout the life cycle (fertility, prenatal, postpartum; perimenopause, menopause and beyond); early infant nutrition and starting solids; medical nutrition therapy for specific disorders or imbalances (gastrointestinal/digestive, diabetes, cardiovascular, hormonal and autoimmune conditions); and general nutrition education. 

Our approach is grounded in our scientific training and holistic approach to nutrition, health and wellness. 

Merrill is based in Tampa and Lauren in Los Angeles, where they both work with individual and corporate clients throughout the United States.  Interested in working with us? Let us know here.

Our Mission

To empower you with the tools, mindset and knowledge to simplify your path to health.

Nutrition in today’s world has become increasingly complex and overwhelming to navigate. The constant influx of information on the latest diet fads or the newest piece of alarming research has made it almost impossible to eat a meal without questioning every bite you take. 

At MELA, our mission is to streamline your journey to improved health. 

Whether we're working with individuals or corporations, sharing insights in the MELA Journal, or offering guidance through our comprehensive resources and toolkits, we offer practical, easy-to-implement ideas and tips to help you feel good about what you eat, and really, to just feel good.

We believe everyone is an individual; there is no "one-size-fits all" to nutrition and the newest trends aren't always the best. When working with our clients one on one, our approach is highly personalized, with each plan custom-tailored to address your unique biological profile, preferences, lifestyle, health goals and needs. We believe that food has a profound influence on your wellbeing, but it’s only one part of the wellness puzzle. We work to integrate the many elements that contribute to optimal health and well-being, with sessions often covering a range of topics such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, meal planning and prep, and mindfulness techniques. 

We help our clients implement sustainable habits and practices that will result in lasting change. Additionally, we work carefully to make sure that each of our clients feels confident and comfortable when making food choices. We provide the information, inspiration, and accountability that enables them to successfully accomplish their goals.

Through MELA, we hope to help you phase out the noise and recognize the basic nutrition and health practices that you can apply to your life with confidence and ease.

Merrill & Lauren

Merrill and Lauren met on the first day of their graduate program at NYU, both having taken a leap of faith in pivoting from their previous careers to pursue their passion for nutrition and health. Merrill came from executive search, while Lauren had worked in marketing & PR.

Merrill’s interest in nutrition stems from her own experiences with food allergies and health issues, while Lauren was driven to the field by her family’s history of nutrition related diseases and her love of cooking.

While at NYU, Merrill and Lauren collaborated extensively. After completing their Masters’ and becoming Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, both began offering private nutrition counseling. MELA health is the next iteration of their professional partnership. Merrill is based in Tampa and Lauren in Los Angeles, where they both work with individual and corporate clients throughout the United States.