My Story...

Growing up, my diet really wasn't ideal. What we ate had little-to-nothing to do with nutrition and health. We weren't exactly rollin' in dough. It was all about feeding the family on a budget. Also, my parents didn’t know a lot about nutrition at the time. Many highly processed foods and low-cost cuts of meat were often on our table. To top it off, my hard-working father worked for Pepsi Cola at the time to support the family. This meant that soda (free to us, because it was past its expiration date) was also frequently in our house. To be honest, we didn't see anything wrong with it at the time.

Later in life I began to learn about how important nutrition is. I was introduced to the idea that food isn't just what keeps us alive (although it does do that important job as well), but what we choose to eat impacts our health far beyond that. Yes, food has calories and we certainly require them, but (depending on what you eat) it also can pack micronutrients, phytochemicals, antioxidants and much more. It influences how well our body functions, our quality of life and our longevity. Proper nutrition can prevent disease and is a major cornerstone of care for many diseases. Considering that I came from a background where nutrition was not a topic of discussion, I was completely fascinated by it as I became more educated. And I wanted to learn more. Once I found out that I could make a career out of it, that I could help people with information that I was so excited about, the rest was history. I became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). 

Since becoming an RDN, I've spent a lot of time working in hospitals, and some in skilled nursing facilities. I got to see firsthand - unfortunately over and over again - many unfortunate results that can stem largely from poor nutrition and lifestyle habits. Stroke, diabetes and the consequences of its poor management, end stage renal disease, and many more. My years spent in these settings, I kept thinking, if only they knew. And even if they did know, did it feel realistic to them to apply the information? What if these people had help with this before it got to that point? How could their lives have been different? And if they could get help starting now, how impactful could that be? If you're reading this, you might know that having the knowledge is one thing, making it happen is SO much more complicated than it sounds. We use food for lots of things, for better or for worse. It could be for true physiological hunger, or it could be to cope with emotions, stress, and even to replace boredom or simply because we have deeply ingrained habits, or even a coping mechanism of which we have no idea where it came from or what purpose it is attempting to serve us. 

While dietitians are absolutely valuable in the settings I used to work in, the brief encounters with a dietitian in the hospital and skilled nursing facility settings just don’t cut it for providing support to patients to produce meaningful diet and lifestyle change. So, I transitioned into an outpatient setting, and ultimately into my private practice. This is how I can make the biggest impact in people's lives. 

Many of us struggle with crushing old bad habits that we maybe didn't used to see as being so bad. No matter where you started, what background you came from, or where you are now let me tell you…

YOU CAN OVERCOME THIS. And I would love to help you do it.

Finding a balance where you can enjoy your food while sustaining healthy eating habits is hard to do, but it is totally possible with the right support. If you want to see if we are a good fit to work together, do not hesitate to book a FREE discovery call.