What RDs Do: Amrie DeFrates, RD

AMRIE DEFRATES, RD

DEFRATES NUTRITION, 
EATING DISORDER SPECIALIST

for something nutrishus

Today I'm pleased to share all about Amrie. She has a great approach to helping others with a non-diet focus including being mindful and working on people's relationship with food and themselves. I love the statement on her website 'nourish those you love - including yourself' as I am all about self love and being the best version of yourself. 

Why did you become a RD?

Many of my favorite childhood memories took place while making a mess in the kitchen. But, I was just having fun, I had no idea that I would eventually have the chance to teach other people about food. Then, my senior year in high school, I was looking for alternative options for the science requirement. I was given permission to take a human nutrition course at the local junior college, and that really carved the path for me. The professor was so passionate and the science totally clicked for me. I loved how this profession combined teaching, counseling, and science.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

I specialize primarily in eating disorders, but my philosophy and approach also reaches those who are affected by disordered eating, chronic dieting, and body image struggles. I take a non-diet approach, using the principles of mindful and intuitive eating.

How would you explain what you do?

The goal of my work is to help others heal their relationship with food and their bodies.

Primarily, I provide one-on-one nutrition therapy in my private practice, DeFrates Nutrition. Common topics of discussion include feelings around food, food patterns, food fears, hunger cues, eating disorder behaviors, triggers, support, coping skills, and body image. I collaborate with the client to create a meal plan while at the same time challenging them to try new foods and providing the structure and expectations for appropriate eating based on their individual needs. Under the DeFrates Nutrition umbrella, I also speak publicly and blog about nutrition, body image, and self-care.

Another role I hold is a contracted position as a recovery coach for Eating Disorder Recovery Specialists. In this role, I provide meal support for clients at a restaurant, office, or home setting. These clients have their own outpatient team, including a dietitian, and I help the client to achieve the goals set forth by that team.

Lastly, I am a per diem dietitian for the eating disorder program at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital. In this role, I perform group education on nutrition and body image. I also provide meal support.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

Each day and each week is SO different! Typically my time is spent between the following tasks:

· Client Appointments
· Charting
· Meal Support
· Group Education
· Communicating/Coordinating Care with other dietitians, therapists, psychiatrists, and doctors
· Writing/Blogging
· Website Maintenance
· Social Media
· Public Speaking
· Mentorship
· Professional Supervision
· Continuing Education

What has been your career path?

My first job after becoming a registered dietitian was with a non-profit organization that organized fitness and educational events for youth and adults living with diabetes. From there, I began working in eating disorders at a residential treatment center. Now I work in a variety of different roles, but all within eating disorders. I so whole-heartedly believe in the philosophy and approach of this work, I can’t imagine doing anything else.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

I attended San Diego State University for my Bachelor of Science in Foods and Nutrition. From there, I completed my dietetic internship at UC San Diego Medical Center, with a medical nutrition therapy emphasis. I am currently working toward becoming a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian (CEDRD), and look forward to going back to school for a master’s degree at some point!

In an ideal world, what does the industry look like 5 years from now?

I would love to see dietitians gain more recognition as a reliable source for nutrition information. There is so much “noise” out there in the world about nutrition, and dietitians are such a valuable resource for setting the record straight.

Now, on the other hand I would also like to see a shift away from dieting culture and weight loss. Not all dietitians have the same philosophy, and that’s okay, but I would hope that the majority of us would follow a non-diet approach that accepts bodies of all sizes. Let’s help people take care of themselves by empowering them to feel good about their bodies, rather than making them feel like they have to look a certain way to earn praise and worthiness.

More about Amrie:

Website: DeFrates Nutrition
Blog: DeFrates Nutrition Blog
Twitter: @amriew
Instagram: @defratesnutrition
Facebook: Amrie DeFrates, RD
Pinterest: Amrie DeFrates, RD

Thanks Amrie! Find out more about What RDsDo.

If you're a dietitian that would like to be featured, email me for the details!

What RDs Do: Abbey Sharp, RD

ABBEY SHARP

ABBEY'S KITCHEN 

for something nutrishus

Today we're lucky to have Toronto's Abbey Sharp on the blog. Abbey wears many hats in her entrepreneurial dietitian role. She has a unique skill set which lends itself well to her media roles and YouTube page. Like me, she works with commodity groups, and encourages a moderate and long-term approach to eating which includes a healthy relationship with food. I like her comment at the end regarding what our food does (or doesn't) say about us.

Why did you become a RD? 

Mainly because I just loved food so much.

What area of dietetics do you work in? 

I work in media and communications, usually with a food first or culinary edge.

How would you explain what you do? 

I own a food and nutrition communications business and work as a nutrition and food spokesperson for various top food brands and commodity boards. I also do a lot of recipe development, blogging and freelance food and nutrition writing. 

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks? 

Every day is different, which is what I love so much about my job, but my day-to-day tasks usually involve working with brands on large and small spokesperson campaigns. Sometimes it means learning or developing brand messages for TV or radio interviews, testing recipes for brands, shooting food photos for my blog, writing and shooting YouTube videos, hosting food events and teaching workshops.

What has been your career path? 

I always knew I wanted to work in media, but right after my internship, I started a masters program in sociology looking to study the sociological aspects of food. My goal was to get a PhD because I thought that would make me an even greater “expert” for media opportunities. But after two months of absolutely hating my life in grad school, I dropped out and launched a now very successful business in media.

What advanced education or special training do you have? 

I have a lot of culinary training (George Brown), and acting/ TV training (York university, Second City, and years of theatre training and experience as a child/teen).

In an ideal world, what does the industry look like 5 years from now? 

Hopefully we will simply be better represented in the media and the public will better understand what a dietitian does and how they differ from other nutrition experts. I also would love to see the public embrace a more moderate long term approach to healthy eating, rather than the quick-fix fads we see circulating today.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up? 

That we just work in hospitals and treat people with Ensure or tube feeds. Dietitians help people not only recover from illnesses through diet, but also help prevent illnesses in all sorts of settings. Look at what I do- it’s the farthest thing from working in a hospital calculating feeds. I also hate that people think that dietitians just regurgitate Canada’s Food Guide or that we are simply government puppets. Dietitians are mandated to make our recommendations based on evidence and personalize it to the client- none of us only use any one method or only one government funded tool.

What would you like people to know about RDs? 

That dietitians understand the bigger picture. We understand the social, emotional, cultural and nutritional aspects of food, and we carefully balance those when making recommendations.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

Mainly just trying to counteract bad misinformation put forth by the media.

What do people think that you do for a living? 

I think most people can’t answer that in one sentence simply because I do so many different things. I even have a hard time explaining my job succinctly.

What are you passionate about in dietetics? 

I am passionate about helping people improve their long term relationship with food and empowering them to love their bodies and food again.

What makes RDs unique/different from other nutrition/wellness professionals? 

We understand that food is often just part of a larger issue. People aren’t overweight just because they eat more than they expend and the solution is not as simple as just telling someone to eat less. There is always something deeper that often is left unaddressed by other wellness professionals.

What is your favourite meal? 

Oh gosh, dessert for sure. I particularly love anything with caramel like sticky toffee pudding. I know, not what you were expecting a dietitian to say, right?

What tip(s) would you give to our readers? 

Listen to your body and honour it with the fuel and food it needs. Don’t think of food as good or bad, or yourself as good or bad when you eat that food. Learn to find peace with your body, food and yourself.

More about Abbey:

Website: www.abbeyskitchen.com
Twitter: @AbbeysKitchen
Facebook: AbbeysKitchen
Instagram: AbbeysKitchen
Pinterest: AbbeysKitchen
YouTube: AbbeysKitchen

Thanks Abbey! Find out more about What RDsDo.

If you're a dietitian that would like to be featured, email me for the details!