What RDs Do: Melissa Bailey, MS, RD, CNSC, LDN & Elizabeth Smith MPH, RD, CNSC, LDN

MELISSA BAILEY & ELIZABETH SMITH
TWO HUNGRY WORK WIVES
for something nutrishus

I 'met' these lovely ladies as followers of the series on Instagram. As you continue to see, whether it's a hobby or a business, many dietitians start blogs, create recipes, counsel/coach as they're just so passionate and/or have unique interests and skills they want to share with the world. This truly is much more than a job to most of us!

Why did you become a RD?

Liz- I initially wanted to help with clients struggling with eating disorders; however throughout my internship I realized that overall health and wellness was important to me, leading me to the clinical world.

Melissa- I loved experimenting with recipes and making them healthier throughout high school and college. It wasn’t until friends told me I should consider nutrition that I gave it a thought. Now I am surprisingly working in an acute care setting, but have reignited my love of healthy cooking through our Instagram and blog.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

We both work in the clinical setting in an acute care hospital. We also provide outpatient counseling weekly. On the side we work on our Instagram and blog @twohungryworkwives.

How would you explain what you do?

Our role as dietitians in the clinical setting is to provide medical nutrition therapy to our hospitalized patients. Melissa focuses on providing nutrition support (tube feeds and I.V. nutrition) to adult surgical patients while Liz works mainly in the neonatal ICU helping premature babies to grow. 

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

We see anywhere from 12-15 patients per day, assessing their nutrition needs and creating a plan with the medical team that best suits each patient. We also attend staff meetings, weekly education sessions and daily interdisciplinary rounds. As far as social media, we try to have meetings together a few times a week to discuss what we will post and the different ideas we have. 

What has been your career path?

Liz- studied nutrition undergrad, went on to work in community nutrition for several years while completing grad school. After completion of grad school, I went into my dietetic internship, where I realized that I wanted to eventually work in the clinical setting. 

Melissa- I studied health sciences in undergrad as I was not quite sure what part of the health profession I wanted to be in. I met with a professor who happened to also be a registered dietitian and she sparked my interest in the field. I went on to grad school with a focus in nutrition, then completed my dietetic internship. I also realized then that I wanted to be in the clinical setting, at least for the first few years of my career.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

We both have our master’s degree. Melissa has her Masters of Science in Human Nutrition while Liz has her Masters of Public Health with a focus in Nutrition. We both are Certified Nutrition Support Clinicians.

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

We hope that the profession continues to grow as there is a need for nutrition professionals within the community as well as in the medical setting. Since dietitians focus on evidenced-based research, we feel it is important to help build up our profession to get the most accurate nutrition information out to the public. We also hope that as the years go by there is better compensation for Registered Dietitians and the value of our profession is noticed. 

What would you like people to know about RDs?

We go through years of education to become a Registered Dietitian and just like any other health professional, we have to take a board examination to become certified to practice. We also have to hold a state licensure (in most states). Many dietitians have a master’s degree and all of us go through an intense 1200-hour internship before sitting for our board exams.

What is your favourite meal?

Melissa- homemade pasta and braciole 

Liz- her mom’s mac and cheese

More about Melissa & Liz:

Instagram: @twohungryworkwives

Facebook: Twohungryworkwives

Website: Two Hungry Work Wives

Thanks ladies! Find out more about What RDs Do.

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

What RDs Do: Andres Ayesta, MS, RDN, CSCS, CSSD, LD

ANDRES AYESTA

VIVE NUTRITION

for something nutrishus

Andres had an interesting path to lead him to dietetics, but it seems that he has already accomplished a lot in his career, so I feel his goals are within reason. Like Andres, I was attracted to the profession due to prevention rather than treatment. He reminds us that dietitians (not dieticians) are continually learning and very passionate individuals; something this series continue to remind me of. 

Why did you become a RD?

I grew up wanting to be a doctor. I remember playing with toy stethoscopes and a lab coat since I was 5. When I graduated high school, my dream was shattered when I didn’t get into med school. In Venezuela, where I am from, Nutrition and Dietetics school was part of the same School of Medicine in the school I went to. I figured I would just enrol in that major, and then switch over since it was less competitive. Well I never switched. I realized that my job as an RD could have more value as I was providing people with quality of life, and preventing disease vs. treating it.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

Sports Nutrition and Weight Management

How would you explain what you do?

I run a private practice that aims to provide tools and strategies to improve lifestyles via nutrition knowledge at the same time as working with elite and pro-level athletes at the Applied Science and Performance Institute (ASPI), aiming to optimize sports performance and overall athlete health.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

• Create content for social media platforms. I started creating video recipes weekly on my Instagram back in November last year. I post every Monday.
• Nutrition coaching with clients along with meal planning and other supportive materials required for them to have
• Administrative work (Office supplies, accounting, etc.)
• Research and Continuing Education. I try to read at least one nutrition article from a peer-reviewed journal weekly, and listen to one nutrition and fitness related podcast to stay up to date on the latest.
• I make room to stay fit and exercise. I like to lift heavy things, and get my heart rate up pushing my boundaries. As an RD I believe we need to sell what we are, and taking care of yourself is a must for that.

What has been your career path?

I moved to the U.S. in 2009 from Venezuela to continue to dietetics degree at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, IN. In 2012, I received my Bachelor’s of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, and was accepted to the University of Houston Dietetic Internship where I completed rotations at the Texas Medical Center. In 2013 I was hired as a sports nutrition coach at IMG Academy, a state-of-the-art athletic facility for high performance athletes. In 2016 I received my Masters Degree in Exercise Science and Sports Nutrition. I also founded my private practice Vive Nutrition in 2016. In 2017 I was hired as the Sports Dietitian for the APSI in Tampa, FL overseeing nutrition and fuelling for all-level athletes. My goals are to become a leader in sports nutrition, and possibly work with pro sports like NFL and MLB.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)

Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD)

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

This is a great question. We (millennials) are in a time of progressiveness in health and fitness that is amazing. More and more people are starting to become more active and have geared their focus towards understanding the importance of healthy eating. In an ideal world I think we should leverage that interest to continue to grow as nutrition professionals defending our expertise to avoid misinformation provided by various media channels. We will live in a world where people will recognize our value as RDs to provide knowledge to lead healthier and better lifestyles, ultimately understanding that it is better to prevent than to treat medical ailments.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up?

All RDs are different. We have specialties just like doctors do. A lot of people don’t understand that not all RDs are able to help them if their problems go beyond their areas of expertise. When looking for an RD to work with, make sure you find one that aligns with your expectations and explain to them what you are looking for to make sure you can both work together.

What would you like people to know about RDs?

We are humans, we eat everything. I feel judged everytime I eat a slice of pizza or a cupcake lol. There is room for everything people, Geez!

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

Finding yourself competing with Non-RDs “Nutrition Coaches” and “Nutrition experts” who grow their audiences in social media, and sell nutrition “solutions” and “shortcuts” for fat loss, with generic programs with little to no customization. People are different. It is a pet peeve to me to deal with misinformation out there. I also encounter the challenge of people spelling Dietitian with C instead of a T. That’s a NO NO.

What do people think that you do for a living?

Write diet plans all day long. I get asked for these even at late hours of social events. 

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

That smile from people when they tell me I have been an instrumental part of their lifestyle change. Knowing I am making an impact in the future of people even if they do not see it immediately. When working with athletes, seeing them progress in their sport and that feeling of knowing nutrition has a large impact in their outcomes and results. That fires up my passion every day!

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

The intense education and training we receive. Only those who have a deep passion to this field make good RDs.

What is your favourite meal?

Pizza all day!

More about Andres:

Instagram: @vivenutrition

YouTube: VIvenutrition (*for awesome weekly video recipes). 

Blog: VIVE nutrition

Email: andres@vive-nutrition.com

Thanks Andres! 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: Steph Langdon, RD

STEPH LANGDON

SOMETHING NUTRISHUS & WHAT RDS DO

hosted by Brooke Bulloch

What RDs Do Interview Series – TAKEOVER!

Hey, hey! It’s Brooke Bulloch here from Food to Fit in Saskatoon! I had the pleasure of being highlighted as part of the What RDs Do Interview Series back in October 2015. Today I’m taking over Stephanie Langdon’s What RDs Do!

With Stephanie celebrating 7 years in business this week AND her 100th What RDs Do interview coming up in August, I thought it was an opportune time to take over and interview the very creator of the What RDs Do Interview Series!

Stephanie is a fellow Saskatoon-based Dietitian and entrepreneur who is doing incredible work for the profession. As founder of the What RDs Do blog and as part of Dietitians of Canada's Brand Ambassador team, Stephanie’s efforts to educate the public and promote the invaluable and diverse work of Dietitians is admirable. As someone who inspires me, I wanted to give the spotlight to her today!

Thank you, Stephanie, for all you do and for this incredible blog series. Happy 7-year anniversary!

Why did you become a RD?

I was pursuing a science degree, perhaps headed towards Physiology, but unsure what I’d do with it. I took an introductory nutrition course and loved the practicality of what I learned, so I decided to apply to the College of Nutrition. I was an athlete at the time, so I saw the obvious connections to performance and thought sport nutrition might be an end goal for me.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

Private practice: consulting and communications

How would you explain what you do?

I try to balance being a mom with running my business (a work-at-home-mom). I work with many agriculture/commodity/industry groups helping with presentations, resource development, event attendance, media, social media and strategy. Like most dietitians I do many things. I curate/run this blog series, I do a bit of work for our Sport Medicine and Science Council of Saskatchewan, for our local Canadian Forces, and freelance projects. I am also on Dietitians of Canada’s Brand Leadership Team as the SK/MB (Saskatchewan/Manitoba) Team Captain.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

My day/week might consist of:

• sport nutrition presentations for active 13-18 year olds
• formatting blog posts
• reading journals, books, websites, and media to stay up on research and trends
• creating social media content
• responding to emails
• seeing the occasional one-on-one client
• I am also sometimes working at events, creating content/resources, sitting in on meetings or listening to webinars

What has been your career path?

I have worked in private practice since I finished my internship. I initially planned to work in sport nutrition, and in Canada that was the path that made sense – self-employment. Prior to that I was an elite athlete (Team Canada and pro volleyball) and worked at Lululemon while finishing up my degree. Since then it has just been the evolution of my practice as different things have interested me, I’ve learned to say NO to things I’m not passionate about or weren’t a good fit, and I became a mom.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

I have my BSc. Nutrition as well as various certifications/courses/conferences/webinars etc. that I constantly take part in as continued learning in the various areas I work in (Craving Change, Motivational Interviewing, sport nutrition, agriculture, social media, etc.)

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

As someone who advocates for the profession, I hope that people come to know what dietitians do (which is varied) and who dietitians are, as well as the difference from nutritionists. I hope that health insurance plans cover dietitian services so that they’re more accessible. I am also intrigued by how the environment shapes our behaviours so I hope to see health promoting spaces and places so that healthy choices can be the default choices. With the strong influence of social media I also hope we move away from unrealistic ‘ideals’, can live authentically off-line and stop judging/shaming others, as there are many ways to be healthy.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up?

We don’t just make meal plans and take away your favourite food(s).

What would you like people to know about RDs?

We work in a variety of settings, not just in hospitals and we’re here to help with various nutrition/eating/food topics, whether that’s dealing with a chronic illness, a picky eater, preventative health care, policy creation, brand messaging, recipe development, or helping sort through all the misinformation out there. The list goes on and on (as you’ve seen in this series!).

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

The ‘personal opinion/celebrity’ type information that can mislead people and perhaps even be dangerous. It’s great that people are talking about nutrition, but there are so many promises of quick fixes and an obesogenic environment that we have our work cut out for us in years ahead.

What do people think that you do for a living?

I’m not sure, as it’s hard to articulate what I do. I think it took a few years before people realized this wasn’t my hobby, but my job, and was paying the bills.

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

Habits and prevention. We live in the moment and think about immediate enjoyment, not always the long-term consequences, we also have ingrained ways of doing things. I’d like to help people create healthy habits and be able to make informed decisions about food – whether that is choosing to have the ice cream or blueberries, there’s room for it all and there isn’t a single ‘correct’ way to be or eat healthy.

More about Steph:

Facebook: Steph Langdon, RD
Twitter: @nutrishusRD
Instagram: @langdonsteph
LinkedIn: Stephanie (Wheler) Langdon, BSc. RD
Pinterest: @NutrishusRD

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: Dara Gurau, RD & Erin Macgregor, RD, PHEc

DARA GURAU & ERIN MACGREGOR

CLINICAL & HOW TO EAT

for something nutrishus

It's great to feature a team or dynamic duo and I know these two are doing some great things. Not only do they work together in private practice, but also in a clinical setting, where they're also part of a team. I've seen their Facebook videos lately, so I sort of felt like I already knew them and they were excited to be part of the series. They create delicious recipes, such as Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal, that I'm anxious to try! Dara and Erin focus on practical things like meal planning tips and on 'healthful eating through food, not numbers' which is a refreshing approach.

Why did you become a RD?

We both grew up with a love for food, but really never thought of food and nutrition as a career. Actually, growing up, we didn't even now what a dieititan was! As we completed our first University degrees in Kinesiology and were trying to figure out what the heck to do with our lives, we discovered the food and nutrition program and thought this would be a great compliment to our kinesiology knowledge while satisfying that passion for food and cooking we had developed.

Fast forward to today, and while our knowledge of the field of dietetics has expanded, that same passion for food and cooking remains. And that's why we ultimately chose to become registered dietitians - to share our passion and knowledge for food, nutrition, and cooking with others in the hopes of inspiring them to pick up a knife or spatula and create delicious and healthful home-cooked meals to share with their friends and families.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

We work together in the clinical setting at a large teaching hospital in Toronto. We are also co-creators and owners of How To Eat, where we work in recipe development, nutrition communication, and meal planning. One part of How To Eat is our food and recipe blog, where we have been sharing easy and healthful recipes and kitchen tips for the past five years. So we are definitely never bored!

How would you explain what you do?

In our clinical roles, we work as inpatient dietitians as part of a large multi-discplinary team, involved mainly in nutrition support. At How To Eat, we are doing something completely different, working with individuals to support them in building their confidence as home cooks by helping them with meal planning and cooking. We also work with brands to provide recipe development and nutrition communication for them. Lastly, we continue to share easy, healthful, and delicious recipes through our blog.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

In our clinical roles, our days involve assessing patients' nutritional status, implementing the appropriate nutrition intervention, and following up on patients in our areas. We also attend daily and weekly multi-disciplinary team rounds, monthly nutrition department meetings, and other professional development sessions.

In our How To Eat role, we are constantly developing and testing new recipes, creating content for our blog, attending networking events and meetings, and working on the the latest special project or event we have on the go.

What has been your career path?

It should be no surprise that we ended up as colleagues, close friends, and business partners as we share such similar career paths. In fact, we often refer to ourselves as "foodie soul-mates!" We both started out with undergraduate degrees in kinesiology and then went on to complete our second degrees in food and nutrition at Ryerson. From there, we both completed our dietetic internships in Toronto where we both still work as inpatient clinical dietitians. We also both share previous experience working as outpatient dietitians counselling on cardiovascular disease, HIV, and general healthy eating.

So when we first met at our clinical positions, we actually both already had our own individual food blogs. And after realizing that we shared pretty much the same food personality, we joined forces to start How To Eat and it has now grown to the business it is today. We love having that balance of utilizing our clinical skills as well as sharing our love of food and inspiring others to cook.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

Well as we mentioned, we both have degrees in Kinesiology as well as Food and Nutrition. Erin also holds the professional home economist (PHec) designation. We also have a very important type of training - motherhood! We are both moms who have learned and developed a system to feed our own hungry families.

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

Tough question! In our ideal world, the term dietitian would be associated with "food expert." At this moment, we feel there is a big disconnect between dietitians and food - people hear the term dietitians and immediately think "diet" and "what NOT to eat." There is a shift that has begun and we hope it continues, one that shows ourselves as a profession who not only knows nutrition, but food as well. And enjoys eating it! All of it! We hope to be part of that first step in the right direction.

What is your favourite meal?

This was the hardest question! We love so many things! But there was this one dinner on a trip together in NYC at a restaurant called ABC Kitchen. It was one of those multi-course dinners that was enjoyed with a bottle of wine over several hours and absolutely everything was delicious. We were there over 5 years ago and STILL think about it, it was that good! What sticks in our mind the most was the dessert - salted caramel ice cream topped with popcorn and a rich chocolate sauce. That sweet and salty combo gets us every time!

More about Erin & Dara:

Website: www.howtoeat.ca
Facebook: How to Eat
Twitter: @How_To_Eat
Instagram: @how_to_eat

Thanks ladies! 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: Lisa Andrews MEd, RD, LD

LISA ANDREWS

@NUTRIGIRL

SOUND BITES NUTRITION, LLC

for something nutrishus

It's great to see that a dietitian with so many different experiences and that has worked in a variety of roles, still sees the future as an opportunity for dietitians to be involved in even more areas of practice. As you've been seeing in this series, this is a career for you if you like doing different things every day or every week. Lisa also reminds us that although we're translating science, there is also an art to the work we do.

Why did you become a RD? 

I became an RD because I was always interested in science and health when I was growing up. I am also a people person, so talking to people and helping them is just in my nature. My dad had diabetes, so I was always curious as to why his diet was modified.

What area of dietetics do you work in? 

I worked as a clinical RD for several years in acute care, nutrition support. Currently, I’m in private practice.

How would you explain what you do? 

I think I have “RD ADHD”. No day is the same for me. I see clients in an office, provide grocery store tours, do lectures or food demos for companies, freelance writing and some media work. I love the variety of work! It can be challenging to switch gears, but it is much more fun than doing the same work every day.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks? 

I update social media and my blog regularly. I see a handful of clients per week and write progress notes to physicians. I may do a lecture somewhere or health coaching at a company. I write at least 2-4 articles per month for Food & Health Communications and answer questions on Dietititian Central.com. I recently won a grant to have pantries placed in low income neighborhoods, so much of my time will be spent on this. Every week is different!

What has been your career path? 

I worked in acute care for 23+ years, but honestly, I had my foot out the door for at least 15 of it. I worked full time and got my Masters degree, then went part time at the VA where I was working. I taught classes at 2 universities as an adjunct and also had a community agency job part time. I did a lot of writing for free, which helped get my name out in the field. I feel like I’ve been consulting longer than 8 years because of the variety of work that I wedged into my schedule over time.

What advanced education or special training do you have? 

I have a Masters degree in Education in Nutrition. I have a certificate in training for Adult Weight Management and may go for the Certification some time in the future.

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

I would love to see more RDs in retail and working in non-profits doing work in agriculture or sustainability. We need to get ahead of the food curve. I can see more dietitians in marketing and writing.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up? 

I wish people didn’t think RDs were militant about their diets. If we didn’t like food, we wouldn’t be in the field! We eat healthy most of the time, but also might love wine and chocolate.

What would you like people to know about RDs? 

I’d like people to know we are highly intelligent and work hard. We deserve more opportunities in health care and other arenas that we are not currently offered (i.e. medical sales, health education or training in hospitals, marketing of food products for companies). It always bothered me that nurses were considered for promotions or management jobs, but RDs were not.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD? 

Biggest challenge is competing with non-RDs. It seems that everyone that eats thinks they are a nutrition expert! There are too many hacks out there that claim they are nutrition experts.

What do people think that you do for a living? 

People think I counsel patients on diets all day long.

What are you passionate about in dietetics? 

I am passionate about how RDs and food experts can change a person’s life through better diet. I like how creative I get to be in this field.

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

I think RDs have more training in clinical care than wellness professionals. We know in depth about disease and personalize our recommendations to people. We also know more about cooking and research. I call RDs the “Real Deal” in Nutrition!

What is your favourite meal? 

My favorite meal is a Thai peanut noodle dish I make with chicken. I love anything with ginger in it!

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

Never underestimate the value of volunteering, networking and mentoring. I believe it’s vital that people stay connected and give back to others (whether this is to a student or colleague). What comes around, goes around. Never burn any bridges. The world is a small place.

Anything else you’d like to add that you feel would be valuable: 

Check out my blog: www.soundbitesnutrition.com

More about Lisa:

Twitter: @nutrigirl 

Instagram: nutrigirl66 

Blog: Sound Bites Nutrition 

Facebook: Sound Bites Nutrition, LLC

Pinterest: Sound Bites Nutrition, LLC 

LinkedIn: Lisa (Cicciarello) Andrews

Thanks Lisa! 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: Andy De Santis RD, MPH

ANDY DE SANTIS

“ANDY THE RD”

for something nutrishus

I know of Andy because he's active online and I like to see male representation in our profession, so he stands out amongst the females. He has a great blog and loves bananas! He's still building his practice but is passionate about what he does, so I'm sure he has a great career ahead of him. I love his comment below regarding challenges we encounter as I've had similar thoughts of 'annual check-ups'.

Why did you become a RD?

I was the cliché unhealthy teenager who was able to use healthy eating to get my life back on track. By the age of around 18/19 I knew that I wanted a career where I was able to help others in the same way that I was able to help my self and dietetics was pretty much the only thing on my mind.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

I have a master’s degree in public health and I used to work in public health (Canadian Diabetes Association) but moved into freelance/private-practice work. Currently I operate a general private practice three days a week and I am also a writer on the side for a web platform. I write articles on healthy living but also completely non-food related topics (home-renovation related). It helps support my private practice as it grows, which takes time. I am also a nutrition-blogger and I spread the message of health through my very active blog, which I hope you all will subscribe to!

How would you explain what you do?

Simply put, people come to see me with a goal in mind and I do everything I can to help them reach that goal. Because I work in private practice, those who come to see me are highly motivated to change and really a pleasure to work with.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

I am either seeing clients, writing articles for myself for my freelance work, or putting in social media time (YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and soon to be Facebook). I am also starting to break in to workplace wellness, presenting to the staff of large companies across the city.

What has been your career path?

Like I said earlier, I’ve completed my master’s degree in public health and went to work in public health before moving on to this current career of private practice and freelancing.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

I have a master’s degree in public health nutrition.

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

I would like the dietetic profession to be much more well respected. It means something to be a dietitian and it is not easy to become one, so I do not want anyone out there thinking there are other people who can do our job as good as we can. I would like to see more and more insurance coverage for dietitians, so that finances are less of a barrier for people to come and see us and of course I want the public to know we exist and know what we can do for them.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up?

Any sort of notion that we are glorified personal trainers or that our main area of expertise is providing “diet plans”. Would also like to stop hearing the word “nutritionist”.

What would you like people to know about RDs?

I would like them to know that with only a modest amount of time together and a modest expense, we can help revolutionize the way they see and think about their food and heath.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

I would love dietitian’s to be seen more as dentists. Just like you go to clean your teeth, you come to us to clean your diet. That would also mean that most people would have as comprehensive insurance coverage for us as they would for a dentist, that would help a ton!

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

Helping people live longer and healthier lives is a very big motivation for me. There are so many people out there working hard and doing amazing things for themselves and their families, it pains me to see they don’t take that extra bit of time to eat smart and take care of themselves.

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

I actually wrote an article on this topic for my blog and I believe the one thing that really sets us apart is our ability to connect and build rapport with people. The nature of our practice means we get to spend more time with our clients than other health care practitioners (generally speaking) and I think that is conducive to building strong and meaningful interactions.

What is your favourite meal?

That is a tough one. Probably breakfast, I eat bananas and either avocados or sunflower seeds for breakfast every day. I am not a vegan, but I am proud to enjoy a vegan meal once a day.

More about Andy:

Facebook: Andy De Santis - Registered Dietitian
Instagram: @AndyTheRD
Twitter: @AndyThaRD
Youtube: Dudes Talk Nutrition
Blog: Andytherd.com/blog
Website: Andytherd.com

Thanks Andy! 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: Kelly Jones MS, RD, CSSD, LDN

KELLY JONES

EAT REAL LIVE WELL

for something nutrishus

Kelly is another dietitian that I connected with at the 2016 SCAN Symposium in Portland (conferences are great for networking!); she also volunteers for both groups that I am a member of as an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics member (join up). She has a unique faculty teaching position, but has also created a business around her passion for sports. I love her responses and agree that it's tough, but necessary to learn to say no (I'm still practicing!).

Why did you become a RD?

When I was 13 years old my mom had symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and doctors prescribed her medications and recommended a hysterectomy. An elimination diet identified trigger foods and by improving her diet she got her health back on track. Seeing that, I wanted other people to understand the power of food! I began to notice how diet impacted my athletic performance as a swimmer and have been driven to maximize athlete’s potential ever since.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

Higher education, sports nutrition, and wellness.

How would you explain what you do?

I am a professor and teach primarily students in the nursing and exercise science programs. I co-created the latter with a colleague and still advise many students for nutrition and exercise science too.

My private practice is focused on sports nutrition and over the last year I began working in corporate wellness. In sports nutrition, I present to teams and athletic groups on a variety of topics from pre-and-post workout fueling, to hydration and nutrition for travel. When working one-on-one, I evaluate their schedules (training/school/work) and diet so we can individually optimize their energy and recovery. I present in corporate settings in person or via webinar on a wide variety of topics, some not quite as nutrition focused, such as ergonomics. I also oversee nutrition programs at a nationally known athletic club, and am working on their café offerings.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

No week is ever the same! This fall at the college I am teaching on Tuesday and Thursday. I also run a 13 week wellness program at the athletic club for two hours one evening each week and spend a few hours there a couple of other days. Speaking engagements, one-on-one coaching, menu development, recipe testing and blogging fill in the rest of my schedule. I am also the social media coordinator for the SCAN DPG (Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group) so, I approve and schedule posts that volunteers send me and interact on their twitter account. I have a couple of hours dedicated to my tasks for the Nutrition Entrepreneurs DPG (Dietetic Practice Group) nominating committee too.

What has been your career path?

After my dietetic internship, where I was able to create the sports nutrition internship rotation at the University at Buffalo, I stayed to complete my Master’s Degree. As a teaching assistant I realized how much I loved speaking and educating. I had always assumed I would work for a college athletic department or sports team but, realized I could reach many more people by teaching, speaking, and being in the community versus in a closed system. I then turned down a handful of clinical jobs after I completed my degree hoping the right opportunity would arise. I had to then choose between a job as a supermarket RD or as a professor. I clearly chose the latter. Two years later, I decided it was time to get back to my sports nutrition roots and share my passion to fuel the body with real food. I started my blog eatreallivewell.com, began networking with local teams, and my business has continued to expand since.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

I have a Master’s Degree in Exercise Nutrition and also am a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD).

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

The public would stop falling for diet and supplement scams and realize how valuable a dietitian is in weight loss and health. Physicians would always refer to RD’s for prevention and treatment. Our food system would be more sustainable, making healthy food more available to our clients. Finally, RD’s would be less competitive with one another!

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up?

RDs don’t eat lettuce all day long and we aren’t judging everything on your plate! I may have become an RD to spread knowledge of health and improve other’s performance and well-being but, I love food. That includes oats, Brussel sprouts, broccoli raab and apples but also pizza, pasta, chocolate, and frosting every once in a while! RDs want everyone to be flexible in their eating without feeling guilty about it.

What would you like people to know about RDs?

RDs are invested in not just your physical health but also your mental and emotional health. We aren’t here to prescribe you a diet or meal plan but help you to build an understanding of and better relationship with food so that you can confidently choose what to eat. This often means discussing a lot of details of your life that you don’t think relate to your diet but actually do.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

People not understanding the value of our services. The Nutrition Entrepreneurs DPG has really helped me to stand firm on my worth and not settle for poor pay because someone doesn’t understand what I went through to obtain the knowledge I have. It is intimidating in the beginning but, we need to be confident in our background to convey the value of our services and walk away when someone isn’t willing to pay what we are worth. While I do provide a set number of pro-bono talks each year, they are for non-profits, community-based programs, and media only.

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

Optimally fueling people’s body and mind! I love when someone changes their diet and quickly understands how much it plays a role in not only their physical energy levels but also in their productivity, mood, and relationships.

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

Our educational backgrounds and passion for what we do.

What is your favourite meal?

I am so indecisive and love so many foods so this is a terribly hard question. I would say oatmeal with banana, blueberries, chocolate chips and hemp seeds. Or a broccoli and garlic omelet with Ezekiel avocado toast. Really, I could eat breakfast for every meal.

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

Three tips!

There is no perfect time to do what you want in your life or your career so, just take the plunge now.

Being a yes person is okay to get your career started but, I was a yes person a little too long. Saying no to certain projects is what can build your confidence, decrease your stress, and give you time to do what you want to do in your career. Be a yes person when it comes to the things that will take you down the career path you want.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help – reach out to other RDs (including me!). I still have to remind myself that it is okay to ask other RD’s or entrepreneurs for help and I am always so happy when I do!

More about Kelly:

Blog: Eat Real Live Well
Instagram: @eatreallivewell
Twitter: @EatRealLiveWell
Pinterest: EatRealRD
Facebook: Kelly Jones Performance Nutrition
Linked In: Kelly Jones MS, RD, CSSD

Thanks Kelly! Find out more about What RDsDo.

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