What RDs Do: Dallas Odgers, RD, CF-L2

DALLAS ODGERS
COMMUNITY - OUTPATIENT & LTC,
GYM OWNER/PRIVATE PRACTICE
for something nutrishus

As a fairly new business owner, we will have to keep our eyes on Dallas as I'm sure he'll do amazing things as he gets more into private practice. It seems that he has 'entrepreneur' written all over him. His is another story of a day job and a night job due to passion related to the field of dietetics and helping people with lifestyle changes. I love seeing the passion in our profession and it seems that Dallas has also come across that.

Why did you become a RD?

I grew up thinking Kraft Dinner and Pizza Pops weren’t THAT bad for you. Even though playing sports every day, my body did not reflect how athletic I was. After my first year of cross country and long-distance running, I was able to see the importance of modifying your diet to improve your performance. After having a really successful season (in comparison to the first year), I was hooked on my new healthy lifestyle. I kept the days of pizza pops and mars bars in the past. Later in high school I developed an interest in health care as a potential career choice because I thought it was something that could favour a guy who geeked out on science. I then found out about nutrition/dietetics and thought it was the perfect fit for me, but I was nervous about getting into a program that accepts less than 30 people.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

My ‘daily-grind’ is working as a community dietitian in the rural area around Maidstone, SK. I do mostly Outpatient and long term care (LTC) work in a bunch of communities around North Battleford/Maidstone.

My ‘night-hustle’ is working as a gym owner/private practice dietitian. Two years ago I opened up North Battleford Strength & Conditioning/CrossFit North Battleford, which gives me a great platform to work with people as a dietitian. With a large focus on developing our space, and fitness programs, I am ready to start working a lot more on private practice dietetic work and I am super excited about it.

How would you explain what you do?

I usually try to focus on describing the type of people I help and the value that I can bring them. For example, a common description would be that I help people manage their diabetes through education, goal setting, and accountability—this would be the majority of my clientele.

As my business grows, it will more likely be something like this: I am a private practice dietitian that offers strength and conditioning coaching, community, and nutrition education for long-term lifestyle change.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

It’s crazy.

Hit the road at 6:30-6:45 AM to Maidstone SK, where I could then be traveling to Cut Knife, Turtleford, St. Walburg, Neilburg, Thunderchild, or Edam. I usually see 5-6 clients per day, typically a joint appointment with a Diabetes Nurse Educator. From there I could have a LTC client, on a referral basis. Weekly I will often have meetings with the Health Region dietitian team and often provide education sessions to staff in facilities.

At about 4:30 PM I hit the road again and arrive at my other job at 5:15 PM. Here I will jump in on a class and then coach 1-2 classes an evening. I will book nutrition clients as they come up and touch base frequently through email, phone, or briefly after training sessions. I also do a lot of non-dietitian work on the business end to keep everything running as smoothly as possible.

What has been your career path?

After internship I started working in an Outpatient and LTC maternity leave, where I started my first (unsuccessful) business. I started an organization called Wild Youth Sports Management that hired collegiate level athletes to coordinate sport camps/activities with youth throughout Saskatchewan. Our first summer had me employing over 15 Huskie Athletes and providing sports training for over 2000 kids in Saskatchewan.

I realized I wanted to open a training facility as I had become passionate about Olympic weightlifting and CrossFit in University. When I moved back home I had nowhere to train. I had worked for a couple years in conventional and CrossFit gyms, so thought I would give running a CrossFit affiliate a shot and it has gained traction quickly in North Battleford. Just a year ago having about 20 members has grown into a program with over 120 participants currently.

While opening the gym I also completed a pilot project to incorporate a Primary Care Dietitian into the Prairie North Health region, which now provides dietitian services in 3 medical clinics in the Battlefords Area. Now I hold a full-time community dietitian position, as mentioned before.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

• Precision Nutrition Level 1 Graduate
• Olympic weightlifting coach (NCCP Level 1 In progress)
• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Level 2 Trainer

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

Ideally, in my mind, health care overall would start placing more focus/energy and funds towards prevention rather than treatment, by having better access to exercise programs, diet education, and mental health support. I feel like the dietetics industry will start to see more and more private practice dietitians that are developing niches and specialties. I hope that this will continue to build awareness that dietitians have a huge and powerful influence to help people achieve their goals.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up?

That we only provide education on using Canada’s Food Guide (CFG). I have had doctors assume that I would just be giving out CFGs when I started to work in their office—something they apparently did not stand for. I don’t have an extreme hate towards CFG, and it does ultimately incorporate balance that the majority of people trying to improve their diets should work on, but it’s not a tool I regularly use in practice.

What would you like people to know about RDs?

They are relentlessly hard workers. I have met so many RDs with extreme work ethic. I have seen them shutting down the library as nutrition students. Now I see them addicted to learning and finding new online courses, books, and journals when they get into practice. I see them constantly networking and communicating amongst other dietitians and health care professionals. I have seen so many RDs become addicted to the process of working on becoming the best dietitian they can be.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

I find, with most of my clients I may identify a ton of things they could work on, but more than 1-2 actionable items are usually going to overwhelm them. I read a book once, The Compound Effect, which lays out a pretty simple formula: small/simple changes + consistency + time = success in achieving your goals. This is a good approach, where we choose 1-2 actionable items so that they can experience success and want to actually continue to work with me rather than avoid me because I laid out a plan that was very unrealistic for them.

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

Lifestyle change. I get just as excited about watching someone do their first pull-up or hitting a PR on their back squat as I do when someone drops their A1C to target from diet changes with my advice. I think that is one thing that keeps me going for my 12-15 hour work days is that I get to continuously see people make positive lifestyle changes that I have some small part in!

What is your favourite meal?

Greek chicken BBQ’d on a small charcoal grill, couscous, and veggies served with an questionable amount of Tzatziki on top.

More about Dallas:

Instagram: @crossfitnb
Website: North Battleford Strength & Conditioning/CrossFit North Battleford

Thanks Dallas! 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: Michelle Katz MS, RD, LD, CDE

MICHELLE KATZ

MNT IN DIABETES
for something nutrishus

Michelle shows us once again the diversity in the dietetics profession.  She works with groups/classes, one-on-one with individuals and takes part in clinical trials, thus requiring and possessing a variety of skills. Her optimism for the future is great and it's truly exciting to be part of a field that is changing and growing in so many different areas (yay science!). Her concern about misinformation is one I'm sure we all share as we support our patients/clients in the pursuit of health and an enjoyable life, which she reminds us takes commitment.

Why did you become a RD?

Since I was in my young teens I always had an interest in food. My mom used to cook all meals at home. We hardly ate at restaurants and I use to help her looking for healthier recipes. My dad had hyperlipidemia, hypertension and heart disease so we were always watching for his food choices. Once I graduated high school I knew I wanted to help people, I wanted to stay in the science /health/ medical area. I explored the different options that University of Costa Rica was offering at that time and Licensed in Nutrition was calling my name.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

Currently I'm working providing medical nutrition therapy (MNT), specialized in diabetes.

How would you explain what you do?

• I provide diabetes education to patients with type1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. I also help coordinating clinical trials in diabetes.
• I teach classes for diabetics once a month using the “learning maps” concept sponsored by Merck.
• I provide private nutrition consultation to families and individuals for weight loss and healthy eating in general.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

• Provide nutrition counseling to patients with diabetes.
• Counseling patients on insulin administration, monitoring blood sugars and any need for training in devices like pumps, continuous blood sugar monitoring (CGM), Vgo among others.
• Coordinate clinical trials – screening patients for studies and follow them up during the different studies we currently have.

What has been your career path?

My career path is definitely a ladder. There are so many opportunities in the world of diabetes. Always new devices, new medications, new types of insulin, artificial pancreas, etc. It is a constant change and is growing all the time.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

I have a Master’s degree in Nutrition and I am a Certified Diabetes Educator.

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

I think we can expect many opportunities coming up in the next 5 years in the industry, but we need to work hard and show the industry all the many areas we can help and make a change in the patient life and health as dietitians.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up?

People often get confused with nutritionist and RDs. It’s important to clear up that dietitians are committed to evidence-based practice. This means that when we make a recommendation it is based on the best available scientific evidence. Dietitians translate the science into practical information you can use to improve your health.

What would you like people to know about RDs?

I would like people to know that RDs are university trained, regulated health professionals who use several educational tools and research to make sure their advice is based on the best available information.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

Main challenges I encountered are all the nutrition advice we see online or in the media. Many recommendations are not based on scientific evidence.

Lots of advertising trying to sell the “quick fix” like fast weight loss, lower cholesterol and blood sugars with supplements among others. But if it sounds too good to be true, then it likely is. Making lifestyle changes is a commitment to eating well and exercising regularly.

What do people think that you do for a living?

If you ask my 12-year-old daughter she will say I teach people how to eat better.

Other people might think that we “make diets” or we help people lose weight.

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

I am passionate about helping others and making a difference in people’s life, Every time patients returned to my office and their blood sugars improved, their weight is down, they feel better, their babies are born healthy - I just can’t explain the feeling of satisfaction. It’s just hard to describe the great feeling of helping others and seeing results of hard work and dedication from the patient end.

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

Like I mentioned above, we are university trained professionals that used scientific evidence in a very creative way to translate into practical recommendations to manage and improve your health. The title dietitian is protected by law.

What is your favourite meal?

Fresh salads, sweet potatoes, vegetables and dark chocolate :)

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

I just say to please, please don’t believe everything you read. Do your research.

One single study is not enough to make a claim. Were the studies done in humans or animals? What are the person’s qualifications? Dig a little deeper before you make a change. One study or theory is not enough to change our advice.

And last but not least: Eat a variety of foods including vegetables, fruits, dairy, legumes, nuts and fish, portion control, and the right balance of meals and exercise every day.

More about Michelle:

Email: Katzdfw@sbcglobal.net
Facebook: Michelle Lechtman-Katz

Thanks Michelle! 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: Vincci Tsui, RD

VINCCI TSUI

PRIVATE PRACTICE

for something nutrishus

I follow Vincci's social media and have even referred people to her, although we've never met face-to-face, so I was excited to learn more about her. She has a great philosophy with a focus on supporting the unique concerns/needs of individuals instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. Like Vincci, I have also been called a nutritionalist and I enjoy when my hubby cooks for me too. She's coming up on 4 years in private practice and I'm sure will have lots of success ahead of her!

Why did you become a RD?

As a kid, I was always good at, and enjoyed, science and math, and coming from a Chinese family, there was some pressure to become a doctor, but I didn’t think I could handle the stress that would come with that profession! We had a family friend who was a dietitian, and I was always fascinated by how the food we ate broke down in the various nutrients that our bodies need to function. Additionally, everybody eats. I wanted to be in a profession that everyone could relate to, as opposed to seeing people’s eyes glaze over when you talk about your work.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

Currently I have a private practice where I specialize in working with people who crave more than standard, mainstream diet advice. Often my clients come in with multi-layered concerns, for example, they might want to lose weight, but they’re limited by their food sensitivities or cooking meals that their entire family will like; or they want to learn how to fuel properly for a marathon, but they are vegetarian.

How would you explain what you do?

I help people discover a way of eating that meets their unique health and lifestyle needs.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

Typically, I meet one-on-one with clients and create content for my weekly newsletter and social media posts. I also teach nutrition and cooking classes, write articles for magazines and websites, and occasionally am interviewed for magazines, TV or radio.

What has been your career path?

I’ve been a dietitian for almost seven years, and have worked in a variety of settings (mainly because I often take on more than one job at once!) I’ve worked in a personal training studio, private medical clinic, hospital, and bariatric specialty clinic. I started my private practice in July 2012.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

I have a minor in Entrepreneurship, and I’m a certified Craving Change Facilitator. Otherwise, I’m always doing courses, webinars and workshops, but don’t really have any certifications to show for it! Ha! Most of the education is nutrition-focused, but I’ve also been doing more training in business development and marketing.

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

This change would probably take much longer than 5 years, but my hope is that dietitians become the go-tos when it comes to nutrition expertise.

Things that might be achievable in 5 years: 1) All extended healthcare plans provide coverage for dietitians, so that people have better access. 2) Everyone knows the difference between a dietitian and nutritionist. 3) People realize that nutritionalist is not a word.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up?

Ugh. SO MUCH MISINFORMATION: That dietitians just put people on diets. That dietitians only follow Canada’s Food Guide. That dietitians are the food police. That dietitians only eat “healthy food”, or boring, bland food. That dietitians are behind the times. That dietitians don’t know how to cook. This could be a whole interview in and of itself.

What would you like people to know about RDs?

Despite the name of our profession, we’re not out to put people on diets, or make everyone (or anyone, actually) follow Canada’s Food Guide. We’re here to help people achieve better health and wellness through food, based on current research. Also, if we’re eating together, you don’t need to hide your food from us – we’re not paying attention! Often, we’re more worried about what you think of what we’re eating.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

Misinformation, whether it’s about our profession, or about food and nutrition in general. Sometimes I feel like I have to put out the fires before I can get to the fun stuff!

Also, food is so much more than fuel. It’s comfort. It’s celebration. It’s cultural identity. It’s habit. So there’s a lot to consider when it comes to eating well, way, way, way beyond calories, nutrients and “what’s good for you.” I think this is a fun challenge though.

What do people think that you do for a living?

Post photos of my meals on Instagram (hahaha).

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

Eating well should be straightforward, doable and enjoyable, and I believe that everyone deserves to discover the food choices and eating habits that checks those three boxes for them. The “perfect diet” is one that you can keep “following” for life, and I love it when I see people have those “aha” moments where they realize that healthy eating isn’t about rules and restrictions.

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

RDs consider the big picture when it comes to food and eating well. We look at the whole body of evidence, instead of jumping on the newest study or latest trend. We look at how all foods can fit in your lifestyle and help you move toward your goals, instead of restricting “bad” foods and pushing specific “good” foods.

What is your favourite meal?

Any one that my husband makes for me!

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

You know more about healthy eating than you think! If you’re choosing minimally processed, plant-based foods most of the time, then you’re already on the right track. I think there’s so much nutrition noise out there that it makes us doubt our own intuition in terms of what’s good for us and makes us feel good. So my biggest tip when people feel overwhelmed and not sure where to start is to start by looking within, and use your own knowledge and past experiences just to help you get going. Then work with a dietitian to help you fill out the nitty-gritty details.

More about Vincci:

Website: Vincci Tsui, RD
Facebook: Vincci Tsui, RD
Twitter: @VincciRD
Instagram: @vinccird
Snapchat: vinccird

Thanks Vincci! 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: Vincci Tsui, RD

VINCCI TSUI

PRIVATE PRACTICE

for something nutrishus

I follow Vincci's social media and have even referred people to her, although we've never met face-to-face, so I was excited to learn more about her. She has a great philosophy with a focus on supporting the unique concerns/needs of individuals instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. Like Vincci, I have also been called a nutritionalist and I enjoy when my hubby cooks for me too. She's coming up on 4 years in private practice and I'm sure will have lots of success ahead of her!

Why did you become a RD?

As a kid, I was always good at, and enjoyed, science and math, and coming from a Chinese family, there was some pressure to become a doctor, but I didn’t think I could handle the stress that would come with that profession! We had a family friend who was a dietitian, and I was always fascinated by how the food we ate broke down in the various nutrients that our bodies need to function. Additionally, everybody eats. I wanted to be in a profession that everyone could relate to, as opposed to seeing people’s eyes glaze over when you talk about your work.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

Currently I have a private practice where I specialize in working with people who crave more than standard, mainstream diet advice. Often my clients come in with multi-layered concerns, for example, they might want to lose weight, but they’re limited by their food sensitivities or cooking meals that their entire family will like; or they want to learn how to fuel properly for a marathon, but they are vegetarian.

How would you explain what you do?

I help people discover a way of eating that meets their unique health and lifestyle needs.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

Typically, I meet one-on-one with clients and create content for my weekly newsletter and social media posts. I also teach nutrition and cooking classes, write articles for magazines and websites, and occasionally am interviewed for magazines, TV or radio.

What has been your career path?

I’ve been a dietitian for almost seven years, and have worked in a variety of settings (mainly because I often take on more than one job at once!) I’ve worked in a personal training studio, private medical clinic, hospital, and bariatric specialty clinic. I started my private practice in July 2012.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

I have a minor in Entrepreneurship, and I’m a certified Craving Change Facilitator. Otherwise, I’m always doing courses, webinars and workshops, but don’t really have any certifications to show for it! Ha! Most of the education is nutrition-focused, but I’ve also been doing more training in business development and marketing.

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

This change would probably take much longer than 5 years, but my hope is that dietitians become the go-tos when it comes to nutrition expertise.

Things that might be achievable in 5 years: 1) All extended healthcare plans provide coverage for dietitians, so that people have better access. 2) Everyone knows the difference between a dietitian and nutritionist. 3) People realize that nutritionalist is not a word.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up?

Ugh. SO MUCH MISINFORMATION: That dietitians just put people on diets. That dietitians only follow Canada’s Food Guide. That dietitians are the food police. That dietitians only eat “healthy food”, or boring, bland food. That dietitians are behind the times. That dietitians don’t know how to cook. This could be a whole interview in and of itself.

What would you like people to know about RDs?

Despite the name of our profession, we’re not out to put people on diets, or make everyone (or anyone, actually) follow Canada’s Food Guide. We’re here to help people achieve better health and wellness through food, based on current research. Also, if we’re eating together, you don’t need to hide your food from us – we’re not paying attention! Often, we’re more worried about what you think of what we’re eating.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

Misinformation, whether it’s about our profession, or about food and nutrition in general. Sometimes I feel like I have to put out the fires before I can get to the fun stuff!

Also, food is so much more than fuel. It’s comfort. It’s celebration. It’s cultural identity. It’s habit. So there’s a lot to consider when it comes to eating well, way, way, way beyond calories, nutrients and “what’s good for you.” I think this is a fun challenge though.

What do people think that you do for a living?

Post photos of my meals on Instagram (hahaha).

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

Eating well should be straightforward, doable and enjoyable, and I believe that everyone deserves to discover the food choices and eating habits that checks those three boxes for them. The “perfect diet” is one that you can keep “following” for life, and I love it when I see people have those “aha” moments where they realize that healthy eating isn’t about rules and restrictions.

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

RDs consider the big picture when it comes to food and eating well. We look at the whole body of evidence, instead of jumping on the newest study or latest trend. We look at how all foods can fit in your lifestyle and help you move toward your goals, instead of restricting “bad” foods and pushing specific “good” foods.

What is your favourite meal?

Any one that my husband makes for me!

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

You know more about healthy eating than you think! If you’re choosing minimally processed, plant-based foods most of the time, then you’re already on the right track. I think there’s so much nutrition noise out there that it makes us doubt our own intuition in terms of what’s good for us and makes us feel good. So my biggest tip when people feel overwhelmed and not sure where to start is to start by looking within, and use your own knowledge and past experiences just to help you get going. Then work with a dietitian to help you fill out the nitty-gritty details.

More about Vincci:

Website: Vincci Tsui, RD
Facebook: Vincci Tsui, RD
Twitter: @VincciRD
Instagram: @vinccird
Snapchat: vinccird

Thanks Vincci! Find out more about What RDsDo.

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

Time for what?

Time has been on my mind a lot the last month. I am still trying to sort out my role as a working/stay-at-home mom (17 months in, as of today). The past 17 months have gone by as fast as everyone said they would. I am fortunate that I have been around for many/most of our little one's cherished moments. I am fortunate, because I am self-employed and my husband and I have prioritized spending as much time with our daughter as we can. Everyone has different goals, priorities, challenges, etc. in how they live and of course in how they act in the roles of parenthood.

Recently, in my attempts to minimize clutter in our house I came across an old goal setting exercise that we had done (or that I had made us do!). The recurring theme for me was time. A few of my goals for things I 'wanted' were:

• time for me
• time with my husband
• time with my kids
• time to read, watch movies, and workout
• freedom with my time
• to set my own hours (which obviously relates to time)
• to retire early (also relates to time)

*One of the goals for things I 'didn't want' was: to be overwhelmed with my time.

Our time is limited and we don't know when it will end. This of course brings me to mindfulness and I constantly try to live in and enjoy my present situation. I get ahead of myself too often or I think of others things I 'should' be doing. I have also tried to minimize things so that I can free up my time for other things.

Perhaps time is also on my mind because I'm approaching a birthday. I have no problem getting older, it's part of life after all, and I think I improve with age (or I at least try to be better every day). I just found (or made) time to jot down this post. I've mainly been sharing my #WhatRDsDo series which I'm really excited about, and life has been keeping me busy. I am however not going to apologize for my absence from personal posts. Life does and should happen. I am a rare millennial that is trying to unplug, to be present offline. I enjoy social media and I also work in that space, but I don't want to miss out on my life.

 

I have plans to get you to reflect on how you're spending (or if you're wasting) your time, how you maximize your time, how you'd like to spend your time, what you've learned that has improved you with time, etc.

My blogging time for today is over, so I hope you had a good time reading and I hope you come back to share.

Cheers,
Have a good time! ("we're here for a good time, not a long time!" - Trooper)

Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com

What RDs Do: Andrea Hardy, RD

ANDREA HARDY

BUT FIRST, LET'S EAT

for something nutrishus

A new entrepreneur and a fellow dietitian that also got into the field because of wanting to work in sport nutrition. She reminds us of the importance of time management when your job requires you to wear a lot of different hats, and also the many skills dietitians have, or can learn, to be successful. I too, took a long time to finish my degree, (the world of volleyball called me) and agree that we're in an exciting time for our field!

Why did you become a RD?

It’s funny, I became an RD because I thought I wanted to be in sports nutrition. I really didn’t know what else was out there, besides weight management and sports nutrition. It was all I had ever been exposed to. Little did I know, there was an entire world of dietetics out there I had yet to explore!

What area of dietetics do you work in?

I’ve spent the majority of my career working in acute care, in a variety of settings including oncology, liver transplant and cirrhosis, and cardiology. Recently though, along with a move to a new city, I’ve been exploring the life of an entrepreneur – through the world of private practice – specializing in IBS and IBD, as well as weight management.

How would you explain what you do?

I.Do.Everything. There’s really no better way to say it. Running a private practice and successful nutrition blog, I’ve become an IT person, a writer, a social media expert, a public speaker, an entertainer, a recipe developer, a mentor, and lastly, of course, a dietitian.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

What is so exciting about running my own business is each day is new. The first few months of running my business, I felt like I was just putting out fires – but now, I try to segment my time - in between my client appointments and meetings, I schedule time dedicate to creating content, to social media management, and to networking.

What has been your career path?

When I graduated, I went straight into acute care. After the 6 years it took for me to complete my degree (I took some time off in the middle of my degree), I realized my passion lay in problem solving. Acute care was so rewarding, with the team environment and ability to affect change. After 5 years in acute care, I’ve transitioned to private practice – growing my business and exploring a whole other avenue of problem solving. I love the diversity in my job now – from relationship building, to content creation, to one-on-one counselling, to public speaking. It’s a ton of fun, and keeps me on my toes!

What advanced education or special training do you have?

One of the most valuable courses I’ve taken was on motivational interviewing through AHS (Alberta Health Services). It really changed my entire perspective as an RD. I’ve been involved in publishing a few papers, and am looking to make room for research in my portfolio as my business grows.

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

In an ideal world, in 5 years (such a short time!) dietitians will DOMINATE the market in terms of nutrition. I’ve spoken with so many great private practice RDs that realize we have to take back nutrition as our own. And to do that, we have to make nutrition hot and sexy – like all of our less-qualified competitors do. I really believe the RDs I’ve spoken with are in the midst of a GIANT movement towards this, and I’m SO excited to see what happens. Move over – cause this #aintyourmamasnutrition!

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up?

That we’re not the apron-wearing, judgey, spend-hours-in-the-kitchen kinda women (and men!) that everyone stereotypes our profession into. We come in all different shapes and sizes. We like different foods. We drink martinis. We eat cheeseburgers. But somehow, we still live healthy lifestyles. We are the epitome of normal-eating role models - the public would be better served idealizing our focus on balanced lifestyle rather than the bastardized version of perfect, healthy eating society and the media stuffs down our throats, day in and day out.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

I think the biggest challenge right now is dietitians’ role in becoming bigger than the misinformation out there. How can we, as professionals, think bigger, grow bigger, and become an absolute authority in nutrition? I’m still figuring that one out – but am setting some seriously lofty goals to take over the world. I really think we should be challenging ourselves to innovate practice and think bigger.

What do people think that you do for a living?

People think I make meal plans. (Gags). Funny enough – I wrote a blog post that went viral about it - (Do Dietitians Make Meal Plans? What dietitians do and don’t do) - talking about what RDs ACTUALLY do.

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

Haha – very clearly, making dietitians the most bad-ass nutrition experts out there. Just sayin’.

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

I love this question. It’s funny, holistic nutritionists aren’t necessarily ‘wrong’ when you look at their big picture messaging. They’re really trying to get people to eat healthy, and while they may miss the mark on some messages, in general, if people were to follow what they are saying, I do think they would be healthier for it. Where an RDs skills far exceed other wellness professionals are in our ability to expertly review the literature, provide realistic and appropriate strategies for long term change, and I really think most importantly, keep people safe. Not only from all the bat-shit crazy supplements out there, but from people doing more harm to themselves than good through yo-yo dieting and inappropriate counselling methods.

What is your favourite meal?

The one coming up next!

More about Andrea:

Blog: www.butfirstletseat.com
Website: www.ignitenutrition.ca
Facebook: Ignite Nutrition Inc
LinkedIn: Andrea Hardy
Instagram: but.first.lets.eat
Twitter: @butfirstletseat
Google Plus: Andrea Hardy
Periscope: @butfirstletseat
Pinterest: but first, let's eat

Thanks Andrea! 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: Cara Harbstreet, RD, MS, LD

CARA HARBSTREET

COMMUNITY NUTRITION, WELLNESS DIETITIAN

for something nutrishus

I 'know' Cara from instagram and am so excited to share her responses with you. Her job keeps her busy, but also involves a wide variety of tasks/skills that not only involve nutrition knowledge, but also hands-on food skills. Like many (or all) of the dietitians in the series, I would love to sit down to a meal or attend a potluck with Cara - we love food!

Why did you become a RD? 

Because food is my love language, and food is medicine. There is no field that is more interesting and fulfilling to me.

What area of dietetics do you work in? 

I work in Community Nutrition as a Wellness Dietitian.

How would you explain what you do? 

My primary role is to create and lead programs for health and nutrition education for both the employees (caregivers) in my organization and the surrounding community. Our wellness team is dedicated to preventing and managing chronic disease and metabolic syndrome so we design classes to address diabetes, cardiovascular health, obesity, and general healthy lifestyle. Our approach is called “Life Care” instead of “Health Care” because we also offer holistic approaches to whole-body well-being, including classes and services that touch all seven dimensions of wellness.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks? 

Each week, I teach anywhere from three to eight classes. They could be anything from 30- to 60-minute lectures, hands-on culinary classes, series classes for caregivers or the community, or even yoga. I also see clients for individual nutrition consults and partner with others on our team to coordinate and plan new wellness services (i.e. lots of meetings!). Being that I am in a community setting, there is also a lot of driving involved! I cover a fairly wide region and we are able to bring any of our classes to other businesses in the area. I also spend a portion of my week developing new marketing materials, writing blogs and newsletters, coming up with recipes, and prepping ingredients for any culinary classes for that week.

What has been your career path? 

I worked a number of jobs throughout college, some food related and some less so. I even worked at a brewery for a short time before returning to school for my Master’s program! During my last semester an opportunity opened, and although I knew things would be hectic, I pounced on the chance to land my dream job. It was a perfect fit and I’ve been there ever since!

What advanced education or special training do you have? 

I completed a Master’s degree (MS) in Clinical Nutrition at the University of Kansas Medical Center. This program included coursework in advanced MNT (Medical Nutrition Therapy), physiology, biochemistry, and integrative/functional nutrition. I also attended several trainings for culinary nutrition to better empower clients to start cooking to take control of their health.

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

I would love to see:

• Better awareness of the dietetics profession and a clearer understanding of our unique roles
• More dietitian presence in social media, the blogosphere, and media in general
• An increased need for more dietitians and higher demand for services
• A better way to include dietitian services under insurance and become more accessible to everyone with coverage

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up? 

That any nutrition course or certification lends the same credentials and expertise. I’ve been asked, “Did you have to go to school for that?” and “Well, didn’t you already learn everything in health class?”…nutrition is a complex field; it took years of education to get to this level!

What would you like people to know about RDs? 

Most of us love food as much, if not more, than the average person. My dietitian friends and I are always the first ones in line at a potluck event!

What are challenges you encounter as a RD? 

It has been somewhat challenging to avoid bringing my personal views and bias into conversations with clients. As a professional, I have an ethical obligation to present factual information regardless of my personal opinions or beliefs.

What do people think that you do for a living?

People think I’m the Food Police, constantly monitoring and judging what others eat. Suffice it to say, that’s far from the truth!

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

In my experience, RDs are lifelong learners. Part of that is required (CEUs - continuing education units), yes, but the ones I’ve encountered simply LOVE to learn new things and then pass that knowledge on to others. I also think RDs do a great job of staying within their scope of practice by recognizing when their expertise has reached the limit and it’s time to bring in another team member (physician, therapist, personal trainer, etc.)

What is your favourite meal?

A steaming hot bowl of pasta with pesto sauce, wilted spinach or greens + crusty French bread, olive oil, and extra garlic!

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

By definition, a “diet” is the pattern of food you normally eat. So technically, everyone who eats is on a diet. Ditch the restrictive mindset, make it a lifestyle, and strive for a balanced relationship with food.

More about Cara:

Twitter: @StreetSmartRD
Instagram: @streetsmart.rd
Facebook: Street Smart Nutrition
Pinterest: Street Smart Nutrition 

Thanks Cara! Find out more about What RDsDo.

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

Day 10: See The World

We went on a lot of road trips and camping trips when I was young. We often went north or west. I went on my first plane ride in grade 10, to Yakima, Washington for a club volleyball tournament. My daughter flew with me to Edmonton when she was 4 months old, she also came to Quebec City at 7 months old (times have changed!).

Sport opened the world up for me. Most of the places I have been to were with volleyball, and more recently with my husband. I traveled with my club team, provincial team, university team, junior national team, FISU team, senior national team, and professional team. I feel very fortunate for the experiences and the fact that my coaches often let us do a teeny bit of site seeing to get out of the gym.

I love to travel and we  always said we would continue to travel with our family. Obviously destinations and activities may change, but we're still trying to make it a priority. Travel costs money and takes time. Since I'm my own boss, I have a flexible schedule. We also have a dog, so we have to consider him when we make travel plans and determine if he's coming or staying with family (we're lucky that's an option for us). 

I have been all over Saskatchewan, Canada, North & Central America, parts of Europe and Southeast Asia. I hope to see as much of the world as I can. It's a great way for me to relax, forget my to-do lists (because I can't do them), try new food, experience different cultures, and spend quality time with loved ones. We even made the decision to have a destination wedding in Jamaica because we wanted travel to be part of how we started our married life.

I am grateful for: all the places I have been

I look forward to all the places I have yet to see (I have a list started of course!).

What are your favourite destinations?

Steph Langdon, RD

www.nutrishus.com

What's Guiding You?

As stated previously, maternity leave and the transition to spending more time as a mom means that I have lots of blog post ideas, yet don't get around to writing often. I can't complain though, I am really enjoying my time away from technology and screens to watch my little one grow! I do spend time on social media for work (and pleasure) so it's a bit of an internal struggle for me and I continue to work on not comparing myself to the assumptions I have of others based on their social media presence. I am in my 30s and still trying to figure out my priorities and how to live my best life.

I love quotes and find solace and inspiration in them. A few that have hit home for me recently are below:

(*see more on my Pinterest board)

With hiah chat I hope to provide insight to encourage you along your wellness journey. I find that it's great to know how others can succeed and the challenges they face. In the Craving Change program that I facilitate there are lots of examples called "you are not alone" and it's a great way to gain some perspective. I am a busy-body and have a hard time relaxing, yet I look at others online at times and feel that I'm not doing enough - I'm not working out enough or eating healthily enough, etc. but I have a great husband that helps to ground me and remind me of what is important - thus my continued journey to find balance so that I can enjoy lazy evenings with him and cuddles with my daughter without guilt (this may be a lifelong struggle for me!).

I plan to write my guiding principles or personal manifesto as I figure it out as well as writing about the pieces that make up health. I also hope to start some discussion around eating principles as sometimes we have developed rules that may be sabotaging our efforts and other times they may help keep us on track. I'm not one for diets, as the term diet to me just means a way of eating. I don't feel the need to associate with a specific way of eating (be that vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.) and am fortunate enough to not have allergies, intolerances, or medical reasons that I have to - the world of food is open and available to me and I explore it fully. I hope my blog continue to evolve as I do, and as I learn from others and from science.

Do you have 'rules' that you follow on your path to health and wellness?

Feel free to comment below...
Happy Sunday and have a great week!

Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com