What RDs Do: Ellen Albertson, PhD, RDN, CD

DR. ELLEN ALBERTSON

PSYCHOLOGIST, NUTRITIONIST, WELLCOACH &

MINDFUL SELF-COMPASSION TEACHER

for something nutrishus

I reached out to Ellen on the advice of interviewee Jean Caton as she had recently featured her on her podcast. It was so great to hear about a dietitian/psychologist and learn all the amazing things she's done on the path to her current career. She has a unique niche looking at women's wellness and how we treat ourselves, not just the food we eat.

Why did you become a RD?

I was looking for a change in career direction and had always been interested in nutrition and love working with people to help them live healthier lives.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

Coaching/counseling, speaking and writing in a variety of areas including: weight management, diabetes and women’s health. I also specialize in helping women make peace with their bodies and food.

How would you explain what you do?

I take a holistic—body, mind, heart & spirit—approach to empower people to optimize their health & wellbeing. I help women achieve health, happiness and balance so they can reach their full potential quickly & effectively without stress.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks? 

Social media (writing and posting), public speaking, counseling/coaching, networking and podcasting.

What has been your career path?

• Clinical dietitian (inpatient and outpatient)

• Nutrition/health journalist (I’ve writen for numerous publications including Self, Good Housekeeping & Better Homes & Gardens)

• Celebrity Chef - I was half of The Cooking Couple™ with my husband. We had a nationally syndicated radio show, wrote books and did product endorsements.

• Master Personal Fitness Trainer

• Online nutrition expert for Rodale (Men’s Health, Women’s Health & the Abs Diet)

• Wellness Coach (current)

• Writer/Podcaster (current) -just released my 4th book (The Diabetic & The Dietitian) and starting a podcast called, Wellcouples.

What advanced education or special training do you have? 

I have a PhD in psychology, Certified Wellcoach®, Reiki Master, Mindful Self-compassion Teacher, Training in Intuitive and mindful eating and diabetes management, Certification in Adult Weight Loss Management, previous certs as personal fitness trainer.

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

Focusing on making healthy eating fun, easy, accessible & affordable. Improving the food supply. NO more dieting instead using mindful or intuitive eating. Acceptance of a variety of healthy body sizes especially for women.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up?

We’re not the food police. We can be flexible and work with you to create a healthier lifestyle

What would you like people to know about RDs?

Many of us are foodies and love eating.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

Respect from doctors. Moving clients who are stuck into action.

What do people think that you do for a living?

Help people lose weight.

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

Helping women heal their issues around negative body image and dysfunctional eating. Ending dieting. Introducing RDs and other health practitioners to self-compassion as a motivational tool.

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

Solid, evidence based education. Our diversity. We do so many different things.

What is your favourite meal?

My husband’s barbecue!

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

Stop beating your body up because it’s not “perfect.” Replace the self-loathing with self-love/self-compassion. It’s much more effective. There are a wide variety of ways to live and eat to be healthy!

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

I’ve been an RD for 23 years and love it as a career. I continue to evolve and grow in terms of how I help people.

More about Ellen:

Twitter: @eralbertson
Facebook: Dr Ellen Albertson
LinkedIn: Ellen Albertson, PhD, RD, CD
Website: Dr Ellen - Empowering Women at Midlife
Website: SmashYourScale.com

Thanks Ellen! 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: Jing Liu, MS, RD

JING LIU

NUTRIENERGY WORKS

for something nutrishus

Working in the hot topic area of mindfulness, I love that Jing focuses on health and happiness and the fact that she takes one day a week for herself (that & meditation are still on my to-do list!). We see dietitians working on interdisciplinary teams and having holistic approaches, here Jing really reminds us to be fully present and keep our mind aware when it comes to nourishment and health. 

Why did you become a RD?

I became a RD because I liked everything a RD can do to improve people’s quality of life.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

I work in the areas of clinical nutrition, community nutrition and nutrition education.

How would you explain what you do?

I help people to understand different contributions to their health issues, gain awareness of results of their choices, and be empowered for new options to achieve healthier and happier journey in life.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

• I counsel patients on an individual basis and teach group workshops in a community medical center two full days and two mornings a week.
• I conduct mindfulness meditation sessions via Skype to help adults rejuvenate their energy level about two times a week. These sessions helped my clients and I to reduce intake of caffeine and sugar. They also helped to improve quality of sleep over the years.
• I write an article on mindful nutrition care and lead a mindful wellness group once a month.
• I rest, meditate, garden and do my chores every Thursday.

What has been your career path?

I started my career path in year 2000 with clinical nutrition (skilled nursing facilities & hospital). In 2003, I replaced SNF jobs with community nutrition (community medical center). Later, I replaced hospital work with nutrition education & consultation work. In recent years, I integrated mindfulness into my clinical/community nutrition education.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

• I completed the CDR training on childhood & adolescents obesity and weight management.
• I have been practicing and teaching mindfulness for about 10 years.

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

There would be a system in place for people to seek nutritional care before they are prescribed medication for many health issues.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up?

RDs services are not only for body weight problems.

What would you like people to know about RDs?

RD services can be for the wellness of a person’s whole body and wellbeing.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

People’s perception of RDs as judgmental, strict, and having unrealistic recommendations.

What do people think that you do for a living?

Before was just to help people lose weight, now is also teaching people of how to be calm and raise a calm child because of my mindfulness services.

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

Dietetics helps people to work on the foundation of their health. It enables people to be connected with themselves, their environment and everything they experience. Ultimately, live the most of their lives. That is joy to me.

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

RDs have the intense and comprehensive training to make connections of one’s health concerns to the whole body, experiences with the environment and food industries, and provide step by step guidance to improve one’s health through a process. Most nutrition/wellness professionals tend to have limited education and training, may offer solutions for results that do not last and often could not help people in gaining long term self-care skills.

What is your favourite meal?

Every meal is my favorite. I try to take my time and enjoy every bite I take in nourishing myself, as many people call it mindful eating.

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

• Choose what you put into your mouth with your stomach and your mind.
• Notice how you are being affected by what is outside of your mind and body as you make your choices.
• Give yourself a chance and go talk to one or more RDs for your own information.

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

A note to remember: Good nutrition is a major part of a healthy lifestyle and healthy lifestyle is the foundation for a healthy and happy life. Enjoy!

More about Jing:

Owner: NutriEnergy Works
Website: nutriNRGworks
Phone: (510) 336 – 6039
E-mail: jing@nutriNRGworks.com
Facebook: NutriEnergy Works
Twitter: @NutriEnergyWork
LinkedIn: Jing Liu
MeetUp group: Mindfulness Wellness

Thanks Jing! Find out more about What RDsDo.

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

9 Dietitians Tips for Finding the Time

As I said, time has been on my mind. I try to prioritize my time, spend my time wisely, not waste time, etc. but a lot of that is subjective and I doubt I'll ever feel like there's enough time for certain things. For example, I enjoy reading, yet it falls low on my list and I often run out of time (ie. my child wakes from a nap). I have prioritized certain things (ie. not cancelling workouts/exercise and home cooked meals) and I have cut certain things out when they no longer serve a purpose.

I talk about mindfulness and minimalism, but it's not just the clutter, it could be the groups, activities, etc. that take time and really are not helping you move towards being your best self. It's hard to say no or to 'define' yourself when society encourages us to be a certain way and do certain things. It's become 'normal' to be busy, but I don't want that to define me. I want to feel like I have time to do what I enjoy doing, because we only get so much time. I also think we need to reorganize/re-prioritize and take time for ourselves, be that to nourish ourselves, to relax, to de-stress, or to workout.

To help you manage your time (or perhaps drop the excuse that you don't have time for your health), I asked fellow dietitians for their time saving tips/tricks/hacks to help you break down the barrier.

1. Meal plan, but start "small, simple, and slow"... (read more: How to Simplify Meal Planning)
Dixya Bhattarai, RDN, Food, Pleasure & Health

2. "Free online workout videos are one of my favorite high efficiency ways to get a quick workout in on busy days, even with kids sleeping or playing in the next room"... (read more: 25 Free Full Body Workout Videos (15 Mins or Less)
Dena Norton, MS, RD, Back to the Book Nutrition

3. "If you're not already exercising chunk it down to 10 min at a time to make it easier to fit into an already busy schedule and slowly expand the time."... (read more: Find the Time: 10-Minute Exercise Routines)
Meri Asterino Raffetto, RDN, Real Living Nutrition

4. "Build food traditions that help you create a better attitude around cooking and making time for it"...(read more: BYO Holiday Food Traditions)
Sharon Palmer, RDN, The Plant-Powered Dietitian 

5. "I make lunch and snacks the night before. I also make a big batch of granola and always make double dinners so that I have for leftovers and for the week. I can make soup and quick dinners also in half an hour using my food processor to chop veggies and herbs!!"
Madeline Basler, RDN, Real You Nutrition

6. "I love the quote that 30 minutes (for a workout) is just 2% of your day!"
Katie Proctor, RDN, Elevate With Katie

7. "Spend 30 minutes over the weekend planning out your meals for the week. That 30 minutes eliminates so much stress throughout the week!"
Allison Stevens, MS, RD, Chef,  Prep Dish

8. "Make extra portions of meals and freeze them. When you eat them weeks later, they'll seem new, and you will have saved time in the prep process. You can do this and have a regular rotation of 'new' meals."
Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, Amy Gorin Nutrition

9. "Take time out of your day, perhaps on the weekend when life is less hectic, and plan out your meals for the week. And fill out a supermarket shopping list, so when you go to the grocery store, you spend your time efficiently." (download her 7-Day Meal Planner and Supermarket Shopping List)
Liz Weiss, MS, RD, Meal Makeover Moms 

How do you find time for your health? Tell us below and enjoy all the time you've saved!

Cheers,
Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com

Time Savers

In an attempt to be efficient with my time, I just came up with a quick list for you. I want to share the things I do, have, etc. that save me time. I always hear that people want more time, or that they're 'busy'. As a dietitian that means healthy eating may fall lower on their priority list as time becomes a barrier.

I have a unique situation because my time is often flexible, although dictated by a toddler. Some days I have time to spend in the kitchen, other days I do not. I do try to slow down and savour/enjoy, I'm just trying to spend time on what I want to (and I do enjoy cooking, don't get me wrong!).

These are just a few of my ideas. There are all kinds of lists online, such as The Domestic Dietitian's Life Hack Time Saving Tips and Serena and Deanna have a long list of Healthy Kitchen Hacks over on teaspoon of spice. Please comment below as I'd love to hear how you save time (or make up time) in all areas of your life!

Eating

• use a rice cooker (occasionally a slow cooker)
• make-ahead breakfasts 
• cook in big batches for leftovers
• keep canned items on hand (tuna, tomatoes, beans, chickpeas)
• have frozen veggies and fruit in the freezer if run out of fresh
• almost always have eggs, cheese, milk, and some type of grain in the house (bread, tortillas, pitas, pasta, quinoa)
• save time & money at the grocery store (eatright.org)
• use the internet to search ingredients that I have and find new recipes to try (so I can use things up and skip a trip to the store if I don't have time)
• plan our supper meals
• make a grocery list
• chop lots of veggies/fruit when I get the chance - then it's ready for snacks too
• we enjoy our vitamix for quick smoothies
• I often follow and adapt recipes vs making things up completely
• 10 time saving kitchen hacks (Katie Cavuto, RD)

Activity

• circuit train (hard & quick)
• meet friends for a visit and workout

House

• this is where my attempts at a minimalist lifestyle come in - less stuff, less time spent cleaning and maintaining it
• it may bug my husband, but I set things at the top or bottom of the stairs so they go that way when I do
• we have a roomba that we often use for our carpeted rooms
• I do let the dishwasher clean most of our dishes

Reading/Learning

• *I need to keep working on finding time for this...
• I started listening to podcasts in the car

Life

• most notifications turned off on my phone so I don't get distracted
• most if not all of my bills are automatically paid

That's all the time I have for this today (I may come back and add to it)!

Cheers,

Steph Langdon, RD

www.nutrishus.com

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

Learning More About Being Me

I've been reading Gretchen Rubin's Better Than Before as I try to find time for non-work reading in the evenings. She even talks about 'quitting time' which I am going to try to do, since I work from home and am an 'upholder' I can easily be drawn to my office to do work and accomplish something (because that's what I like to do!).

I often talk about being our best self or the best version of ourselves. It's not about perfection, it's about progress, which the title of the book reminds us - be better!

Gretchen talks about all the unique traits we have and I like to learn as much about myself as I can, so I enjoyed reading that. I also try to be self aware - so I may not always respond or act the way I intended or should have, but on reflection I can easily see what I should have done/said. Maybe it's years as a dietitian and the self reflection we're taught that has stuck with me.

As I learn more about myself, I also continue to learn more. I know I like to cook, but I like to follow recipes, I struggle to just make something from scratch, which many dietitians are great at. I like to follow directions, perhaps with a few alterations, but I like to know where I'm going and what the outcome may be, even though, that does mean that I try all kinds of recipes - some that we'll make again, and others that are soon forgotten.

I also know that I like quotes for inspiration and I like alliteration. As an adult I've recently decided that I am at my best when I remain curious (not judgemental), am content (grateful and not wanting for more or comparing myself to others), and present (or mindful - conscious fits with my 'c' theme, but I don't like it as much). I keep mindfulness, minimalism, and moderation in mind as I strive for health, happiness, and habits.

I've got a lot to continue to work on, but I think I'm better than I was before. I do often have to remind myself of how far I've come and that happiness isn't a destination - ie. it's not, I'll be happy when ________.

This is just my check in, as it was on my mind and I had a few moments to spare to jot it down.

Be well, be you!

Cheers,

Steph Langdon, RD

www.nutrishus.com

1001 Days Later

Wow, that sounds like a long time, and it is and it isn't. In my 32 years of life (12005 days) it is only a glimpse. Why am I even talking about it? It was a goal setting exercise I took part in - the Day Zero Project (101 in 1001). There are other similar ones, such as #100happydays that I have also done - I enjoy accomplishing things, I'm a doer, so getting things done helps keep me happy and healthy. Obviously not everyone is wired this way (I think few people are similar to me, the more that I learn about personality traits), but goals work for me.

I tried, I succeeded, I didn't complete (yet!) my 101. I am trying to be okay with completing 82/101 (81.2%). I am also deciding that at some point I will complete the remaining 19. I'm trying to not make excuses and to still keep these on my radar. I definitely wasn't solely thinking about these, as I have accomplished other goals over the last 1001 days. A lot has changed in my life since June 7, 2013, that's for sure, so this is even a great mindfulness check-in. I've travelled, became a mom, moved into a new house, and survived into my 6th year of self-employment (among other things).

However, the ones that remain are (because having them in one place will help me focus!):

6 - go on a girl's weekend trip (non-work related...)
7 - play a round of golf with my husband (summer 2016?)
10 - put aside $10 for each task accomplished (82/110)
15 - meditate every day for one month
31 - create our will (I jotted notes)
32 - create our health directives (I jotted notes)
33 - try snowboarding
34 - go skating
35 - go cross country skiing
47 - build a sand castle (summer 2016?)
64 - update my 'places I've been' Pinterest board (ongoing...)
77 - visit a new country...(summer 2016?)
80 - learn where all 50 states are on a map of the USA (working on it, I know all 50 now at least!)
81 - don't watch TV or Netflix for a month (summer 2016?)
82 - don't eat out for 2 months (summer 2016?)
84 - complete the 365 project (a picture a day for a year) (I may have done this, but it wasn't intentional)
86 - don't complain for 1 week ( hope I did, but I wanted to be aware & track at least one...)
96 - kiss in the rain (again, I probably did, but not mindfully for this list!)
101 - get a second tattoo (have it picked out)

I think I can knock a few off this summer if I keep them on my mind or add them to my endless to-do lists. I also have new ideas, such as a one sentence journal (suggested by Gretchen Rubin) and I've learned to focus on gratitude, being curious, being present, and unplugging more often - so those will stay with me forever, sort of my pillars for health, happiness, and habits. I still have stacks of books that I intend to read, movies to watch, blogs to write, recipes to try, places to see, and basically lots of life to experience!

How is your 2016 going? Are you working on a goal(s), how's it going?

Cheers,
Here's to you and all you dream of accomplishing :)

Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com

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: Julia Besner, RD

JULIA BESNER

LONG TERM CARE, FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT
for something nutrishus

Julia grew up in East Germany and has many food memories from her past. Like many of us, she didn't know what a dietitian did when she started university. I'm still amazed at all the different career paths we have available to us (hence this series!). Julia has worked from coast to coast in Canada and sees food as nourishing both our body and soul. Her work involves a lot of collaboration and advocacy and I can tell that she is caring and passionate about her career and clients.

Why did you become an RD?

I came to Canada to study so when I was picking a university and a field to study, it was important that I would chose a degree that would yield a job. I definitely always wanted to take sciences and choosing an applied science seemed the smartest step at the time. Even though I always had a great interest in nutrition and cooking due to being involved in sports, I definitely did not really know what an RD does when I started university. I am extremely grateful that I became very passionate about the profession and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

What area of dietetics do you work in?

I mainly work in Long Term Care (LTC) and Food Service Management in a Nursing home in Saint John, NB (New Brunswick). I also have my own consulting business on the side.

How would you explain what you do?

In LTC, our main focus is enhancing the quality of life of the residents. You constantly have to find that fine line between what is best nutritionally for the clients and what is truly best for the clients in terms of their quality of life. Often your most important job is to advocate for the clients and their wishes.

What are your typical daily/weekly tasks?

From a food service perspective, I am responsible for forecasting all of the meals on a weekly basis, and overlooking the food service operation in the nursing home. I collaborate with the chef and the kitchen regularly to ensure the quality of the food is satisfactory to our clients.

On the clinical side, I meet with all clients and their families upon admission to assess their nutritional status, likes and dislikes etc., and follow up with the them on an ongoing basis or whenever the need arises. I prepare individualized menus when necessary. I work closely with the other disciplines and clients’ families to ensure our clients’s clinical and personal needs are met. I am passionate about eating with dignity, and provide continuing education to staff. Advocating for my clients is very important to me, because food is comfort, food is memories and food is social.

What has been your career path?

I completed my university degree and graduate internship in Halifax. After graduation, I moved across the country to work as a sole Dietitian in a small town in BC. It was the best job a newly graduated Dietitian could have had. I learned so much in my first year as an RD due to the diversity of the job.

I then moved back to the Maritimes and worked in long term mental health for 3 years with clinical and food service management. From there, I took a job with a Nursing home and have worked there ever since. I recently started my own private practice to expand my skills in other areas.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

I am a lifelong learner and enjoy continuing my education. I frequently just read up on research pertaining to my field of practice. I enjoy podcasts and the online education on the DC website. Following the Dietitian Support Group on Facebook is very interesting, You can learn so much about all the different areas RD practice in. I have advanced my education in dysphagia management which has been most valuable in LTC.

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

Ideally, Dietitians will be the most trusted resources for nutrition information, and we will be integral parts of health care and disease prevention in every province of this country. There is so much potential for our profession, and I think we don’t even realize yet how much influence we could have.

What do people think you do for a living?

Sadly, the majority of people think I put people on diets and make meal plans that contain only ‘rabbit food’.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up?

To add to the previous question; having this misperception of what we do also comes with the assumptions that RDs also only eat vegetables and salads. Of course I am being a little sarcastic here, but what could be more annoying than enjoying a meal somewhere and someone comes up to you and says “ I can’t believe you are eating this. I thought Dietitians only eat vegetables”? We are human after all, and I think that goes for our practice too. We are humans helping other humans to live healthier lives. We mostly understand all the struggles our clients have as well, and I think that makes us great RDs.

What are you passionate about in dietetics?

I am truly passionate about food; what it can do to our bodies and souls in a positive way. I truly think that in a world of processed foods, people have lost their connection with food, how to use it and even how to taste and enjoy it, let alone how food can nourish us in so many ways. I love food and cooking with it. I love watching my family eat and the memories we make around food and special occasions. As mentioned before I use my passion around eating with dignity in my job. LTC is the last step for almost every one of my clients. They have a life full of experiences and memories; a lot of them around food, so helping them bring back some of their memories and enjoying the last moments with personally acceptable foods brings me a lot of fulfillment in a setting where death is around us daily.

What is your favourite meal?

This is actually a difficult question. When I think of favourite meals, special occasions come to mind that I got to spend with family. I love enjoying meals with a big crowd. Often the best company makes the food most delicious. My mother used to make pizza for Christmas. I still have the greatest memories of enjoying this homemade pizza with my entire family. I grew up in a country without fast food and especially in the winter time the food choices were sparse, so enjoying a pizza at Christmas was the best thing a kid could enjoy. All my favourite meals are attached to memories from my childhood.

More about Julia:

Twitter: @FundyNutrition 
Facebook: Fundy Nutrition Consulting

Thanks Julia! Find out more about What RDsDo.

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

Offline - On Purpose & By Accident

We went away for a quick family holiday mid-November. Since we left the country, I turned my phone roaming off and didn't use it for about 5 days. I was disappointed with myself that it felt 'weird' to not be checking my emails, texts, facebook, instagram, etc. Shouldn't it feel normal to not check your phone and be online?!

I have mentioned a few times that I feel it's good to unplug, to live the life in front of us. I make a conscious effort to be present and with my daughter while she's awake. I do admit though, sometimes I fall down the rabbit hole and am checking statuses, likes, updates, etc. Sometimes it's work related, sometimes it's personal, sometimes it's just out of habit.

Being away for a mere 5 days brought forth this revelation and realization as to how much time I must actually spend (waste) on-line/plugged-in. I was reminded of an image I saw recently:

This also made me think about habits. Often we're trying to start new habits or break old ones; often it's a choice. I felt like this was a habit change that was forced on me, for a positive reason. Once we returned home and I had my phone again, I tried to be on it less. I blogged less, I checked emails less, I posted on instagram less. Then I accidentally killed my phone (water damage beyond repair), so I was without a phone for another few days (while I tried to revive it). So here again, the world was showing me how much time I spend on my phone.

I now have a new, fully functioning phone, but I still want to live my real life, not my on-line one. I may not become internet famous, I may not have the most followers, but that's okay, I don't think I'd be a good celebrity anyway. I've also read accounts from people that became obsessed with social media, people that spend hours staging a photo to look like they just snapped it in a few seconds, and I know many successful/happy people that don't even attempt to keep up with the social media trends. This falls into my love of mindfulness (consciously using my phone less, consciously being present), minimalism (less use) and moderation (less use).

I still have a long way to go to be the best version of myself, but I do believe that unplugging more often is part of it. I am competitive, I expect a lot from myself, and I am a perfectionist, so I struggle to not compare myself to others online, even though it's just an image of their life, left open to my interpretation. Take this as you will, but the life I live beyond this screen is a pretty great one, whether you think that or not :)

I hope you find time to be with family and friends as the year draws to a close.
Cheers,
Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com

Day 31: The End

My goal this month was to post a blog every day, and here we are, the last day of October! I am slowly trying to finish my 101 in 1001 goals as the end date approaches, so this is one more to mark off. I have never created so many blog posts in so few days (31/31). It took some time and planning, but I do love the sense of accomplishment. I just hope you don't expect it to continue (or that I bored/lost you).

I am grateful for: goal setting

I like to have direction and of course, my desire to accomplish things is easily met with goal setting. Years ago I was told to set challenging goals, not just make checklists. I also know that goals need to be realistic and achievable. Goals can change and evolve as we do. We're all working towards something different, and I'm not even sure what my end target is, but these little goals help me each day and bring focus to my actions.

 

I am of course also grateful that people read my words. This blog is an outlet for me, but also hits on my goal/passion to inspire others. It is just me on a keyboard. I am a registered dietitian, but I'm also a wife, mother, daughter, sister, dog owner, traveller, lover of books, baker, entrepreneur, etc. So here, I get to share those things with you. My work goals currently keep me focused on moderation, mindfulness, and minimalism. As my husband says, they may not be sexy terms, because people know they should eat balanced, but prefer to seek superfoods or extreme diets/cleanses/detoxes. However, I do think they can be a pathway to a healthy life and wellness. You may prefer other terms, conscious indulgence, sustainable eating, etc. but they are all subjective and basically mean the same thing. Many dietitians also talk about the 80/20 rule as a form or balanced, healthy eating.

Today I celebrate this goal, and of course Halloween. Since I live a balanced life, that likely means I'll enjoy a bit of chocolate today too.

I hope you're challenging yourself, meeting goals, or setting new ones.

I'm going to have to look at November and see what I have in store for myself (and you).

Cheers!

Steph Langdon, RD

www.nutrishus.com

Day 26: Something To Look Forward To

We've been working to make our weekends feel more like weekends (whatever that means!?). Our weeks seem fairly full/busy, and it's a chance for us to be together. This comes with mindfulness and minimalism. In my attempts to have less stuff, we will eventually have less to clean and organize (chores that I tend to do on the weekend). I still have to figure out a way to get a few things done around the house and will always want to chip away at my to-do list.

However, we try to spend time together, not think about work, or even try to feel like a tourist in our own city. I do know that I'm better at relaxing when we're away from home. Also, like most people, I get excited and like to have things to look forward to. For me, that could even just be goals that I'm working on. Keeping that in mind, I'm not taking away from being present and content in the current moment, but I still like to have something on the calendar for the future.

We haven't really taken a family trip in awhile. With my work, we went to Quebec City in June and for my birthday in April we took a quick trip to Edmonton, so I can't say that we haven't been away from home. My generation seems to like to travel, which I am all for! I'd rather spend our money on trips and experiences. It's often just a matter of saving up and finding time to actually get away. The planner in me also likes to prepare for a holiday, but I try to be spontaneous and just enjoy it too.

We're lucky that we can afford to travel, but as I said, sometimes it's fun just to be a tourist in your own city or province; there's also lots of free things to see and do. It comes back to priorities and perspective. I have no problem saving up for a trip because I know we will create memories and get rejuvenated by the break from our sometimes hectic lives.

I am grateful for: the opportunity to plan and go on vacations

We have the luxury of being able to go to most of the places we dream of going to. It's also the chance to travel with my husband and daughter that makes me grateful to have them.

Do you have something planned, something you're looking forward to?

Happy Monday (and last week of October!)
Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com

Day 18: So Much to Learn

In less than a year I have learned a lot from my daughter (too much to go through here). I thought I would be teaching her, but she is teaching me. Like my husband, she is also making me a better person. She causes me to slow down, drop what I'm doing and be in the moment; she helps me be mindful. She needs me to put her first. She teaches me patience, since things take longer when I need to get her ready, bring her along, stop mid-way through to help her, or completely abandon what I was doing when she wakes up. It's a new life! I do love it and I always wanted to be a mom, so I am very fortunate that I get to learn the role. I think it may be a lifelong lesson though.

Since I love quotes and don't have much time for this post, I figured I would include a few that speak to patience and learning from our mistakes. I have never really liked making mistakes (or asking for help), but I understand that they are learning opportunities. I hope I can help my daughter to see mistakes as opportunities or challenges to improve. We need to make mistakes to learn, so I am happy to have the chance to learn to be a mom (and learn to be a new version of myself). My perfectionist tendencies want me to succeed right away, but that isn't realistic, and sometimes good enough, is good enough.

I am grateful for: my daughter and all that she has taught me in her mere 11 months of life

What have you learned lately? (or what have you failed at and are attempting to learn from?).

Here's to personal growth and lifelong learning!

Steph Langdon, RD

www.nutrishus.com

Day 12: Living Mindlessly

I'm not sure when I 'decided' to be healthy. I think I'm just sort of a rule follower, so if someone tells me something is good for me (and it makes logical sense), I'm likely to try to integrate it into my life. It can be overwhelming, perhaps you've seen AJ Jacob's Ted Talk 'How healthy living nearly killed me'.



I grew up involved in many types of sports, which I think stemmed mostly from my peer group. I participated in softball, basketball, dance, cross country, track & field, badminton, and volleyball (or at least that's all I can think of right now). I also loved to be outside and preferred reading or crafting to watching tv (yup, that's still me). We ate well, but didn't discuss 'healthy' as far as I know. Pop or soda was for vacations and sugary cereal was for when our cousins visited, but those things weren't regularly in our house.

As I grew up and got more competitive in volleyball, I know we talked about nutrition a bit with my club team, mostly just no alfredo sauce and sugary drinks. I was active and growing, so I think the variety of foods I ate seemed to work out alright for me.

When I took the Nutrition 101 class in university I started to apply my knowledge at home right away. I had food skills and already liked to cook/bake, but I was starting to get a deeper understanding of food. I now work with teenagers a lot and I think it's great that they're getting nutrition information at such an important age.

I am grateful for: the healthy habits I already have

I drink caffeine and alcohol in moderation. I have never smoked a cigarette. I try to be active, and at least play with my daughter, walk the dog, or stretch on days that I can't do more. I try to get enough sleep and not watch screens too close to bedtime. I brush my teeth (I could be a better flosser). I love water. I enjoy grocery shopping and cooking. I have started to use more natural body care products and cleaning supplies since becoming pregnant almost 2 years ago now. I try to stress less (still not my best one), and our house location looking at nature really helps. I would however like to meditate regularly (it's on my to-do list). I don't use excessive amounts of sugar or salt, and actually find my taste buds are quite sensitive to them. I try to listen to my hunger and fullness cues, although I do tend to multitask through some meals. I include vegetables with our meals. I try and I keep trying...

I do give a conscious effort to many of these 'habits', but some are things I have been doing for a longer time, so they're easier. I also keep adding things, because I like goals and challenges. I aim to be mindful, but my biggest challenge with that is actually being in the moment and being content with how things are. Our house helps us to be healthy in a more mindless way, so it's easier, and I think that is a huge key to success, as well as a partner who supports my efforts and understands (or accepts) when I ask what veggie we're having with our perogies.

Habits take practice,
Take a small step towards the change you want.

Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com

Day 4: Best Version

I aim to inspire others to be the best version of themselves. I work daily to be the best me. I love goal setting. I love personal development. I am still figuring out who I am.

Even as a 30-something, I am still figuring life out. Although, perhaps it isn't meant to be figured out. Sort of like 'life has no meaning' - we as humans add the meaning.

I think part of my 'best version' philosophy comes from a desire to think about me, to not compare, to not try to be like others. I've always tried to be true to myself and be authentic. I wear my emotions on my sleeve, and pretty much 'what you see is what you get'. I actually didn't realize how much of an open book I was until former co-workers would comment on my personality and I would think, 'ya, they really know me'.

Having a daughter now also make me aware of the example I am setting for her. I want to be comfortable in my own skin and to me, that means knowing who I am. To be the best version of myself I 'need' a few things:

• quiet time/space (mindfulness) 
• organization (hence minimalism) 
• a sense of accomplishment 
• goals 

The people closest to me are likely very familiar with these parts of me. I'm the one that can't relax on the weekend until a few things on my to-do list get crossed off. Of course, motherhood has changed things, as I have less time for myself and rarely finish things.

I am grateful for: Me time

I may not always get it, but I have the privilege of having it. Whether it's time to sit in the tub, go for a walk/run or workout, or curl up with a cup of tea and a book. I know some people either don't have the luxury of this kind of leisure time, or haven't made it a priority, but I need it to be the best me.

I'm still not really sure what the best me means, but I work on it, so it fits the idea of 'progress, not perfection'. I know it means being active, eating well but with balance (moderation), reading, learning, relaxing, de-stressing, helping others, cooking, traveling, and sharing to inspire others (like this). I know I'm not there yet, but that kind of feels like the point?!

Do you have a best version of yourself? What does it mean to you?

Here's to you!
Steph Langdon, RD
www.nutrishus.com