Becoming a Dietitian
One of the most common questions I get asked is “why did you become a dietitian”. This is a loaded question for me because there are several areas of nutrition that have impacted me throughout my life. Here’s my story.
It started out with a passion for sports nutrition. I grew to love track and field in middle school and this sparked an interest in using food to help fuel our bodies to better perform. This is when I knew I wanted to become a dietitian and the passion never died down from there.
High school came around and what started out as good intentions of getting stronger, and healthier turned into an obsession and eating disorder. I was truly afraid of food and felt guilty when eating.
I strived to be perfect in what I ate, how I exercised, and how my body looked. Fighting against hunger, over-exercising, and obsessing over the way I ate were a few of my efforts to become perfect. What I thought would give me a life of happiness and freedom led me to a constant cycle of fear, shame, and guilt.
Through my faith and knowledge in nutrition - I began to see the reality of my heart, that I am a sinful, prideful, and imperfect person seeking love and perfection that can only be found in Jesus.
When we surrender our lives to Christ, we are made perfect through him, our identity is in Him, not in the numbers on the scale. I learned how to honor the body God gave me by nourishing it with food and by exercising for enjoyment in Him and His glory. I stand in awe thinking about food, that it is a GOOD and precious gift from God. No longer living life in fear and guilt.
I saw firsthand how nutrition misinformation through fad diets and fear-mongering food can lead to dangerous behaviors. If we listened to everyone on social media telling us what not to eat - we would literally have nothing left to eat!
You can enjoy all your favorite foods (even the less nutritious ones) and still have a healthy diet. I want you to make your food decisions based on facts and not fear.
After years of disordered eating, I was left with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (very common!). By working with a Gastroenterologist and Dietitian I was able to better manage IBS! I have a huge passion and heart for those suffering from digestive health. If you feel lost, unheard, frustrated, and defeated in your digestive health, I have been there and I want to help you!
I will not only take into account nutrition but lifestyle factors such as sleep, stress, and exercise that contribute to your overall health. We will work together, you will be listened to and heard, and all recommendations will be tailored to you and your situation.
I guide my practice in the belief that food is a good gift from God as long as we are not consumed by it. “Clean” eating, body image, and using food as comfort can all be idols that lead to destruction and defeat. Our motivation in nutrition isn’t our own comfort, self-righteousness, or stress relief, but that God would be magnified. (1 Corinthians 10:31).
As Christians, we are stewards of priceless gifts. Our bodies can be more or less useful depending on how we take care of them. Good nutrition and exercise are one way for us to be good stewards. It is my goal to walk alongside and guide you to create realistic and sustainable changes for better health.
You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
If you are interested in how to get started in making realistic, sustainable changes for greater health - I encourage you to schedule a call with me so we can talk about your dietary needs, goals, and concerns. Click here to get something on the calendar!
