Today’s blog post is a little different. Usually, I dive into a nutrition topic – such as Nutrition For Insulin Resistance or The Cortisol - Belly Fat Connection. Instead, today I’m taking the opportunity to share a bit about myself. About my journey as a dietitian. About how I’ve come to my unique take on eating and health by combining the science of nutrition, the science of behaviour change, and the psychology of food. How I use this wide range of knowledge to help clients, from kids with picky eating behaviour, to adults looking to take control of cravings and create healthy eating habits ..read more

You likely know that your overeating of sugar and other ultra-processed foods (cookies, cupcakes, potato chips, etc) isn’t healthy. These foods contribute to inflammation and excess weight. If you’re like my clients, you’ve tried to quit eating them. And while you can resist them for a while, sooner or later you find yourself craving them. You say to yourself “I don’t care”. And, you go back to them with a vengeance – you don’t just eat one cookie, you eat an entire box. This cycle may make you wonder if you have a sugar addiction. I’ve helped hundreds of people take control of cravings. To b ..read more

I was planning to write about cortisol for the next post in this blog series on hormones. But I realized that two dietitians beat me to it. Amusingly, both are named Abby (well, Abbey and Abby to be specific). Their articles give a thorough breakdown of the role that cortisol plays in our bodies. The connection between cortisol and weight gain – particularly belly weight. And, nutrition strategies that can have an impact. Also, they take a look at the scientific evidence for specific diets and supplements that the internet claims can “fix cortisol quick”. So, instead of recreating the wheel ..read more

Insulin’s primary role is to control your blood sugar. I’ll get into more about insulin in a minute. But first, a quick orientation. This is the second in a series of posts where we dive into specific hormones and their connection with nutrition. (Check out the first article on thyroid hormones.) Why am I doing this series? Because “hormones” is one of the latest buzzwords in health on the internet. And, there’s both truth and manipulation intertwined in those messages. In this series, I’m teasing out the scientific evidence so you can spot the manipulation. Let’s start with a definition of h ..read more

What does your thyroid do? In short, your thyroid’s main role is to control your metabolism. I’ll get into more about thyroid hormones in a minute. But first, a quick orientation. This is the first in a series of posts where we dive into specific hormones and the connection with nutrition. Why am I doing this series? Because “hormones” is one of the latest buzz words in health on the internet. And, there’s both truth and manipulation intertwined in those messages. In this series I’m teasing out the scientific evidence so you can spot the manipulation. Let’s start with a definition of hormones ..read more

Lately I’ve had a number of conversations with people who are looking for help with their nutrition because “my hormones are out of balance”. When I ask them how they’ve come to the conclusion that their hormones are out of balance, they have very vague answers. With this beginning to be a trend, I knew that I wanted to share it with you. To separate the facts from fiction. In this post I share what hormones are. Their function in the body. And, how I’ll be writing a series of blog posts that dive into how nutrition interacts with hormones.   Why Are People Thinking That Their Hormones A ..read more

Makes 1 mug  I’ve been sharing this recipe with a lot of clients lately and they’ve found it the perfect warm, comforting solution. So, I wanted to share it with you. This recipe is so simple that it barely qualifies as a recipe. But I wanted to share it because it’s a great way to satisfy a sugar craving with barely any sugar. It makes a hot cocoa that my fellow dark chocolate lovers will enjoy. Use this as a technique more than a recipe. Adjust it to suit your tastes. For example, make it vegan by using a plant-based milk alternative and maple syrup. Want a stronger chocolatey flavour ..read more

It’s the time of year for weight loss. Social media feeds are full of diets and 30-Day Challenges. Gyms are bursting at the seams. Many organizations are running New Year’s weight loss challenges. With weekly weigh-ins and prizes for those who lose the most weight. In this article I share why despite these organizations’ good intentions, weight loss challenges have a negative impact on health, and perhaps employee morale. Many workplace weight loss challenges are inspired by the Biggest Loser reality TV show that started in 2004 and ran for 17 years. It made for popular TV. But is it really h ..read more

In my opinion, everyone should have a great chili recipe in their repertoire. As my Grandmother would say, It’s the perfect cold day “stick to your ribs” food. Chili is also a filling and delicious way to incorporate more plant-based foods and beans/lentils into your eating habits. This chili, that fantastic dietetic student Olivia has created, takes a twist with coconut milk. Thank you Olivia! Vegan Chili Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 1 white onion (chopped) 3 garlic cloves (minced) 2 stalks celery (chopped) 1 bell pepper (chopped) ½  jalapeno pepper 19 oz can chickpeas 14oz can kidney ..read more

Women leaders are leaving their organizations in the highest rates in years. Why? Because they’re burnt out. The good news is that nutrition can help prevent this outcome. Why are women leaders burning out? They take on unrecognized work to support their team member’s well-being. On top of that, women at all levels are far more likely than men to be responsible for most, or all, of their family’s housework and caregiving. Not surprisingly, they burn out. That’s one of the findings from the 2022 Women in the Workplace study by McKinsey and Company – the largest study to date of women in corpor ..read more