Happy Wednesday and what also happens to be NATIONAL REGISTERED DIETITIAN DAY! It comes around once a year and is basically one of the best days ever. 😛 Okay that could be a bit of a stretch but I thought I would take this opportunity to tell you about my journey to becoming a dietitian.
I’ll have to also admit upfront that I’ve missed blogging. I’m at 36 weeks pregnant and I am without a doubt…tired. My full time job is not exactly strenuous but it’s enough to wipe me out at the end of the day. That being said, I’m glad to share this post today even though I’m exhausted. If you want to read more about my first trimester (here) or the second trimester (here) click those links!
When I graduated from high school I went to visit my sisters at Central Michigan University (CMU). One of my sisters, Kelsey, was in a basic nutrition course and we had to talk to a nearby building for her to drop off homework or something. We met her professor who would quickly win me over as my advisor, mentor and eventual friend. We spoke so briefly but the day (or maybe first month) I started college I signed my major and started working towards becoming a dietitian.
Fast forward through my four years of school, I applied for my dietetic internships (a matching process) and was granted a spot with CMU. I lived in Midland, Michigan on my own for the first time (after having been an RA for 3 years) and it was one of the toughest but best years of my life. I made new friends, had an amazing time going through my various rotations, and even dealt with having an emergency appendectomy. One year of hands-on training (the internship) and countless flashcards later…I took my exam RD exam and passed!
It took about six months for me to get my first official RD job which was with a local YMCA where I taught Cooking Matters in my home community. I loved that position and loved getting the chance to feel like I was right in the heart of my hometown helping those in need. You can learn more about Cooking Matters here.
Zoom forward a few more years and I’m working with Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital! This is where I’m still currently employed and I love the work that I’m doing.
As a dietitian, I see it is as my personal mission to help people navigate the world of nutrition. I see and hear the nutrition noise that is out there and all I want to do is help people understand it and find what works best for them. There is no one size fits all approach when it comes to nutrition, but my approach towards every single client is to show kindness and understanding.
Kindness is the most important thing to me. It’s important to show and express and to listen with kindness. To be there for people, to help them take small steps towards better and sustainable health, and to help them find their path that works for them. If you follow me on Instagram or you’ve been following here, you know I’m also passionate about helping people learn how to reduce their guilt around food. Our culture makes that incredibly difficult but I’ll keep fighting to help you push through.
So to all of my amazing registered dietitian friends out there – happy RD day to you! May you celebrate those credentials and find your path that fuels you.
Questions on my journey? Comment below! I’m all ears 🙂
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