being a dietitian in a world of influencers and low carb diets…
I’ve always found it really frustrating to work as a dietitian. Like really frustrating.
I can recount the number of good interactions I’ve had over my past eight years of experience in the time it takes to make some lovely scrambled eggs with a side of toast, cream cheese, and guava jam.
I went into this field because nutrition and how food can effect health was really interesting to me, and I wanted to help others learn how to eat better and improve their lives, as well.
However, once I started working in different areas of dietetics — inpatient, outpatient, clinics, classes, one on one counseling sessions, creating meal plans, eating disorder programs — it became clear that hardly anyone wanted to listen to what I had to say.
The principles and basics that I tried to teach were often met with doubt, skepticism, incredulity.
I could almost see the dialogue bubbles floating above my audience’s heads: “She looks too young to know what she’s talking about”, “That’s not what my doctor told me”, “That’s not what my favorite podcast guy or Instagram influencer said”, “She’s talking about how good carbs are, she’s definitely a fake”…. and the list goes on.
Throughout the years, I’ve blamed the lack of connection with my clients on my poor communication skills, looking younger than my age, my lack of fashion sense, because I wear glasses, my unruly hair, the temperature in the room, my poor posture, my lack of social skills, the time of day, you name it.
But even after years of actively trying to improve all of the above mentioned areas that I believed myself to be lacking in, I still to this day encounter individuals who not only disagree but firmly discredit anything I have to say on the subject of nutrition.
Why believe the girl who says carbs are good for you, when Gerry the Gym Bro says to avoid them at all costs in order to be ripped like he is??
And I get it, it’s hard to change your beliefs. It’s hard to trust someone you don’t know.
It’s easier to do your own research, find answers that align with what you already know, and trust that attractive influencer who has the body you want and at least 10k followers.
a visual representation of the dialogue bubbles above my audience’s head….
This was something I realized a few years ago — that people will listen if they discover it on their own terms — so I decided to try my hand at being an online nutrition influencer of sorts.
I made a website, tried posting on Instagram and Youtube, tried different types of posts and reels and videos. Proceeded to delete everything, doubt myself, start over several times, and now, here we are again.
Trying out Substack. Making blogs. Thinking of making funny videos about nutrition (?) Grocery store comparison videos in spanish (?) Honestly, not sure yet lol.
Perhaps the problem really is just me. Maybe I’m just not cut out to be a dietitian or nutritionist or influencer, and honestly, I’d be okay with that…
Except for the fact that, despite my love-hate relationship with dietetics and even after all my frustrations and failures, there’s still one common denominator through it all — I really do want everyone to be able to know how to eat healthfully, how to eat balanced meals, still enjoy their favorite foods and the foods of their culture, not have to stress over what’s right or wrong, and just be able to eat in a way that promotes their best life.
That’s my sincerest hope for you, your loved ones, your children, your friends.
There are so many diseases and illnesses that come from poor nutrition or from focusing on the wrong thing in nutrition, and it’s unfair for someone to suffer because of that when eating healthy and living well should be accessible knowledge for everyone.
So even though I am highly annoyed at how many times I want to keep trying to make this work and at how many times people don’t take me seriously, I’m going to keep trying to have the truth about nutrition heard.
This post is kind of my way back in to writing more blogs, trying again, keeping myself accountable.
And even if no one is initially listening, I hope it does find its audience eventually.
As a thank you for reading my beginning of the year rant (my apologies, future posts will be focused on nutrition and encouragement and supporting you, I promise), here are 5 little tips for you to get started on a healthier way of eating and living, if that’s something you’ve been looking for:
start your day with at least 1 cup of water
breakfast within an hour or two after waking and before any caffeine
walk / stretch for about 5 minutes every hour, it’s good for your metabolism and your mood
include protein and fiber with every meal
be attentive to your day, life is happening all around you not on the screen of your phone