Many times, people will ask me “How did you become so passionate about food and nutrition?” Here’s my long story, short…

 

I’ve struggled with my weight all of my life; since the age of 8 to be exact.  As a small child, I was stripped of my natural instincts of satiety when my maternal grandmother taught me the “Clean Plate Theory.” I had to eat everything on my plate, no matter whether I was full, or not.  Initially, it was torture because I really wasn’t a big eater.  But soon it became a habit that I could not break.  It was also an aim to please and a way of being obedient to the rules set forth by my elders.

Growing up as an overweight child was an emotional, and physical, challenge. I grew up never being a part of any team sports and never being picked to be a part of the team in gym class.  As a teenager, I suffered from distorted body image as my weight yo-yo’d up and down while I dieted constantly to lose weight.  But no matter how big or small I was, I always saw a “Fat Girl” in the mirror.

 

Throughout my college years, my weight continued to fluctuate up and down as I continued on my own personal journey to beat my weight issue.  It was in college where I decided to become a dietitian, instead of a pediatrician, because I became more interested in preventing disease than treating it. I also wanted to heal my own body and finally solve my own fluctuating weight issue for good.

 

One of the very first food and nutrition influences in my life was my aunt, and she is why I’m now known as the Compassionate Nutritionist.  She was then what we call today “an eco-conscious, whole food-loving, yoga-practicing, health enthusiast.” I spent many, many days and nights at her house seeing her grow alfalfa sprouts in her fridge, make nothing other than whole wheat pancakes for breakfast, and bake fresh bread by hand.  All of her furniture was made from natural fibers and she often practiced yoga in my presence.  I had no idea that all of this would be woven into the fibers of my own being in such a way that I’m doing all of those exact things myself, and more.

 

In my personal and professional life, I encourage those that cross my path to honor themselves through honoring nature and all that is natural in life.  As the Compassionate Nutritionist, I teach women to become healthy and whole again by getting back to the basics.  I help them heal their relationship with food by making lifestyle choices that are basic and simple, yet they’re lifestyle choices that we’ve all fallen away from in today’s hectic and chaotic lifestyle.