Like many dietitians, my interest in nutrition began in the kitchen.
From a young age, food and its preparation always brought me joy. My mother always welcomed me to join her in cooking. That was where I first learned about the different tastes and textures of foods.
As I grew older, I began to enjoy the creative part of cooking. This creativity developed each summer as I would spend hours in the kitchen. There are countless memories of my innocent missteps in the kitchen, such as my attempt to make rose water (turns out you can’t just boil petals).
Though I always loved food, I didn't immediately plan on going into nutrition. Instead, I thought of medicine. I was fascinated by the internal systems that regulate the body, so got a degree in physiology.
The next step in my mind was to become a doctor. I was interested in diabetes and knew I wanted to help individuals with diabetes manage their health. I assumed a medical degree was the only way to help. Thankfully, I learned about nutrition and dietetics.
What draws me to nutrition is the power of food and its impact on our health. Food is one of the three essential things for our existence. Without air, water or food, we can no longer live. Our bodies are built from the food we eat. Food provides the nutrients that make up our cells, and tissues, and allows our body to grow, heal, and maintain. Nutrition is at the heart of many of the chronic diseases that are plaguing our modern populations.
While nutrition has a significant scientific basis, it is also an art. There is great creativity in composing dishes with different colours, textures, and flavours.
Nutrition is also humanistic. Food gives us pleasure; it evokes memories; it defines who we are and the cultures we are from; it can be a distraction; it can be an adventure.
As a dietitian, I want to share my knowledge and also inspire others to have a more nourished life. To help my clients living with chronic conditions renew their relationship with food so that through eating whole and natural foods, they can reclaim their health and rediscover the pleasure in eating, one bite at a time.
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