Frequently asked questions

what is your professional designation?

My designation is Registered Holistic Nutritionist (R.H.N.), and Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant (C.H.N.C). I also hold a BA in International Relations (BA-IR) from UBC. I studied nutrition through the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, graduating with honors and remaining an active member of the CSNN Alumni Association. Other trainings I’ve taken that inform my work include: Transformational Eating, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-sensitive yoga training, Nonviolent Communication, Theta Healing, The Numinous School of Intuition, Marie Forleo’s Business School, and ADAPT Academy of Functional Medicine.

what will working with you achieve?

Holistic nutrition can empower you to feel in control of your health, listen to, and make informed decisions for your unique body, develop a toolbox to fall back on, outsource your overwhelm, develop discernment, gain control over symptoms, address dis-ease from the root, reduce risk of disease, clear your skin, increase energy levels, stabilize blood sugar, decrease inflammation, optimize digestion, performance, and quality of life, stabilize mood, regulate your nervous system, improve sleep, manage allergies, balance hormones, gain confidence, improve relationships, improve fitness, repair, regenerate, feel your best, invest in your future, reach your goals, and know your worth when you miss them, too. Most importantly, committing to your well-being can improve your relationship with you. Self-love is an unending well with powerful healing potential.

Will my appointment be confidential?

Absolutely. Appointments are completely confidential.

What issues can you help with?

Issues I can help with include (but aren’t limited to): fatigue, mood swings, indigestion, heartburn, bloating, anxiety, depression, insomnia, emotional eating,  pain and inflammation, autoimmune disease, injury recovery, performance, IBS, skin issues, heart disease, diabetes, hormonal imbalance, food allergies, low immunity, eating disorders, menopause, stress management, weight gain, chronic dis-ease, and emotional eating.

Will I have to change everything at once?

Progress over perfection is an adage you may hear me repeat. Studies show when we shrink the change we are more likely to move forward. You don’t have to get it perfect, you just have to get it going. In fact, dropping perfectionism is often how you do. So we go at the pace that works for you, your lifestyle, psychology, goals, and resources. You may be surprised how motivated you feel once you make a few small changes that yield noticeable results.

Can’t i just google healthy diet ideas?

This is a great question! The internet is full of health advice, some of it great, some not-so-much. Some information you find online can happen to be helpful, yet none of it is personalized to your unique biology, goals, symptoms, history, resources, history, or lifestyle, and lacks the benefits of interpersonal relationship, communication, trust, dialogue, motivation, and accountability. Since eating is something we do multiple times every day, it’s also a great opportunity to re-write limiting beliefs, improve your relationship with yourself, and nurture your inner child. This is something we can work on that is specific to your unique spirit.

Will meals be time consuming?

Meal timing will be completely catered to your resources and lifestyle. Many of my snack, meal, and swap-out ideas are quick and adaptable. My history of cooking for treeplanting camps, feeding my partner and I through packed schedules, eating on backcountry adventures, and working with busy clients have taught me many quick, time-saving tricks, batch-cooking techniques, preservation skills, and even a few reliable store-bought snacks and meal contributions.

I JUST WATCHED A DOCUMENTARY ON NETFLIX. ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME TO BE VEGAN OR VEGETARIAN?

I believe all diets can be plant-based, as long as they’re plant-centric. Rather than focusing on diet titles, my food philosophy centres around anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense, local, organic, seasonal, and delicious food that works for each unique individual and lifestyle. Animal products are nutrient-dense and, when high-quality and surrounded by veggies, are part of a healthy diet. I’m a big believer in helping clients find sources of quality meat - organic, grass-fed, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and humanely raised. It’s not the cow: it’s the how! That said, if you are vegan or vegetarian, or would like guidance to move in that direction, I am more than happy to work with your dietary preferences to make sure you are getting all the nutrients and blood sugar regulation you need, through both diet and supplementation. As a former vegetarian myself, I have plenty of experience in that realm.

Will food be boring?

No way! Food is meant to be delicious and celebratory, just like life. Many clients have been surprised to find that food gets more exciting as they learn new ways to shop, cook, and eat. Noticing improvements in mental and physical health, and relating them to what you are eating, can be fun, too! I continue to spend plenty of time in the kitchen experimenting so that you can take the guesswork out of making healthy food delicious. I’ve cooked for treeplanting camps and tasted my way through many cookbooks, so I have no shortage of tips, tricks, and recipes that make eating joyful and healing, too.

Will you tell me I can’t eat my favorite foods?

No. What I will do is piece together your health puzzle by asking the right questions, and if it appears there are foods that are causing inflammation, I may explain how or why, and suggest swap-out ideas at your discretion, in your time. My goal is for you to leave my office excited about all your meal options, not confused about what’s left to eat.

I’m on medication. Can I still use food to feel better?

Yes, absolutely. Holistic nutrition can mitigate the undesirable side effects medications can come with. Holistic nutrition also helps you feel your best, and address root-cause issues while utilizing medication to ease symptoms. Holistic nutrition and mainstream medicine collaborate well together. We can incorporate the benefits of both worlds!

WILL I FEEL JUDGED OR UNCOMFORTABLE?

I aim for my practice to be judgement-free. The tenet of my practice is a motivational-interviewing style informed by trauma awareness. That means I will always ask your permission before exploring topics further, allow you to lead the conversation with your responses, and never judge you. You are the expert on your own body, and an empathic, supportive, directive counselling style provides conditions under which change can occur, all while accepting you right where you’re at.