What does a day in the life of Kelly look like?

I am currently managing an amazing interdisciplinary team of dietitians, diabetes educators, psychologists, nurse practitioners, surgeons, and support staff at Legacy Weight and Diabetes Institute. Due to the diverse mix of professionals in my clinic, no two days are alike, but most days include meetings of some sort; the focus is always different but endlessly interesting. Meetings might include a discussion of the psychological measure that best assesses a patient for bariatric surgery, how do we best improve peri-operative and post-operative glucose control, or how do we meaningfully produce outcomes of diabetes self-management education. My clinical background always helps me understand and facilitate the discussion but operationalizing ideas has meant constant learning.

If you could give one piece of advice to a dietetic intern, or someone who is interested in becoming an RD, what would it be?

Never stop learning. An important piece of advice given to me early in my dietetic education, I would not be in the position I am in if I did not regularly find ways to learn about my next job. In rural areas and even in specialties dietitian’s don’t always have a mentor that can teach them the ropes. A dietitian’s education prepares them to have a broad understanding of nutrition in different settings but does not prepare one to work in specialty fields per se. Continuing to learn may come in many forms and does not always need to be in the classroom or a conference. When I started in bariatric surgery there were no courses or conferences for dietitians and my learning came from literature searches, attending journal clubs with other disciplines and asking colleagues questions.

What would you consider to be the best part of your job?

The team that I manage – the creativity, passion, innovation, work ethic, and near obsession they have for helping people overcome enormous challenges is ever-rewarding. It is a fascinating time to work in health care, especially within Oregon, chronic disease, and health care reform. I am fascinated with the current confluence of efforts to improve the cost, equality, and quality of health care, and there is no better lens to view this change than working in a clinic that supports people with complex and costly chronic diseases.

What books have shaped you and your practice the most?

Most of my books come from the library so some influential books are not pictured. I have also been hugely influenced by my current colleagues and am constantly exposed to great articles and films within our office chats.

When I first started in bariatric surgery, the books Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD and Elyse Resch, MS, RD, FADA,  and Moving Away From Diets by Karin Kratina, PhD,RD, Nancy L. King, MS,RD,CDE, and Dayle Hayes, MS,RD were so helpful in giving patients new tools beyond the nutrition education they had received in the past. Most people showed a visible sign of relief once they practiced some of the principles from these books.

The End of Overeating by David Kessler, MD and The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan broadened my perspective on personal choice versus environmental and policy influences in nutrition. While my decision to return to school for an MPH was hugely inspired by Paul Farmer, both Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder about his work, and Pathologies of Power written by him were important to me.

Most recently The Textbook of International Health, utilized in my last public health course, has me really reconsidering how the world works, particularly when improving health around the globe is your goal.

What is your favorite travel spot?

I have many favorite travel spots but one that has always remained at the top is Nepal. I had the good fortune of traveling there when I finished college, I spent a month trekking around the Himalayan mountain, Anapurna. I was fascinated by the scenery, the people and their way of life and the influence of so many western travelers.

What do you do to de-stress or find balance in your life?

Coping with stress is an ever present issue for me right now as I am still fairly new at managing, I am commuting to Corvallis for my graduate program, and remodeling my house with my husband. About a year ago I took a Behavior Change Theory class from a specialist in stress at PSU and my perspective on coping was forever changed. I am now so much more aware of others responses to stress, and I am attentive to what I can learn from them. I would not say that I truly “de-stress or find balance in my life” but I know that laughter, social support, nutrition, nature, and physical activity are key to my health, managing stress, and so much more. I am fortunate to have friends and family that make me laugh but also engage me in interesting conversation. Friends and family will join me for pilates, yoga, hikes, snowboarding, swimming, biking, rafting, and any number of other exhilarating activities. I find peace in nature and look for opportunities to enjoy what it provides, whether it’s a walk to a park at lunch, gardening in my yard, or a bike ride near the river. Sometimes I even get away for a weekend in the woods, mountains or near the ocean.

How did you end up in Portland?

For a little over a year I had the great fortune of working as a dietitian in New Zealand, and I felt as though I learned more in that year than I did in the entire 4 years in school. In addition, I had fallen in love with rainy but green winters, bug-free summers and mountains and the ocean for convenient recreation. The expiration date on my visa and a return to Wisconsin led to a careful consideration of the next step. My husband and I took a close look at lifestyle, climate, community values, outdoor recreation, and job options. After an interview with Legacy I was offered a job as a bariatric dietitian, so that sealed our fate in Portland. This is not somewhere I “ended up” but somewhere I chose to be and I am so pleased that I did. This community has provided such a positive influence, both personally and professionally.

What is your favorite local Portland business and why?

Cistus Nursery on Sauvie’s Island; they have some of the most unique plants, and whether I am planning a new landscape or just want something beautiful to look at, they never disappoint.

What’s on your bucket list?

• Work internationally again: The focus of my MPH is international health and I hope to blend that with my dietetics degree to help those with malnutrition or diabetes. I am willing to go just about anywhere!
• Become a pilot: I started a pilot’s license several years ago but could not afford to finish, one day I will.
• Learn at least 1 other language.

….And so many others, but these are the things I keep thinking about as of right now.

What does your day as a dietitian look like?

I am a Registered Dietitian and the Hospitality Suite and EPIC System Adminstrator for the 5 Legacy hospitals within the Portland Metro area. This entails an extensive knowledge of both programs and how to run and troubleshoot the day to day business. I work closely with our IT department on upgrades to these applications, to assist with problem solving program errors and glitches and making sure that these applications can run smoothly. I also work closely with the executive chef on creating new menus and recipes that meet a vast range of dietary needs and build this data along with the nutritional and allergen information within Hospitality Suite to ensure that the patients are getting their prescribed diet recommendations from their doctor.  Furthermore, I also assist our chef in food tastings with our Speech Pathologist colleagues to certify that what we are serving is safe for our patients who are on modified textured diets. In addition to this daily work, I also help to implement these programs throughout the 5 hospitals.

Recently Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center moved away from their cook/chill food system and implemented room service. With this change, I had to make sure that we did a wide-range of testing with all of the application changes that were made to help run this program smoothly including making sure that the diets and allergens interfaced from EPIC to Hospitality Suite, that the patient’s pertinent medical information interfaced, that the printers were appropriately built and printing for room service at each cooks’ station as well as provide initial and on-going training to the kitchen staff and supervisors to run both Hospitality Suite and EPIC.

This position provides a lot of flexibility which allows me to work from home a couple days a week with the ongoing build and maintenance of these computer applications. Because of this I am lucky enough to have a nanny take care of my daughter, along with my nephew, at our house and am able to take part in their activities whether it is art time, snack time or their daily walk.

I love being able to watch my daughter learn and grow and to know that I am not missing out on what a lot of parents might be missing out on. Also, with being a Registered Dietitian, I can educate our nanny on healthy eating habits for the kids and providing balance for their meals and snacks. In the mornings, we make them smoothies using our Vitamix which we LOVE!  It is such a great way to give ourselves and the kids fruits and vegetables. It’s all about making food fun and tasty!

If you could give one piece of advice to a dietetic intern, or someone who is interested in becoming an RD, what would it be?

I was once told as an intern that it is very valuable to work in the clinical setting initially to build upon your education, in addition to expanding your networking, as it will only help you to better understand the science behind what we do and educate on, as well as provide you with expertise on different ways to problem solve and review cases with other professionals, as well as obtain continuing education. With that being said, I have also passed this information on to interns.

What would you consider to be the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is the flexibility it provides. I can work both on and off-site because of the flexible hours. When I am off-site I will work from home throughout the day and evening and still have the ability to go downstairs to watch and play with my daughter which is very important to me. I do most of my work on the computer so it allows for being able to move around as needed. I also get to work at multiple sites which affords me the opportunity to network with other professionals as well as experience a different sense of scenery.

If you could change one thing about the nutrition/dietetics world, what would it be?

If I could change one thing it would be that only a Registered Dietitian could give expert nutrition advice to clients/patients. I find it so disturbing to hear some of the things people are told by “nutritionists” who have limited to no nutrition education background. Because of this, I feel like I have to constantly re-educate even family members when they say certain things that they read in a magazine or saw on TV. I understand that not everything is inaccurate but, for example, people seem to pick up on the “tips and tricks” from any topic including losing 10 lbs in one day and keep it off to looking like a super model in just 2 weeks where a lot of times inaccurate and unsafe information is given out to the public. It’s very frustrating.

What books have shaped you and your practice the most?

Super Baby Food: Absolutely Everything You Should Know About Feeding Your Baby And Toddler From Starting Solid Foods To Age Three Years, Ruth Yaron

Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual, Michael Pollan

Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works, Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD and Elyse Resch, MS, RD, FADA

The New American Diet Cookbook by Sonja and William Connor

Tell us about your favorite vacation.

I would have to say that one of my most favorite vacations was a cruise that I went on with my sister and aunt through the Mediterranean. We got to visit so many places throughout Italy and then ended our cruise in Barcelona where we extended our trip to explore the city and it’s surroundings. Some of the highlights were visiting Rome and an ancient city called Herculaneum that was destroyed by Mt. Vesuvius and later rediscovered and excavated. It was so fascinating to see that people were so advanced and lived essentially as we do today over 2000 years ago!

What do you do to de-stress or find balance in your life?

To de-stress and find balance in my life it is very important for me to spend time with my family. Seeing the smiles and silly actions of my daughter would brighten up anyone’s day. She is truly my happiness! I also love to go to my parents’ house and hang out or craft with my mom. We love to sew and actually have taken many classes over the past 6 years. We recently have also taken a series of cake decorating classes, and I can’t wait to test my skills! I just find it so nice to be able to step away from work (and being on a computer) to just experience life on a daily basis because the time just goes by way too fast.

How would your friends and family describe you?

Friends and family would probably best describe me as fun, outgoing, very friendly, and crafty.

How did you end up in Portland?

I was born in Milwaukie, OR and only ever moved away for a brief period to take my first RD job in Olympia, WA at St. Peter Hospital. I now reside in Oregon City, OR.

What is your favorite local Portland business and why?

My favorite local Portland business would have to be Sweet Jayne off of Broadway in NE. It is a boutique clothing store that offers current fashionable styles at very affordable prices! I could lose myself in there for hours just trying on different outfit combinations, and the staff there are so friendly to work with and have a true fashion sense as to what would and would not look good on different body types.

What is the last book you read for fun? Would you recommend this book?

Other than reading MANY children’s books on a daily basis, I did take some time out for myself to read the New York Times best seller Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. It was a really good book and easy read. I am excited for the follow up book, Walking Disaster to come out next month!! I would definitely recommend this book to others!

How has your world changed since your PortlandRD feature?

My world is very different today than when I was first interviewed by PortlandRD. At the time of my first interview, I was still working multiple jobs while growing my start up company, Healthy Grocery Girl. Since then I have quit my second jobs and now my full time and attention is put towards Healthy Grocery Girl! I was starting to see that, although I would have to take a significant initial pay cut by not working multiple jobs, that I was actually delaying the growth of my business, because I was not able to give my full time and attention to the growth of HGG. So I financially and mentally prepared to take the leap, and I did it!

Did anyone ever recognize you from PortlandRD?

Actually many people did! I have received many emails from girls and women saying how much they loved my PortlandRD article & that it inspired them. They were very impressed with my honesty about my past eating disorders, my openness about my faith, and also the mission of my business, Healthy Grocery Girl. One of the women who contacted me because of PortlandRD, now works with me at Healthy Grocery Girl!

What’s new with Healthy Grocery Girl?

A lot of good things!

I officially launched the first Healthy Grocery Girl Products! A line of Plant Protein and Greens Powder perfect for making nourishing and satisfying green smoothies. I have a signature recipe, which is my Green Goodness Smoothie. I make this for myself everyday for breakfast. It is just a powerhouse of nutrition, energy and it also helps my skin stay fresh and have a good glow!

I now am also a regular guest on ABC’s local KATU-AM NW show where I serve as a nutrition expert. I am also a spokeswoman for goodnessknows snack squares, a healthy new snack available to the Portland Market! And I will be serving as the Nutrition Expert for Mrs. Oregon’s 2013 non-profit, “Movin’ It with Mrs. Oregon”, a campaign designed to promote healthy habits in children through fun fitness and nutrition education.

With all that’s happening, how do you stay balanced?

Exercise is really important for me. I try and do some type of exercise every morning whether that is going to the gym, a quick jog outside or my latest favorite is my, “Lazy Pajama Workout!” It’s about doing what is realistic, that’s the only way you’ll actually continue with something. When it’s early and cold outside, I just walk into my living room, turn on some music, and do a 20-30 minute circuit of squats, lunges, jumping jacks, planks and some free weights or push ups! It gets my heart rate up really fast and it’s also very practical. It’s better than skipping the gym all together! I also love snowboarding so I look forward to playing on the mountain this winter, fresh air and outdoors just make me come alive!

I read a devotional each morning to get my head and heart right for the day. Simple verses and quotes are great to cling to through out the day, such as, “Your future is as bright as your faith”.

Another thing about staying balanced is being ok to say “no” to things. One saying I love is, “Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should”.

There are many opportunities and things that we can do and be involved in. But if we are not careful we can become over-committed and run down. If all the things we are doing, are not the right things for us to do, we then can become frustrated, resentful and wondering why we don’t feel satisfied, fulfilled or are not reaching our goals.

I am very busy, and I love to be, it is part of my personality to be creative and building things. But I have to be very careful on what I say yes to, so that I am energized and satisfied by my work, not drained.

For both my business and my professional career, I daily am learning when to say yes and when to say no.

Sleep is also really important to me. It’s not ideal for a startup CEO to need 9 hours of sleep a night, but I can’t function without it.

And lastly, I use a big white board wall in my office where each Sunday night I write out the most important things I need to do each day for the upcoming week. Then each day I just follow my list. It helps me stay focused on one task at a time and also feel great that I accomplished what I set out to do each day.

All these things help me stay balanced!

What advice do you have for a new grad?

I get a lot of emails from new grads actually interested in my business and my career path. I am often happy and willing to lend some time to talk with girls about the path of an RD and the honesty and hard work of owning a business, if that is the desire.

It sounds really cool to be your own boss. But I work harder at being my own “boss” than I have at any other job. Dreams don’t work unless you do! But if you are not afraid of hard work, and if you are passionate about what you do, it is more than worth it.

So if I was to give advice to anyone right out of college and wanting to start a business, I would really make sure that the business you want to start is one that you are meant to do and wildly passionate about. A business, a career, that you would do even if no one paid you, and definitely a job you will not get sick of in a few years. Then learn all that you can about your field, your business, and just business in general. And lastly, don’t be afraid to make mistakes and fail along the way. One of my favorite quotes is, “If you are not failing on a daily basis, then your goals are not ambitious enough”. Fail your way to success. It means you are trying, it means you are growing.

If you want to become an RD and not start your own business, I would encourage you to talk to some other RD’s in fields you are interested in. I originally wanted to be an obstetrician, then a labor and delivery nurse, then a clinical RD. I realized along the way with each of those career dreams that
although they sounded like great jobs, they didn’t fit my true personality or passions. I was meant to do what I am doing right now.

It’s rare to know what you are called to do at a young age, so it’s ok if you are still searching. But if you are tenacious to discover what that is, and you are not afraid of living a life that is unconventional, then you can really make a living doing whatever you are passionate about. To me that is success!

Any new blogs or websites that you follow frequently?

I do love Pinterest. It is probably a scam created by men to get women to bake, clean, and do more DIY projects, just kidding, but it’s a genius website! It’s also the best distraction ever so I have to be careful there.

4wordwomen.org is another website and local organization I love. 4words connects, supports and leads women in business who are working to achieve their God-given potential.

I also just stumbled across Under 30 CEO. I love reading stories about other young entrepreneurs and how they balance life, work, and run their start ups.

Are there any areas of nutrition that you have found yourself more passionate about lately?

I am very passionate about nutrition education through media such as television, radio, speaking and writing. I love individual coaching, but there is only so much time in the day for me to see people, so my scope of reaching people will always be limited because the hours in a day are limited. Media allows me to reach millions (one day!). One of my personal career goals is to have my own nutrition and health related show. I have many ideas for this career goal, so I am working hard and waiting for opportunity and hard work to meet paths so I can continue to fulfill my calling!

Another area I am passionate about is getting rid of the whole diet mentality. I think it’s very common for people to think that when they meet with a Dietitian, they will be put on a diet. I mean, it’s a part of our title!

I personally hate diets, and my approach is very different. Even for people that have a lot of weight to lose, it is never just about the calories. When you lose a lot of weight by dieting, are you happier? Is your life better? Do you get a better job, marriage, career, more money? There is a whole lifestyle that goes with being healthier and restoring our body. A true transformation comes through an entire healthy lifestyle change, and respecting and loving our body, not just dieting.

Which means that you don’t have to be a size 2 to be healthy, beautiful and talented! Skinny does not mean healthy. Once we truly care about ourselves, we then take better care of our world, in all areas, and make better choices overall for a happy and fulfilling life. I help people everyday lose weight and regain their health, and none of them are dieting.

Photo credit:  Top photo  Cully Wright Photography

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with Dana Sturtevant, MS, RD,
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May 17-19, 2013
Portland, OR

What Motivates Change? Translating Theory Into Practice
Friday, May 17 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. &
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What does a day in the life of Sonja Connor, MS, RD look like?

Most days start with a cup of coffee, bowl of oatmeal with blackberries and The Oregonian. Twice a week I take a 5-mile walk up the hill and around Fairmount Blvd with friends.

Four days a week I’m off to OHSU, where I am involved in conference calls related to volunteer work with The Academy Foundation and Research Committee, planning and teaching the nutrition elective for medical students, working with the medical student nutrition interest group, chairing committee meetings to stimulate outcomes research, helping nutrition masters students with their thesis projects, and serving on the OHSU Committee on Nutrition Education for Health Care Professionals that will facilitate the integration of nutrition education for health care professionals throughout the greater OHSU community.

One day a week I go to Hillsboro where I am the home school teacher (Ms. Frizzle) for four grandkids (Zach – 15, PJ – 14, Gabriel – 11 and Jessica – 7). Tuesday evening and Friday noon I attend a yoga class.

I also attend meetings of the Oregon Academy Policy Team, Portland Homeless Family Solutions, the downtown shelter for homeless families (I am the chair of the Board of Directors), Willamette View, Inc. (I am a member of the Board of Directors), or the First United Methodist Church (Adult ministries committee and the book club)

At the end of the day, I watch the news and read a book!

What books have shaped you and your practice the most?

The Bible with its great stories and the incomparable example of Jesus’ life and teachings about how to live and love.

Diet for a Small Planet, Frances Moore Lappe and Laurel’s Kitchen, Laurel Robertson, Carol Flinders, and Bronwen Godfrey: These books came out in the 60s, which pretty well dates me! I was a research dietitian at the Clinical Research Center, The University of Iowa. We were doing studies on heart disease and advising patients about eating to lower their LDL cholesterol levels. We dietitians were greatly inspired by the idea of eating lower on the food chain by focusing on whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruits.

Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser: I grew up on the plains of Western Kansas where the growth in feed lots and meat packing plants that are described in the book took place. The book confirmed what I had already come to believe about the food in our culture.

The Writing Life, Annie Dillard: This book helped me greatly in understand my role as a writer of scientific papers and cookbooks.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover, DH Lawrence and Madam Bovary, Gustave Flaubert helped determine my sense of me as a woman.

Who Moved My Cheese, Spencer Johnson provided an amazing way to deal with change in my work and in my life.

Good to Great, Jim Collins helped me understand the type of leadership that leads to great organizations.

The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan: I heard him speak a few years ago at the Ecotrust where he presented a most compelling argument for ending subsidies. He said that the ultimate outcome of subsidizing corn, soybeans, wheat, etc. would lead to such a cost differential between those foods and fruits and vegetables that farmers would no longer produce fruits and vegetables. When a country no longer produces foods that provide essential nutrients, those foods have to be imported and that becomes a national defense issue.

Where can we find you on the web?

http://www.facebook.com/sonja.connor
http://www.facebook.com/SonjaConnorRD
LinkedIn
Portland Homeless Family Solutions

What would you consider to be the best part of your job?

The best part of my job was having the great fortune to work in a research group in which each of us was encouraged to do more than we thought we could ever do – so we did. We integrated nutrition science, cooking, behavior change and clinical practice and became respected and well known in our workplace, in our community and even nationally. In this lifelong work we linked science and the practical application of nutrition, such as our research on breast milk and omega three fatty acids that led to the addition of DHA to infant formula and the publication of cookbooks that I and other RDs authored along with Bill, my husband and boss, who died in 2009 – The Best from the Family Heart Kitchens, The New American Diet, The New American Diet System and The New American Diet Cookbook.

If you could change one thing about the nutrition/dietetics world what would it be?

RDs and DTRS would see the possibilities and do more than they thought they could do, which would lead to their being indispensible as the country’s food and nutrition leaders.

What do you do to de-stress or find balance in your life?

There is no greater stress reliever than spending three hours in the kitchen cooking up a storm. Going to a yoga class is a close second, which not only gets the knot out of your back, but also out of your head. Spending time with my grandchildren always restores balance in my life – and was especially helpful in the months after Bill died.

Tell us about an accomplishment you are proud of personally or professionally.

I was chair of the ODA Licensure Task Force 1988-89. I, along with a group of committed dietitians, led the final effort that successfully achieved licensure of dietitians in Oregon and almost bankrupted the Oregon Dietetic Association. This included hiring of and working with a lobbyist, testifying twice before legislative committees, organizing and running our grassroots effort, setting up a political action committee and holding a breakfast for legislators and their staff members. I developed a number of leadership skills over the two years of working on this issue that have served me well over the years.

How did you end up in Portland?

When I married Bill, who was twenty-three years older and had been on the faculty of the University of Iowa Medical School for some time, I thought I would be in Iowa City forever. However, as Bill neared the age of 50, he thought he needed to find new research collaborations if he was going to continue active research for the next 20 years. The bottom line is “Bill went through menopause and we moved to Portland.”

Sonja shares a recipe from The New American Diet System

CINNAMON RHUBARB MUFFINS

A delightful treat that works well with fresh or frozen rhubarb.

2/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons oil
1 egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup diced rhubarb (very small pieces)
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts or almonds
3/4 cup white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

TOPPING
3 tablespoons sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons melted margarine
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400°. In a bowl combine sugar, oil, egg white, vanilla, and buttermilk; beat well. Stir in rhubarb and nuts. In a separate bowl combine flours, baking soda, and baking powder. Stir the dry ingredients into the rhubarb mixture just until blended. Mix topping mixture together and set aside.

Spoon batter into muffin pans that have been sprayed with nonstick spray, filling 2/3 full. Sprinkle sugar topping over each muffin and bake for 15-20 minutes or until muffins are slightly browned.

Makes 12 muffins. Per muffin: Calories 140, Fat 4 gm, Fiber 1 gm, Sodium 75 mg

Do you know a dietitian who needs to be featured on PortlandRD.com?  Send suggestions to PortlandRDs@gmail.com.  (Don’t be afraid to suggest yourself!)

What does a day in the life of Deb Henry, DTR look like?

Coffee first! Get ready and jump on the MAX  to St Vincent Hospital where I am a Clinical Dietetic Technician, Registered. My day at the office consists of screening  patients for nutrition risk, offering nutrition education / diet instructions as needed, and basically assisting the dietitian on each unit in providing medical nutrition therapy as part of the health care team.

What would you consider to be the best part of your job?

I feel honored to work along side some of Portland’s best  dietitians. I love what I do each day and strive to provide the best care I can to the population I serve.

What books have shaped you and your practice the most?

The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Micheal Pollan

The End of Overeating, David A. Kessler

What websites and journals do you refer to for your practice?

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

RD 411

What is your favorite travel spot?

A leisurely road trip through Eastern Oregon with my husband 9 years ago has led to our annual summer bliss. Each July we spend  a week camping on the banks of a picturesque Eastern Oregon river. It really is  beautiful and so quiet.

How do you find balance in your life?

I enjoy sewing- apparel, quilts, home dec…really anything; I try to stitch something each day after work. It makes me happy.  I practice yoga at home and attend class once a week.  My husband is an avid outdoorsman, affectionately known as my recreational director. He plans our outdoor activities. We have fun together. My sewing machine is on hiatus all summer (I hand sew projects!)

How would your friends and family describe you?

My family adore my lifestyle, ”the vegetarian healthnut.” Last year I encouraged my mom to take a yoga class, she lives in Alaska, she did and loves it. She is almost 80 years old and attends a class 3 times a week.

Tell us about an accomplishment you are proud of.

Personally,  I am putting together my business plan, nothing to do with nutrition; as you might have guessed, it is sewing- Deb’s Threads. I do have my business license.  This is my retirement plan so I have a few years to pull it together.

How did you end up in Portland?

My family,  husband, and 2 toddlers moved from Southern California to Portland to  start a business. Shortly after our arrival, Mount St Helens blew. My family in California joked that we traded earthquakes for a volcano! I came to love this city and never looked back.

What is your favorite local Portland business and why?

New Seasons Market- I support their philosophy and commitment to the community. I also frequent  Cool Cottons on Hawthorne. Marie, sole owner of this fabric shop, is an great gal and keeps us sewist well stocked with awesome fabric.

What’s on your bucket list?

I would like to learn to play the guitar. I am studying “Guitar for Dummies” in my free time.

What is the last book you read for fun?  Would you recommend this book?

The Daughter’s Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick. I have become a huge fan of her writing, and do recommend it. Also, Starting Over-Community Building on the Eastern Oregon Frontier, William F. Willingham. Interesting to me after visiting Eastern Oregon.

What are some websites you frequently visit for fun?

Washington County Cooperative Library Services- a wealth of information available.  Portland Modern Quilt Guild- of which I am a member-  Endless inspiration and we all speak Cloth!

What does a day in the life of Dana Sturtevant look like?

The only thing that is pretty consistent about my days is how I start them – sitting on the floor.  I like to take a moment to pause and be still in the morning – I might do some yoga, sit quietly and pet my cat, or meditate.  Then I make a cup of tea and eat breakfast.  After that, there is nothing regular about my days.  I wear a minimum of three hats in my business – yoga teacher, dietitian, and trainer in Motivational Interviewing.  I usually spend an hour or two a day in meetings or on conference calls.  I will see three or four clients at some point in the day.  I might teach a yoga class or facilitate a Body Trust Wellness group in the evening.  And I spend two or three days a month training health care providers in Motivational Interviewing or giving talks on Health at Every Size® (HAESTM).

What would you consider to be the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is supporting people in making lasting changes to improve their overall health and wellbeing. It is extremely satisfying to provide a space for people who are looking for an alternative to the body hatred and self-loathing that motivates people to diet.  And raising awareness of weight bias and stigma in this culture through public speaking and training other helping professionals to use HAES in their clinical practice means this important message is reaching even more people!

What books have shaped you and your practice the most?

 Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch – I recommend this book to most of my clients.  Written by two dietitians, it provides an effective framework to help people heal from the side effects of chronic dieting, weight cycling and disordered eating.  “An intuitive eater is defined as a person who makes food choices without experiencing guilt or an ethical dilemma, honors hunger, respects fullness and enjoys the pleasure of eating.”

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown – After seeing the author’s amazing TED talk on shame and vulnerability, I read this book and loved it.  She says “owning our own story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we will ever do.”

Women Food and God by Geneen Roth – Geneen has been writing about weight cycling and disordered eating for many years and this book is one of her best.  I appreciate her writing style and she has a great sense of humor.

Yoga and the Quest of the True Self by Stephen Cope – Yoga has profoundly changed my life.  Something that I’ve come to realize over the years is that yoga is practiced on and off the mat.  The author of this book is a psychotherapist and senior Kripalu yoga teacher who writes about the relationship between contemporary psychology and the Eastern contemplative religions.  I’ve practiced with this amazing teacher and I love this path to extraordinary living.

Appetites: Why Women Want by Carolyn Knapp – Every woman would benefit from reading this memoir, regardless of whether or not they’ve struggled with weight cycling or disordered eating.  The author explores the question: “How does a woman know, and then honor, what it is she wants in a culture bent on shaping, defining, and controlling her desires?”

Risking Everything: 110 poems of Love and Revelation edited by Roger Housden – I’m always saving inspirational quotes and poems to read in my groups and yoga classes.  I recently discovered this collection and refer to it often.  One of my favorites is Love after Love by Derek Walcott:

The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other’s welcome
and say, sit here. Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you have ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

What websites and journals do you refer to for your practice?

 The Columbia River Eating Disorder Network

Intuitive Eating

Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH)

Nourishing Connections

Yale Rudd Center for information on Weight Bias and Stigma 

BMI Project

Ellyn Satter

I tend to read articles that I receive through list serve messages and newsletters I receive.  One of my favorite blogs is Association for Size Diversity and Health’s HAES blog.

Where can we find you on the web?

For information about Be Nourished and my private practice, visit www.benourished.org and for information about my trainings in Motivational Interviewing, visit www.motivatingchange.org.

What is your favorite travel spot?

We just took a trip to Spain and spent most of our time in Barcelona, which was such a great city.  The food is amazing and so is the architecture.  Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia was so inspiring.  It was truly an honor to experience the inside of this church.  My eyes welled up in tears.  It took my breath away!  I hope to go back to see it when it is completed in about 40 years.  One of my favorite vacations closer to home is heading to wine country for a long weekend.  Walla Walla, Washington was especially fun.

What do you do to find balance in your life?

I’ve been practicing yoga for 15 years.  I attend a few classes a week at the Bhaktishop and practice at home two or three days a week.  As one of my teachers said, “I don’t do yoga to stretch, I do yoga to live.”  I also enjoy walking with my dog Bosco most days.  And my husband and I have taken ballroom dance classes on Friday nights for the last four years.

Tell us about an accomplishment you are proud of, personally or professionally.

I’m really proud that I took a risk and started my own business.  I’m quite surprised that I did it.  I’ve worked to build Be Nourished with my business partner and dear friend Hilary Kinavey.  I feel that we have something really special and I look forward to seeing how the business grows with time.

How did you end up in Portland?

I moved here 12 years ago with my sister when she started her doctoral program at Oregon State University.  I’d never been to Oregon but always felt drawn to it.  I briefly lived in Corvallis and moved to Portland a few months later when I found full-time work.  I’ve loved living here since the day I arrived.  I don’t think I could live anywhere else in the United States.

What is the last book you read for fun?

I’m reading a novel about Ernest Hemingway’s first marriage to Hadley Richardson called The Paris Wife by Paula McLain.  While it is fiction, the author pulled a lot of real events into the story.  Apparently Hemingway wrote that he would rather have died than fallen in love with anyone but Hadley.  I’m really enjoying the book, and it is making me want to read a Hemingway novel.  I’ve never read one before.  I’m not sure which would be the best one to start with.

Angela Hermes, RD, CLT

What does a day in the life of Angela Hermes, RD, LD, CLT look like?

One thing I love about my life is that every day is different. I have three small children, so being a good mom and doing everything that entails is my most important role.

My work life is ever changing. Some days I am seeing clients for individual consultations, on others I teach classes to various groups within my community, and on some days I work as a health coach for a corporate wellness company. I also work as a freelance food and nutrition writer so many days I am writing articles. I am also responsible for most of the marketing involved at our wellness center and spend a lot of my time on this as well.

If you could give one piece of advice to a dietetic intern, or someone who is interested in becoming and RD, what would it be?

I would tell them that there will be setbacks and roadblocks along the way toward a dietetics education. However, they must not give up if this is truly their dream.

What would you consider to be the best part of your job?

I specialize in treating chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, IBS, chronic migraines, and cancer through dietary changes. The absolute best part of my job is helping people to heal from these and other chronic conditions with nutrition. I love it when someone I have been working with tells me how amazing they feel after improving their diet. There is no better feeling than knowing that I truly helped someone on their path to wellness.

If you could change one thing about the nutrition/dietetics world, what would it be?

I would like to see all RDs advocating for whole food diets and working towards supporting local farmers and fishermen at every opportunity. I think that many of us are headed in the right direction. However, I would like for the use of and advocacy for whole and locally produced foods to be the norm in the practice of dietetics.

What books have shaped you and your practice the most?

“The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods” by Michael T. Murray, JOSEPH PIZZORNO and Lara Pizzorno – I use this book as a reference all of the time. It is so well written and gives the history and nutrition information for almost every food on the planet.

“The Complete Tightwad Gazette” by Amy Dacyczyn- This book helped me to reexamine what it means to live well. Amy Dacyzczyn gives all of her inside tips on how to consume whole foods and achieve our dreams while sticking to a very tight budget. It has been a real eye opener and invaluable resource for me since I have a young family, a business, and a very tight budget.

“Becoming Vegan: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Plant-Based Diet” by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina – This is a wonderful book that was written by two vegan Dietitians. They walk the reader through a healthy transition to a plant-based diet step-by-step. Their use of the scientific evidence is wonderful. It really gives weight to the idea that a vegan diet is a healthy diet and that we don’t need to eat meat or dairy products in order to meet all of our protein and calcium needs.

“Farm City” by Novella Carpenter-  I am very interested in urban farming and hope to start an urban farm in my neighborhood one day. The author of this book tells her story of raising bees, chickens, goats, and even pigs on a lot in the ghetto of Oakland. It is truly inspiring for anyone who is interested in growing their own food. Ms. Carpenter shows that we do not need many acres of land to produce enough food for a neighborhood.

Where can we find you on the web?

I have two different websites. The website for my nutrition practice is www.NourishingTransitions.com. The website for our  wellness center is www.BeavertonWellnessCenter.com

Tell us about an accomplishment you are proud of…

I am most proud of my children. They are such compassionate little beings. They are also great eaters who are very knowledgeable about nutrition and cooking. My seven-year old could teach a class on gluten-free living.

How did you end up in Portland?

This is kind of a funny story. I was born in Orlando, Florida and lived there until I was 15. Then my mom met my stepfather on the internet the first year it came out (it was called Prodigy then). He lived here at the time, so she moved us out here to live with him after they got married.

What is your favorite local Portland business and why?

I love so many local businesses which makes it difficult to choose just one. However, the one that I use most frequently and recommend to my clients is Goodness Coffee House in downtown Beaverton. It is owned by two local women who really know their food. They use local and organic ingredients as much as possible and almost everything on their menu is made from scratch. Both Eleanor and Tanja know their way around cooking for food allergies and sensitivities. So, I love to send my clients with special dietary needs over to them. My family and I suffer from multiple food sensitivities and Goodness is the only place that we can actually go and have a meal where there is something on the menu for all of us.

What’s on your bucket list?

I have not fully completed my bucket list yet. However, I really want to create an urban farm in my neighborhood where we can provide farming and cooking education to the local high school students while also providing fresh and organically grown food to the people in our neighborhood.

I would also like to visit Scotland and write a book about healing fibromyalgia and cancer through nutrition.

My most important dream though is to raise a healthy and happy family.

What is the last book you read for fun?  Would you recommend this book?

Right now, I am reading “The essential urban farmer” by Novella Carpenter and Willow Rosenthal. It is a how-to guide for aspiring urban farmers. I know that many people would not find reading a how-to guide to be fun, but I love it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in growing their own food.

Getting to know Angela Dorsey-Kockler RD, MBA…

What does a day in the life of Angela Dorsey-Kockler RD, MBA look like?

I am a stay-at-home mom that uses my free time to build out a business plan for my dream job:  launching a non-profit restaurant, designed to serve super-healthy food options quickly, in underserved neighborhoods. I have chosen to make it a non-profit to see if the unique approach of taking profit margins out of the picture will help avoid some of the quality/service sacrifices typically made in for-profit environments. Even though I am a Registered Dietitian with an MBA, there has still been a lot for me to learn regarding non-profit corporations, as well as running a restaurant, so I’ve had to dig deep in those areas to learn what it will take to be successful. Currently, I’m looking for management and investment partners to bring this dream closer to a reality!

If you could give one piece of advice to a dietetic intern, or someone who is interested in becoming and RD, what would it be?

Definitely do not feel obligated to start out or stay with a clinical/hospital job. While that was my favorite rotation during my internship, I did not happen to pursue that as a career path. I started in public health, then moved into both sales and marketing for the food industry and now I feel very confident about stepping out to launch my own business, largely shaped by my experiences within the food industry. There are SO many fun, non-traditional career paths for RDs, including jobs that don’t require the RD designation but for which your credentials will give you a leg up on other job candidates. Really think about what your passion around food and nutrition is, and try to find a career path that compliments that.

If you could change one thing about the nutrition/dietetics world, what would it be?

I would love to see us develop a stronger voice (collectively, but more so, individually) for promoting sound, evidence-based and sustainable ways of eating. There are so many fad diets, magic pills and misinformed people generating greater awareness than dietitians do, and it makes for an uphill battle.

What books have shaped you and your practice the most?

Food Politics, Marion Nestle

In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan

What websites and journals do you refer to for your practice?

WEBSITES:

www.eatright.org

www.nutritiondata.self.com

Mark Bittman’s blog

TED: Ideas Worth Sharing: www.ted.com

I also participate in several Dietetic Practice Group list-serves.

JOURNALS:

Journal of American Dietetic Association

OTHER PUBLICATIONS:

Nutrition Action Health Letter, Today’s Dietitian, UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, Tufts Health Letter

Where can we find you on the web?

http://www.linkedin.com/in/angeladorsey

Getting to know Angela…

What is your favorite travel spot? 

My favorite travel spot would be anywhere I haven’t been yet – especially places with cultures different than our own. There is so much to learn about the world and all the peoples in it; traveling to places like China, Peru and Fiji have really opened my eyes to other ways of life and encourages me to reflect and consider whether I am living my own life to its fullest.

How did you end up in Portland?

We relocated here for my husband’s job. While we are both from IL and neither of us had ever experienced Portland, the little we knew about this little, big city was enough to make the decision easy. We love the lifestyle because it reflects our values yet challenges us at the same time (we still aren’t riding our bikes in the rain… that might take a few years.)

What is your favorite local Portland business and why?

Bob’s Red Mill – the story behind this entrepreneur is one of determination and a wholesome food vision. Their products provide a plethora of healthy food choices, their facility offers a fun production tour, and they offer generous support to local health and wellness initiatives.

What’s on your bucket list?

Start my own non-profit

Go on an African safari and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro

Incorporate a chicken coop and edible landscaping on our new property

Learn to speak Mandarin

Become President of ADA

Adopt two children

See the rest of the seven wonders of the world (already visited Great Wall of China, Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu and the Colosseum!)

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Getting to know Megan Roosevelt RD, LD…

Where did you do your undergrad and internship?

Tell us about Healthy Grocery Girl?

Healthy Grocery Girl offers nutrition services that include; Nutrition Coaching and Counseling, Healthy Kitchen Makeovers, Meal Planning and Grocery Shopping Assistance. A unique aspect to my business is my Healthy Kitchen Makeovers, in which I clean and organize client’s pantries and refrigerators removing and setting aside all unhealthy food and in return provides suggestions for healthier alternatives. All unwanted non-perishable foods are then donated to the Oregon Food Bank and clients receive a tax write-off for their donation.

What does a day at work look like for you?

What inspired you to become a dietitian?

What books have shaped you and your practice the most?

The Bible. My faith is the basis for all the decisions I make in life and in my business.

My first nutrition text book “Understanding Nutrition” was and still is a favorite of mine.

I love the books; A Leader in the Making, The Makers Diet, and books by Michael Pollen. I also loved the movie Food Inc.

What websites and journals do you refer to for your practice?

Nutrition Websites: Eatright.org, Natural News, RD411, Today’s Dietitian

Business Websites: Entreprenuer.com, Inc.com and Mashable.

Journals: Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Where can we find you on the web?

My Website: www.healthygrocerygirl.com Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter!

Twitter, Facebook, My Nutrition Video’s: www.youtube.com

My New Blog: www.healthygrocerygirl.wordpress.com  (My Retired Blog: link)

www.organiglee.com

Do you enjoy cooking?  Have you discovered a favorite recipe recently?

Tell us about a ‘dietitian’ moment you’ve had recently.

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Getting to know Megan…

How did you end up in Portland?

What keeps your life balanced?

What websites to do frequently visit for fun?

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Getting to know Leah Kriewall MS, RD, LD…

Where did you do your undergrad and internship?

What does a day at work look like for you?

What inspired you to become a dietitian?

What books have shaped you and your practice the most?

Coming Home to Eat by Gary Paul Nabhan

This Organic Life by Joan Dye Gussow

The Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Natasha Campbell McBride

Hungry Planet: What the World Eats by Peter Menzel and Faith D’Alusio

What websites and journals do you refer to for your practice?

The Dietitians in Functional Medicine group focuses on integrative practices in nutrition and other modalities: http://www.integrativerd.org/

The Health and Environmental Nutrition group discusses issues relating to diet, food supply, and sustainability: http://www.hendpg.org/

I appreciate the attention to detail that both Dr. Harris and Dr. Guyenet have regarding current nutrition research and historical culinary traditions:

http://www.archevore.com/      http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/

Where can we find you on the web?

http://www.newseasonsmarket.com/talk-with-us/nutritionists

Do you enjoy cooking?  Have you discovered a favorite recipe recently?

Tell us about a ‘dietitian’ moment you’ve had recently.

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Getting to know Leah…

How did you end up in Portland?

What keeps your life balanced?

What websites to do frequently visit for fun?