Where do you get your food and nutrition info from?
Is it reliable, realistic and centred on your needs? Finding nutrition info that is all of these things is kind of like finding a perfectly ripe avocado - hard! It’s tough to navigate through all the advice from media, celebrity “experts” or even well-meaning friends and family with an opinion on nutrition. There is so much info out there, but how much of it is worth listening to?
So where can you find info that is reliable?
From a Registered Dietitian (RD)! We dietitians are health professionals, specializing in food and nutrition. We have four-year university degrees in nutritional sciences – and some of us have even more education, like a master’s degree! Following this, we complete a one-year internship that trains us in a variety of settings – from community health to surgical and intensive care unit patients. Registered Dietitians are set apart from the rest because we are held responsible by a licensing body, much like doctors and nurses. We serve the public by providing info that is backed by research and tailored to each person we see. We continue our training by staying up-to-date on new research, and learning from you – our clients! Not only do we talk the talk but we also walk the walk when it comes to nutrition - we know the struggle of making changes and sorting through the advice of others, and we are here to help!
So what do we do?
Not only do we teach about food and nutrition (although we are very good at that!) – but we can also help you to get well and stay well by supporting positive changes in your daily life, including the way you eat. We can help you set goals, combat your barriers to change, and make healthy behaviours into habits that last a lifetime.
Our background means we are trained to help with a variety of health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney and liver diseases, gut health and more! We can help you manage these conditions through diet and lifestyle, but also know the importance of a holistic team approach to health care. We work with other healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, specialists and more) to make sure you receive the best care possible.
Registered Dietitians also use mindfulness, motivational interviewing and other ways to work with you to consider your “whole person,” not just the food you eat or your condition. We know that good health is not “all-or-nothing” – we are here to help you live your best life, free of judgement and guilt. And best of all – you can see us for free!
So how can you find us?
You can see us for free and without a doctor’s referral!
Contact the Thompson Clinic at 204-677-1777 or if you have diabetes call the Thompson Diabetes Program at 204-677-5333 to book an appointment.
And don’t forget - March is Nutrition Month! Look for us out and about in the community!
