Megan is a Registered Dietitian who originally hails from Newfoundland and has settled her family in Alberta. She plays a very important role in a large food service operation as a manager. Megan is an administrative dietitian and a mother of one who balances a healthy lifestyle with her full-time job, crafting, and travelling with her family.
I was recently baking my grandmother’s recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and I realized that I didn’t have semi-sweet chocolate chips. I only had an 85% extra dark chocolate bar so I crushed it and used it. I was thinking to myself, this is great they’re healthier too, let’s just say the cookies were very bitter. Dark chocolate is NOT a good substitution.
When non-Dietitians provide nutrition advice.
Yes. My grandmother was also an RD and I [remember] making whole-wheat shortbread cookies with her.
Every year before Christmas my mom takes cookie requests from my brothers and I. She always makes us our favorites and despite how I’m answering questions, I really don’t eat cookies all the time!
In your opinion what’s one of the biggest barriers we’re facing as a population to healthy eating?
I don’t think there is one big barrier, I think it’s multifactorial. Food insecurity, which not only can lead to malnutrition but also obesity is combined with a need for education about healthy and affordable foods, as well as the need to address the massive food waste that exists in our country and many other developed countries.
I feel that education [paired with] the diversion and reduction of waste could certainly start to help the issue of food insecurity. Healthy food subsidization needs to be a part of this plan too.
My grandmother’s oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
What is your favorite food that people may consider unhealthy?
Bread.
What do you think the government should be focusing on within the realm of public health and policy?
Food insecurity. To make healthy foods accessible to all.
Bread, peanut butter, chocolate… and …
She’s laughing.
Eat real food by choosing food first. No shakes, powdered greens, protein powders etc and go to a Registered Dietitian for nutrition information, please!
My husband. He’s creative and passionate about food so cooking with him is a lot of fun.
Jamie Oliver, I love his food and his philosophy around food. I’d also like to pick his brain about the great work he does with healthy food accessibility and healthy food in schools.
My family at home in Newfoundland.
Does your job get in the way of what you eat?
In my new job, yes. I’m a mom! In my job as a Registered Dietitian, no.
How do you overcome these barriers?
Megan is absolutely correct when she says that the public needs to know how to connect with an RD. I sit at work and listen to my co-workers talk about their latest diets and I know they will rave about the ten or so pounds that they lose. Unfortunately, I will also have to listen to them moan about how they gained them all back plus more as soon as they stopped their latest crazy fad diet.
We have a “wellness coordinator” at work who could do a great thing by connecting people with real experts.
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Conversely, people can (and should) learn some nutrition basics without having to consult with an “expert.” This is not some super-secret, super-advanced field in which only a select few have the answers.
You don’t go to your financial planner every time you balance your checkbook. And honestly, you don’t need a financial expert to tell you that you should save money and avoid debt.
Let’s not put good nutrition on a pedestal.
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Thanks for your feedback, she mentions how important education and RD access is important. Her comment is aimed toward specialized nutrition information ie: chronic disease management not encompassing all information.
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