What’s it like to work with me

At the Canadian Nutrition Society Thematic Conference, 2026

When people book their first nutrition appointment, they often don’t know what to expect.

Some worry they’ll be judged for their eating habits. Others assume they’ll be handed a strict meal plan or a list of foods they’re no longer allowed to eat.

In reality, working with a dietitian is much more collaborative than that.

Over the years, I’ve learned that every first appointment can go in a slightly different direction. Everyone comes in with a different story, different challenges, and different goals. But the foundation of the first session is always the same: understanding how food fits into your life.

That means looking at more than just what you eat in a typical day.

During the initial assessment, we explore the broader picture of your relationship with food. This includes your cooking skills, cultural preferences, eating environment, work schedule, access to food, and social influences. All of these factors shape the way we eat, often in ways we don’t even realize.

By understanding these pieces, I can get a true bird’s-eye view of how eating fits into your daily life and your overall health.

Once we have that picture, we can start identifying meaningful ways to move you toward your goals.

One of the most common mistakes I see when people begin working on their health is setting expectations that are simply not sustainable. Many diets promise fast results through strict rules or dramatic changes. While these approaches may work for a short time, they rarely hold up in the long run.

Eventually, the diet becomes difficult to maintain, old habits return, and the progress people worked so hard for slowly disappears.

This cycle is incredibly common — and it’s not a failure of willpower. More often, it’s a sign that the plan was never designed to fit someone’s real life in the first place.

That’s why the first step in working together is learning how you already eat and live. When recommendations are built around your current routines, preferences, and environment, they become far easier to maintain.

The changes we make may seem small at first, but their impact becomes powerful when they are consistent and sustainable over time.

My approach is practical and grounded in real life. I don’t believe in vague or unrealistic advice. At the same time, I approach every conversation with empathy. Food is deeply personal, and many factors influence how and why we eat.

When you work with me, you can expect a space where you are listened to, understood, and supported without judgment.

The goal isn’t to create the “perfect diet.” The goal is to build habits that genuinely work for you — habits that can support your health not just for a few weeks, but for years to come.

If you’re curious about whether nutrition counselling might be helpful for you, you can learn more about my services or book an appointment below.