Monthly Insights
Do you need to take dietary supplements? (October 2025)
By Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN The dietary supplement industry brings in billions of dollars each year. If you pop a daily multivitamin, take supplemental forms of single nutrients, or reach for specialized supplements targeted at a specific health concern or your stage of life, odds are its because you want to improve your health or […]
What is “Healthism”? (August 2018)
This is a term that you may or may not have heard before. Today, whether it be on social media or advertisements, we are swimming in statements pertaining to “Healthism.” Robert Crawford defined healthism in 1980’s as “the preoccupation with personal health as a primary…focus for the definition and achievement of well-being; a goal which […]
Dismantling Stigma One Word at a Time (July 2018)
After reading this article by my colleague Marci Evan’s, she agreed that I could republish it in my Monthly Insight. Our culture lacks the education and knowledge in communicating to people in various size bodies. I hope by reading this article insight is gained, language is change and judgement is removed. Thank you Marci for […]
“New” Milk Claims to Provide Relief for Those with Dairy Intolerance: Is It Too Good to be True? (June 2018)
Have you found that you experience, gas, bloating, stomach pains, or diarrhea when you consume milk? If so, you may have what is known as “dairy intolerance.” Some are claiming that a new type of milk called “A2” is the solution! This milk has been available in Australia and New Zealand since the early 2000’s […]
Developing Recovery Narratives (May 2018)
When an individual struggles with an eating disorder, it is not easy to work on finding our “healthy voice.” For many, their “healthy voice” is the opposite of what they are thinking, doing, and saying. It is common with eating disorders to be speaking or presenting ourselves from the place of the eating disorder. As […]
What is Weight Stigma? (April 2018)
Sadly, we live in a culture that is obsessed with the thin ideal, idealizes our bodies looking a certain way, and judges people on how they look. According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) website, Wendy Oliver Pyatt, MD, FAES, CEDS Co-Founder and Executive of Oliver-Pyatt Centers wrote a wonderful article about weight stigma. […]
Heart Health and Unsaturated Fats (March 2018)
There are many trends in the nutrition world, some effective and some ineffective. One of the trends that I currently see is people consuming more saturated fats from all the fad diets that exist. Since I started my career as a cardiac dietitian, heart health has been an area that I have always paid attention […]
The Ups-and-Downs of Roller Coasters at Amusement Parks (February 2018)
Several months ago, a client brought up a topic that I found to be rather interesting. He mentioned the discrimination people in larger bodies experience at amusement parks. As a child, I remember not being able to go on certain rides due to not being tall enough and that resulted in having to stay with […]
Carbohydrate Myths Set Straight (January 2018)
In twenty years of being a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), there is one concept I have found to be true: “History repeats itself” when it comes to various diet trends. When I was in school studying to be an RDN, our culture was obsessed with dieting and afraid of fat. The mainstream food companies, such […]
Holiday Eating – How to Enjoy it and Not be Afraid of It (December 2017)
All over the world, the month of December is a festive time. There are trees lit up with colorful lights, holiday music and movies play everywhere, reminding us of our childhood, and, of course the traditional holiday foods. December is also a time that we can be socially busier than usual, with the holiday party […]
“Who Says You’re Overweight?”- Why BMI and Societal Expectations Shouldn’t Dictate Your Self-Worth (November 2017)
“I am overweight.” Clients tell me this on a daily basis. They hear it from loved ones, their health care team, or the media. With all of this judgment, it is no wonder that people have a poor relationship with food and their body. So often, people are told that they are “X” pounds overweight […]