My name is Emily Fitzgerald and I have recently had the pleasure of joining the team at the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. As this is my first blog post, I would like to take the time to introduce myself and explain my exciting future plans as the Nutrition Coach!
I grew up in a health conscious household and developed interests in cooking, sports and healthy eating at a young age. Once I discovered the role of the Registered Dietitian, I knew exactly what my future held for me – or so I thought! When I started my undergraduate degree in nutrition, I discovered that there were so many different areas of nutrition; from the diabetes center to the general medicine unit, the options were endless. How would I ever choose?!
I completed a dietetic internship in conjunction with my masters of science in food and nutrition. I experienced the role of the Dietitian in different chronic disease areas throughout the year. I am very happy to say that both of my passions, nutrition and oncology, have collided as I start here at the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.
Nutrition plays a critical role in the prevention, treatment and survivorship of cancer. It can be overwhelming and difficult to know what to eat or drink during the cancer journey – and that’s why I am here! I look forward to working with clients to help each person find the answers that are right for them.
A few weeks ago, I was asked, “What is the hardest part of your job?” I explained that when it comes to nutrition there are endless amounts of information, evidence-based or not, that are accessible to everyone on the internet. This leads to consultations with very confused clients. And this, I explained, was one of the biggest challenges I face. This past week I have taken some time to reflect on my response and the more I think about it, the clearer it becomes. This is a challenge for me but, even more so, it is a major challenge for clients. Should I be taking special supplements? How do I improve my appetite? What foods should I avoid? Will certain foods kill cancer cells? And the list goes on…
This has led me to promote the Living the Grounded Life! concept. It focuses on going back to the basics and working with clients to help them incorporate nutrient-rich foods into their diet to improve their overall health and wellness. My future plans include offering individualized one-on-one nutrition coaching consultations and group workshops that will be available to Cancer Foundation clients and caregivers. I believe in a hands-on approach to learning – so get ready to roll up your sleeves and have fun in the kitchen with the Dietitian! My hope is that you leave each consultation with confidence to take what you have learned and incorporate it into your everyday life.
Check back monthly as I will be sharing more of my future plans which include reaching out to the general public and corporations. My monthly blogs will include interesting nutrition topics and delicious recipes!
As your Nutrition Coach, I will be with you every step of your journey to educate, encourage and support you to make the decisions that are best for you and your family.
For the latest news and information about nutrition, follow me on twitter @Groundedcoach, Instagram @Groundedcoach or Facebook GroundedCoach!
Here’s to living the grounded life,
Emily