Shifting the Focus from Weight to Health

Brittany Jones Nutrition Group is a weight inclusive practice – but what does that mean?

Simply put it means that we believe that health is not defined by your weight.

A person in a small body is not always healthier than a person in a larger body – and a larger person is not always unhealthier than a person in a smaller body. In fact evidence shows that taking a weight-focused approach in which someone puts a focus on weight loss and dieting can be harmful to ones health, often times resulting in disordered eating and/or eating disorders among other health conditions.

We appreciate that bodies come in all shapes, sizes, and weights. We work with our clients to improve their health by focusing on behaviors regardless of their weight. We provide respectful and compassionate care of people in all body type, shapes, sizes, and weights.

Our approach to a healthy lifestyle takes the focus away from weight and instead focuses on health promoting behaviors to improve health including:

  • A healthy relationship with food without restriction
  • Eating a variety of foods that provide nutrition + enjoyment
  • Being mindful and flexible while managing your chronic disease through food
  • Trusting your body to tell you when you are hungry and satisfied
  • Giving yourself permission to eat all foods
  • Eating regular meals and snacks
  • Feeling safe around all foods (i.e. being able to keep all foods in the house without a binge)
  • Moving your body in a way to celebrate it rather than punish for something you ate or control your size
  • Learning to accept your body and take good care of it – knowing that all people are of value regardless of size, shape, or weight

We believe that the weight you are when practicing these behaviors is the healthiest weight for you.

Our body size is often influenced by many factors outside of our control including genetics, income, education, social support, where you live, work, and play. NOTE this weight cannot be told to you by a health care provider or a BMI scale.

Still not sure about this approach? Below we de-bunk some common weight focused myths:

MYTH #1 Weight is the best measure of health. “Overweight” or “obese” mean unhealthy and “normal weight” means healthy.

FACT: BMI does not tell us about individual health and it doesn’t recognize that healthy bodies come in many shapes, sizes, and weights. Health can exist in diverse bodies and BMI was created to be used in groups of white males in a research setting. You are not that.

Your risk for disease depends more on your lifestyle than your body weight. Factors like genetics, income, and stress can influence disease. For example, heart disease and diabetes affect people of ALL weights. People of all sizes benefit from activities that support their health such as eating a variety of food to support disease, moving in a joyful way, and managing stress.

MYTH #2 The best way to improve health is by losing weight

FACT: Studies (and our dietitians 35+ years of cumulative experience in this field) show that restrictive diet and exercise programs poorly affect mental and physical health. Research also shows the more you diet the more you weigh.

Dieting has been associated with:

  • An increase in weight
  • Muscle loss
  • Bone loss
  • Increase in blood pressure
  • Increased risk of eating disorders
  • Body image issues/body dysmorphia

MYTH #3: “If I’m not actively trying to control my weight, I’ll gain a lot of weight and worsen my health”

FACT: People can improve their health and manage chronic disease without a focus on weight loss. In fact, people who do not focus on weight loss tend to have better mental health, lower stress, a better body image, and a better quality of life while managing their health. When we focus on health promoting behaviors our body settles at it’s healthy weight – sometimes that’s less than you are now, sometimes it’s more, and sometimes it’s the same. We need to give our body the opportunity to figure out what is healthy for you without trying to manage it through dieting and non-joyful exercise.

MYTH #4 I’ll just diet to lose the weight quick and then focus on maintaining.

FACT: More than 95% of weight loss attempts do not lead to long-term weight loss or health improvements. In fact, most people who lose weight on a diet will gain it back +5% more within two years. Because of this trend, dieting is actually a better predictor of weight gain than weight loss.

Are you:

  • Sick of losing the weight and gaining it back?
  • Sick of hearing about weight loss drugs and surgeries?
  • Do you just want to be healthy and not focus as much on the scale?

Our Registered Dietitians can help! CLICK HERE to set up a FREE 15 minute discovery call and learn more about what it would look like to work together.

20+ Dinner Recipes done in 20 minutes or less!

We totally get it – some nights you just *need* a quick and easy week night dinner recipe.

Often times a healthy and balanced recipe that incorporates your protein/carb/veggie all in one recipe in just 20 minutes or less can be very hard to find!

That’s why we’ve rounded up some of our favorite recipes from the Real Life Nutrition Membership that can be made in 20 minutes or less. Click the links below and save these recipes to your recipe box!

Not a member? Sign up here for only $29/month!

Some quick meal staple items: salad kits, frozen cooked grains like brown rice and quinoa, pre-cooked frozen chicken/shrimp/burgers, cooked chicken sausage and meatballs, and organic canned low sodium beans.

3 Unique Ways to Use Your Ripe Brown Bananas

I always feel the need to buy bananas whenever I stroll through the produce section of the grocery store. Is it because of their flavor? Or does it have to do with the fact that they are only 49 cents or less per pound? Either way, I always find that before I know it, my once yellow bananas were forgotten on the counter and are now too brown to be eaten by themselves.

But, did you know that brown bananas can still be eaten? As bananas begin to brown, they become more sweet, easier to digest, and they have a higher antioxidant content! So, instead of throwing away your brown bananas, let’s get creative and make good use of them! Check out our top 3 ideas below:

1 – Make Banana Bread

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Whole Wheat Banana Bread

Serves: 12

Ingredients

  • 3 Bananas, mashed
  • 1 Egg
  • ⅓ Cup Butter, melted
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
  • 1 Cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 Cup all purpose flour
  • ½ Cup Sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • ½ Teaspoon Salt

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350℉ and lightly grease a bread pan (roughly 9x4x4)
  2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together bananas, egg, butter, and vanilla until well-combined. Then add in the rest of the ingredients
  3. Pour mixture into the bread pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes
  4. Remove loaf from the bread pan and allow it to cool on a cooling rack

2 – Freeze Bananas to Use in Smoothies

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How to Freeze Bananas

  1. Peel your bananas first before putting them in the freezer. (I’ve made this mistake before and basically had to dig my way past the frozen peel in order to reach my banana.)
  2. Cut your bananas in half, slice them into coins, or leave them whole.
  3. Store peeled bananas in an airtight freezer bag or plastic container laying the pieces flat. This keeps your bananas from freezing into one large lump.
  4. Bananas keep in the freezer indefinitely, but are best used by 4-6 months.

Frozen bananas add texture to smoothies

If you have never tried adding a banana to your smoothie, please put it on your meal plan for the week! Not only do bananas add some sweetness and extra fiber, but they also add an insane creamy consistency to your smoothie! Add ½-1 frozen banana for that extra creamy texture.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Serves: 1

Ingredients

  • 1 Banana, frozen
  • 1 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon natural Peanut Butter
  • 1 Cup Milk (skim, almond, oat, etc.)
  • Optional: 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder

Directions

  1. Blend ingredients in a blender on high for 1-1:30 minutes until all ingredients are well-blended
  2. Pour into a large cup and enjoy!

3 – Make Cookies

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Chocolate Chip Banana Breakfast Cookies

Serves: 5  (two cookies per serving)

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Rolled Oats
  • 1 Banana, mashed – enough to yield ½ cup 
  • 1 Egg
  • ½ teaspoon Cinnamon, ground
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • ¼ Cup Chocolate Chips

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper
  2. Mix mashed banana and egg in a large mixing bowl until well-combined
  3. Add in the oats, cinnamon, sea salt, and chocolate chips until well-combined
  4. Add about two tablespoons of cookie dough onto the parchment paper. Repeat for the rest of the dough leaving at least two inches between each cookie.
  5. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cookies are golden brown and allow to cool on a cooling rack

Written and photographed by Gabriella Childers, Brittany Jones Nutrition Intern

 

Maple Walnut Baked Pears

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During the holidays or on vacation, we often times change up our normal meal/snack pattern because we don’t have as much “structure” to our day. And that’s OK! That’s part of the fun.

However, we encourage our clients to still focus on eating a meal or snack every 3-4 hours to avoid getting overly hungry (a 1-2 on the hunger scale) which can result in either a binge, or overeating at dinner. Snacking is the key to your success this holiday season!

We’ve come up with a festive holiday snack for y’all  that only has five ingredients and is very simple to make. Just put together your ingredients, let it bake, and there you have a delicious Maple Walnut Baked Pear! This also makes a wonderful dessert.

Turn this recipe a breakfast meal by add a ½ Cup of Greek yogurt for extra protein to each serving. Whether you choose to make this recipe as a dessert, snack, or breakfast, we hope you enjoy every bit of its wonderful maple-y goodness! Happy holidays y’all.

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Maple Walnut Baked Pears

Servings: 2-4

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 Pears
  • 1 Teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 Tablespoons walnuts, chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1/4 Cup Greek yogurt, 0% plain

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400℉
  2. Slice your pears in half and spoon out the core where the seeds live and place them on a baking sheet
  3. Add equal amounts of the cinnamon, walnuts, and maple syrup on top of your pear halves.
  4. Bake your pear halves in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the maple syrup starts to bubble and the sides begin to golden
  5. Finally, top each with 1 Tablespoon of Greek yogurt and enjoy!

If you make our Maple Walnut Baked Pears, let us know! Share your creation on Instagram and tag @britanyjonesrd for a chance to be featured on our stories.

-Recipe and photography by Gabriella Childers, Brittany Jones Nutrition Group Intern

 

Our Favorite Grab and Go Breakfast Ideas

You’re laying in bed one morning. It’s warm, cozy, and dark under the covers. But that comfortable feeling is abruptly interrupted as you turn over and see the time on the clock. It’s 7:45, and you are supposed to leave the house at 8:00. Entering panic mode, you jolt awake scrambling around the bedroom trying to put together an outfit that looks somewhat presentable. As you’re running around the house like a chicken with your head cut off, you scramble to find your keys and head out the door. What you didn’t realize is that you left something behind. Five minutes down the road, your stomach begins to rubble. You forgot to grab breakfast. Does this sound familiar?

On crazy hectic mornings, breakfast can become the least of your priorities. Making a breakfast sandwich, scrambled eggs, or a picture perfect oatmeal bowl isn’t always the most practical options on days like these. During fast paced mornings, sometimes the best option is to quickly grab a pre-made breakfast and head out the door. 

Lucky for you, we’ve done the hard work for you! The Registered Dietitians at the Brittany Jones Nutrition Group have compiled our favorite grab and go breakfast items. When searching for breakfast options, we like to make sure the meal includes not just healthy carbs, but also sources of proteins and fat. These two macronutrients are key in keeping your body feeling satiated. Next, we look for REAL ingredients. For example, if you were to look at the nutrition label of a protein bar, the first ingredient should be a whole food such as peanuts or oats (not soy or protein powder).

While prepping your breakfast at home is always our #1 choice – we have listed our favorite grab and go breakfast ideas to keep on hand during busy mornings. Some of these options only require a microwave while others require no preparation at all. Relax – we’ve got your covered!

you will want to bookmark this list for later!

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Made with egg whites, roasted potatoes, and cheddar cheese, this breakfast will keep you satisfied throughout the morning. To make it even better, this breakfast sandwich can be quickly heated up in the microwave and ready to eat!

BUY NOW: Good Food Made Simple Turkey Sausage Flatbread Breakfast Sandwich 

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Pop these waffles in the toaster, and you have yourself breakfast.  With 11 grams of protein, these will keep you full all morning long!

BUY NOW: Birch Benders Protein Waffles

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A perfect Mexican inspired breakfast bowl with egg whites, potatoes, black beans, salsa, and cheese all on top of a corn tortilla. Stores these in the freezer and heat them up in the microwave for a quick savory breakfast!

BUY NOW: Dr. Praeger’s Huevos Rancheros Breakfast Bowl 

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This bar is filled with a variety of whole grains such as oats, millet, amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa for a great balance of carbohydrates for energy and protein/good fats to keep you full until your morning snack. Find it in the breakfast aisle!

BUY NOW: Kind Peanut Butter Breakfast Bar 

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For all our oatmeal lovers, this one’s for you! These oatmeal cups are packed with protein from collagen and walnuts. For a fun add on, these come with a creamy nut butter packet!

BUY NOW: Purely Elizabeth Blueberry Walnut Collagen Oatmeal Cups 

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Muffin in a cup? Yes, please! Pop these cups into the microwave on a busy morning for a quick protein filled chocolate chip muffin!

BUY NOW: Kodiak Cakes Chocolate Chip Muffin Cup 

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These pre-portioned nut butter packets are great to keep on hand for a quick snack or breakfast on the go. We suggest eating these with a piece of fruit such as a banana for a healthy fiber and carbohydrate source!

BUY NOW: Justin’s Peanut Butter Squeeze Pack + Banana

OatsQuinoaImageforWeb-1-600x600Chia seed pudding is a great option filled with fiber and omega-3s! Do you feel like you never remember to  prepare your pudding the night before? Chia Pods are here to help with their pre-packaged delicious chia pudding cups! (Note: some of these are high in saturated fat – so be sure to check out the label)

BUY NOW: Oats+Quinoa Chia Pod

0675_PerfectBar_Blueberry_Cashew_w_ingredients_600_1000xWhen you’re extra crunched on time, grab one of these Perfect Bars! The name says it all. These bars are filled with healthy ingredients that will get your morning started right (even if you’re running late).

BUY NOW: Blueberry Cashew Perfect Bar 

honey_fig_walnut-2-800x800Siggi’s simple sides contain one part Greek yogurt, one part crunchy toppings. This honey and fig flavor is giving us all the summer feels – is there a better combo out there? We think not! (Also have you seen Brittany’s fig tree on Instagram? It’s huge!)

BUY NOW: Siggi’s Honey Yogurt with Dried Figs and Walnuts 

Have any other favorite grab and go breakfast ideas? Let us know below!

Interested in learning more about healthy meals and meal planning? Contact the Brittany Jones Nutrition Group here

5 Tips to Lose Body Fat

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Have you ever come across a product that says it will help you “lose 10 pounds in a week?” Maybe you bought that product, tried it, lost the weight quick, and then gained it back the 10 pounds that you lost PLUS two more. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to burn body fat. Extreme fad diets may last in the short term, but they aren’t sustainable and can actually hurt your overall health.

Now that you know that fad diets and fat burning supplements aren’t the trick, what methods actually work? The Registered Dietitians of the Brittany Jones Nutrition Group are here to answer your questions with science based knowledge! First, let’s talk about what fat is. Fat is stored in the body when the number of calories consumed is higher than the number of calories burned. It doesn’t matter if it’s protein calories or fat calories or carbohydrate calories, if more energy is entering the body than leaving, the body stores extra energy as fat. 

Losing body fat and being able to sustain that new body fat percentage takes time and hard work – but it’s doable! 

Incorporating healthy habits into your every day is the key to a healthy lifestyle. Start slow, reach out for support, and give yourself grace during the process. Here are some habits to incorporate into your healthy routine that will promote sustainable fat loss. 

Lift Weights

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to solely do cardio to burn body fat. Strength training increases muscle mass. Muscle mass needs more energy to maintain its size, and when you have more muscle mass, your body needs to burn more calories (muscle mass is metabolically active vs. fat which is not). Aim for 2-3 strength training sessions a week incorporating all the major muscle groups. Functional movements such as deadlifts, squats, bent over rows, and bench presses, are excellent exercises that work many muscle groups at the same time. 

Move More, Sit Less

According to a 2008 Vanderbilt University study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the average American spends 7.7 hours a day sitting. To put that into perspective, that’s 55% of waking hours spent sitting down. Weight lifting is great for building muscle, but to maximize your efforts, be sure to stay active outside the gym! This is your chance to gather a team to play volleyball, take a walk after dinner with the family, or ride your bike down the street. To increase activity in your everyday routine, try taking the stairs, parking further away, or taking a 5 minute walk and stretch break at work.

Eat A Nutrient Dense Diet

Fruits, vegetables, beans, seeds, and lean proteins are all foods found in a nutrient dense diet. Looks for foods as close to their original form as possible. For example, veggie chips seem to be nutrient dense. I mean, “veggie” is in the name, so it must be healthy, right? Not necessarily. Real vegetables like carrots, zucchini, and broccoli are going to be a more nutrient dense option. Veggie chips have been broken down, dehydrated, and have unnecessary added sugar and salt. Diets with high sugar and salt intake can be inflammatory causing the body to hold onto extra water weight and fat. A good tip to keep in mind is to fill half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables. That way you know you’re getting fiber and nutrients in every  meal. Focus on lean proteins like lean meats, fish, legumes, nuts, and seeds. 

Our Registered Dietitians take an all foods fit approach in our practice, and there’s no reason to completely cut out your favorite fun foods such as cake on your birthday or a drink with friends. The key is to focus on nutrient dense foods most of the time, and occasionally have those fun foods. A healthy lifestyle is not about deprivation and we want to help you to focus on fueling your body without restriction. Celebrations and social events are important for your well-being too!

Drink More Water 

The body uses water to regulate internal temperature, transport nutrients to cells, digest food, and flush out waste. It seems so simple, but drinking more water can actually help burn body fat. The more hydrated the body, the more calories it is able to burn at rest. A dehydrated body slows down the metabolism to compensate, and a water-starved body will not be able to burn fat effectively. Aim to drink half your body weight in ounces (ex. a 150 pound person should aim for 75oz water per day). Find a water bottle that suits your style and take it with you wherever you go. Having water with you at all times will help you increase your water intake and decrease the risk of dehydration!

Make Sure You Are Eating Enough 

Cutting too many calories too fast can actually do more harm than good, and unfortunately this is something we see frequently. Extreme restriction puts your body in starvation mode. It recognizes that it isn’t getting enough fuel, so it slows down the metabolism in response to conserve energy. It holds onto body fat because it doesn’t know when the next serge of fuel will come. Work with a Registered Dietitian to learn more about your personalized energy needs, and learn to listen to your hunger and fullness cues. 

Cutting body fat takes work, but if you incorporate these healthy habits into your routine, your results will last a lifetime! To lose body fat, focus on eating a nutrient dense dense diet, moving your body, and drinking lots of water. Incorporating healthy habits into your routine may not give you results as quickly as a detox tea, but the outcome is healthier, more sustainable, and less risky!

Interested in cutting body fat? Our Registered Dietitians can help ! Click here to set up your free 15 minute discovery call.

Written by Brittany Jones, MS, RD, LD and Gabby Childers, Brittany Jones Nutrition Intern

 

Popcorn Trail Mix 3 Ways

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Do you feel like you are running out of healthy snack ideas? A popcorn trailmix is a fun take on a classic snack that the whole family will love! It’s easy to make and store, and can also be packed as a healthy vacation snack.

We always recommend snacks that incorporate both carb + protein. Protein helps keep your body satiated by releasing appetite suppressing hormones, stabilizing blood sugar, and slowing digestion.

Air popped popcorn is a quick snack that is low in calories and sodium. When paired with nutritious proteins and fats, it can become a satiating snack. We prefer air popped popcorn over microwave popcorn because it is a whole food without any added processed oils (like hydrogenated oils in the “fake” butter) and is a great base for creating a trail mix.

Popcorn Trail Mix 3 Ways

Follow the recipes below by simply adding the ingredients into a large bowl and tossing them together!

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Chocolate Cranberry Popcorn Trail Mix (Serves 4)

  • 4 Cups air popped popcorn
  • ¼ Cup almonds and/or cashews
  • ¼ Cup dark chocolate chips
  • ¼ Cup dried cranberries

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Savory Popcorn Trail Mix (Serves 4)

  • 4 Cups air popped popcorn
  • 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • ¼ Cup unsalted dry roasted peanuts
  • ¼ Cup dried chickpeas
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder

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Tropical Popcorn Trail Mix (Serves 4)

  • 4 Cups air popped popcorn
  • ¼ Cup dried Mango
  • ¼ Cup coconut chips
  • ¼ Cup macadamia nuts
  • 2 Tablespoons pumpkin seeds

How to air pop popcorn:

  • Option 1: Place 3 Tablespoons of a single layer of popcorn kernels in the bottom of a deep pot with a lid on top. Turn the stove on medium heat. Carefully listen to the popcorn pop. The popcorn will pop vigorously at first. When the pops are roughly 5 seconds apart, turns off the stove. Wait a few minutes to allow the popcorn to cool and move to your desired bowl
  • Option 2: Here is the air popper that Brittany uses and you can get it on Amazon
  • Option 3: Buy your own pre-popped popcorn such as SkinnyPop at your local grocery store

-Written and photographed by Gabby Childers, Brittany Jones Nutrition Intern

Instagram Accounts We 💗

Brittany Jones Nutrition Group

Comparison is the killer of all joy.

Comparison is something that comes up in our client sessions often, and today we wanted to take a minute to talk about comparing ourselves to others in our community –  how it can negatively impact our goals.

Your community is not just about the people you physically choose to surround yourself with anymore – it’s also about the community that you create for yourself on social media. This includes brands/businesses, gyms, influencers/bloggers, friends, and family.

If a photo you saw social media is creating negative self talk – unfollow that account now. You don’t have time for that!

Practice avoiding the comparison of current self to your old-self, your friends, family, strangers, coworkers, neighbors and ESPECIALLY photoshopped media and social media images. Social media is a place to selectively connect with others and build your community – make sure yours is a positive one!

Here are some of our favorite Instagram accounts to follow:

  1. @victoriamyers_ : Victoria is a body positive Registered Dietitian in Florida. She is the owner of her own private practice, Nourishing Minds Nutrition and the host of the Nourishing Women Podcast. She is a new mom and in her practice, she places an emphasis on women’s nutrition and wellness without fad diets.
  2. @find.food.freedom: This is one of our favorite accounts to follow, because they are so REAL. Sammy, Mindy and Aimee take a no BS approach to nutrition and call out all things diet culture. Our favorite is their f*** diet Friday series. Check it out – you won’t be able to stop laughing!
  3. @stephaniechinart : Stephanie is an illustrator from Toronto, Ontario. She shares her body positive and women’s empowerment designs over on her Instagram account. Stephanie utilizes her talents to tell women that they are more valuable than how society defines women.
  4. @Kait.hurley : Kait is the founder of the KAIT app. In her app she creates mindful movement by implementing a meditation session in each workout. Her goal is to use exercise to help individuals get stronger both physically and mentally – something we can get behind.
  5. @thebodypositive : The Body Positive is a non-profit from California that helps people overcome conflicts with their bodies to lead happier, more productive lives. Over on their Instagram, they use real women’s quotes, experiences, and artwork to express real body positivity.
  6. @aerie is a female underwear and swimwear brand owned by American Eagle. Aerie was one of the first clothing lines to leave their photos untouched. They use the hashtag #aeriereal to give women the power to share images of their real untouched bodies.
  7. @thirdlove Third Love is a bra and underwear company for women that carries 78 different sizes. Their mission is to supply bra sizes to accommodate women of all sizes and shapes and they promote this on their social media. (Also now is the time to unfollow Victoria’s Secret and all of their models that make you feel inadequate.)
  8. @girlfriend Girlfriend Collective is an active wear line based in Seattle Washington. Their pieces are ethically manufactured, made of sustainable materials, and they carry sizes from XXS to 6XL.
  9. @bodyimagewithbriBri is a licensed professional counselor living in a larger body. She works as an individual counselor focusing on body image and also provides supervision for professionals that want to learn more in this area. She posts many helpful tips on reframing negative body image thoughts and dealing with body image grief.
  10. @et.the.rd: Esther Tambe is a Weight inclusive Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. Esther strongly believes nutrition is an important topic for the African-American community but especially for young women, who may not connect with traditional weight-centric messages they see and hear about nutrition from society. She is committed to increasing awareness of eating disorders/disordered eating and weight inclusive nutrition counseling in Black communities.
  11. @chelseahester: Chelsea is a certified intuitive eating counselor and anti-diet coach living in NYC. She focuses on teaching people how to make peace with their bodies and food. She states her perfect future would be where all people can “embrace [their] curves, share meals filled with laughter, and wake up every morning proud and grateful to be exactly who [they] are.”
  12. @schultzzie: Sierra is a body positive youtuber, social media influencer, and new mom. She has been open about her own struggles with body image, PCOS, and bipolar disorder. Many of her videos focus on unrealistic beauty standards and fashion. She owns a clothing line called Confident and Kind that supports body positivity.
  13. @encouragingdietitian: Christyna is a weight inclusive dietitian that helps people find a peaceful and sustainable relationship with food and their body. Her mission is to create equitable access to evidence-based weight-inclusive space for individuals seeking nutrition education regarding intuitive eating and eating disorder recovery. She also has a blog and podcast you can find on her website.
  14. @dietitiananna: Anna is a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Specialist and owner of Whole Life Nutrition Counseling. She proudly identifies herself as a disabled woman and is passionate about bridging the gap between the able-bodied and disabled worlds. Anna’s goal is to help others heal their relationships with food and body, trust their own wisdom, appreciate self-care, and to enjoy every bite along the way.
  15. @thenutritiontea: Shana labels herself as an “eat anything” dietitian. She focuses on challenging diet rules and common nutrition misinformation. She practices using the Health at Every Size Approach. Fun fact – she also has a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising!
  16. @jennifer_rollin: Jennifer is therapist and founder of The Eating Disorder Center in Rockville, Maryland. She has a certificate in Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorder, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. Her pro-eating disorder recovery posts reach many, encouraging others to challenge negative thoughts and give themselves compassion.
  17. @alissarumseyrd: Alissa is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor,  Body Liberation Coach, and author of “Unapologetic Eating.” She strives to create a space that is inclusive and equitable for all body shapes and sizes, races and ethnicities, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, and abilities. Her Instagram posts keep it real – the perfect balance of humor and facts to help you ditch the diet mentality and challenge negative food and body image thoughts.

What are your favorite accounts to follow? Let us know in the comments below!

Meet our 2019 Summer Intern: Gabby!

Thank you to the students who applied for our 2019 summer internship. I was fortunate enough to interview several students, and after careful consideration, I am very excited to introduce you the Brittany Jones Nutrition Group Summer Intern, Gabby!

Gabby is not only a nutrition major at Clemson University, she is also a food blogger with a very impressive social media following! She wants to own her own private practice one day, and this internship is her first step towards her goal. She is energetic, eager to learn, and marketing savvy. Get to know Gabby below!

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Q: Where do you go to school and what is your major? Are you involved in any activities?   

Gabby: I am a Junior at Clemson University majoring in Nutrition with an emphasis in Dietetics. Prior to Clemson, I was a Biology major playing volleyball at Erskine College. Once I figured out Biology wasn’t for me, I took a leap of faith and decided to pursue my passion of nutrition at Clemson. I am a student sports performance nutrition volunteer, and I am the Editor in Chief for the Nutrition Club.

Q: What is your dream job?

Gabby: My dream is to open my own private practice where I can teach my patients how to eat intuitively without any guilt or shame about what’s on their plate. I want to help my patients achieve their goals, and, in addition, I want to give them the tools they need to continue their health journey on their own.

Q: Why did you choose the dietetics field?

Gabby: I chose dietetics because I have seen how our health can influence they way we live our life. Our health starts with what we put in our bodies. The way we eat has an impact on our bodies and our minds. I chose this field because I geek out about this stuff so much that I can’t stop learning! The human body is really neat.

Q: You have a very successful food blog Gab About It and social media following. What inspired you to start blogging? 

Gabby: I was inspired to start my blog when I was living in a dorm my first year of college. I went to a small  school, so basically my only option for meals was either the dining hall or my own dorm room. I took this situation as a challenge, and started to put together healthy meals from my room – smoothies, oatmeal, steamed veggies, salads, etc. Then one day I decided to start sharing my food on Instagram because that was the cool thing to do at the time. Normally, I don’t like to follow trends, but I’m thankful that I followed this one.

Q: What is your favorite dish?

Gabby: My favorite dish would have to be my Dad’s grilled salmon with baked sweet potato and lemon garlic asparagus.

Q: What are you must excited about this summer working as the Brittany Jones Nutrition intern?

Gabby: I’m most excited about learning the behind the scenes of owning your own business. Most people see the glamorous side of being a business owner through social media, but I want to see the dirty details that make a business successful. I’m also excited to use my knowledge to educate the Greenville community about nutrition. It’s going to be a great summer, and I can’t wait to see where it takes Brittany Jones Nutrition.

 

Please join me in sending a warm welcome to Gabby!

Meet Our NEW Registered Dietitian: Christie Griffin, RD, LD, CDE, CSOWM

I am very excited to announce Christie Griffin, RD, LD, CDE, CSOWM as the newest member of the Brittany Jones Nutrition Group team! Christie offers nutrition counseling in packages of three or six sessions in our Medical Nutrition Therapy program. Keep reading to learn more about her background, her favorite food, and the #1 that she wants her new clients to know.

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Q&A with Christie Griffin, RD, LD, CDE, CSOWM

Q: Where are you from originally?

A: I am originally from Atlanta, GA. I grew up in a family with 2 younger sisters and parents who loved all things sports. I played Varsity Tennis all through out high school. When I graduated high school it was off to Clemson University to study Nutrition!

Q: Why is being a Registered Dietitian your dream job?

A: I struggled with being overweight and my relationship with food when I was younger. I went to Clemson University to study nutrition to learn more for my own benefit and to help others. Years later, I love helping others learn to love food, and how it can help them (and not hurt).

Q: You also are a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), what made you want to specialize in diabetes?

A: I first started practicing as a dietitian in the Pee Dee Region of South Carolina, which has one of the highest rates of Type II Diabetes in the country. I worked with a Registered Nurse who was also a CDE to create and implement a Diabetes Self Management Program to help better meet the needs of the patients in that community. The more people I saw with diabetes, the more I wanted to learn about this disease. I then began to pursue getting certified as a Diabetes Educator myself!

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Veggie pizza or roasted potatoes…oh and PICKLES!

Q: Take us through your typical day.

A: One of the things I love most about being a dietitian is every single day is different. Most days of the week I wake up and go to Orangetheory Fitness Greenville for my favorite HIIT workout. I started 6 months ago and I have loved seeing the progression in my endurance and strength! Other mornings I might walk my golden retriever Barkley around the neighborhood. For breakfast, I almost always have a Berry Protein Smoothie and some hot tea. I also work for the Business Health Department for Prisma Health where I get to meet with employees of the hospital as well as other companies in the area. My days are mostly filled with one on one appointments with clients for Prisma Health and/or the Brittany Jones Nutrition Group discussing weight loss and chronic disease management, or teaching group classes on various health topics. It is such an honor to work with people who are making a conscious decision to put their health first!

Q: What is your favorite thing to do in Greenville, SC?

A: My husband, Michael, and I absolutely love to try out new restaurants in the area. There are so many! We also really enjoy biking or walking the Swamp Rabbit Trail as well.

Q: What would you like your future clients to know about working with you?

A: I am all about Progress NOT Perfection! When you come and meet with me please don’t feel like you have to change everything in your life overnight. I love to help people make small, sustainable changes until they are confidently doing them regularly. Having a healthy and balanced eating pattern is a continuum, and I am going to meet you exactly where you’re at, with absolutely no judgement at all!

Click here to set up your FREE 15 minute discovery call to discuss your goals and book an appointment with Christie today!