Aspire, Perspire, Nourish Yourself

©Zbigniew Kościelniak

Nutrition has become a big topic in popular magazines like Cosmopolitan and Flare, with headlines such as “5 Signs you are low in zinc” or “Top 10 foods to eat for slimming down.” We’re glad to see that more attention is being drawn to nutrition, and encourage you to dig deeper into the literature you read about how to eat well.

Nutrition is one of the key foundations to health, and has always been important in the health and wellness field. With more studies showing that what you eat does indeed influence your health, more people are turning to nutrition, along with exercise, to enhance their health.

Like any other field, nutrition is growing as more research on the topic continues, and out of this research more fields within nutrition are sprouting up. For example, the holistic nutritionist title has arisen out of the growing popularity of holistic medicine, while dietician has been around and associated with the rise of medical science field. Another name sprouting up recently is health coach, the focus of which is related to behavioral science.

Is there a difference between these nutrition professionals? Yes, there is, and it is important to understand that difference so you can choose to work with the professional who can best help with your personal circumstances.

What is a ‘Registered’ Dietician?

A Dietician (also spelled Dietitian) is a professional who “is an expert in dietetics; that is, human nutrition and the regulation of diet.” (Ref 1) In order to be ‘Registered’, these professionals need to meet specific requirements, including a Bachelor’s degree in the field of nutrition science, write a standardized exam for registration, and participate in an internship.

©Cristina

The focus of this professional group is the scientific basis or make up of food, calorie count, and the study of food as it relates to health. Dietitians typically work in clinical settings, public health, research, or in food preparation services to ensure health and safety of food. In clinical settings, their focus is on medical interventions, such as creating menus suitable for diabetic patients or supervising stringent diets for obese patients. Although these professionals take into account a broader perspective than just food, their focus is on the use of food for healing, and on the medical research about food to prescribe nutrition solutions.

The above is a generalized summary of the role of a Registered Dietician. There are several resources you can consult to gain different perspectives on this profession and the others we cover below. See our reference section at the end of this blog post for links.

What is an Holistic Nutritionist?

©Suto Norbert

As the word holistic implies, Holistic Nutritionists focus on the whole person from various perspectives as related to their nutrition. For instance, they look at the physical, emotional and spiritual health of the individual as part of assessing their nutritional needs. If a client has a concern with food sensitivities, the Holistic Nutritionist helps the client identify any issues that may be affecting these sensitivities such as stress, eating habits, types and quality of food ingested, fluid intake, etc.

In holistic nutrition, quality of food is more important than quantity, and foods are seen as energy sources. The quality of the calories are more important; for example, an Holistic nutritionist would recommend choosing an apple over a low-sugar chocolate pudding for dessert. As a result of this quality focus, holistic nutrition advocates choosing whole foods, and organic foods as much as possible, due to concerns with artificial products in processed foods, and pesticides, chemicals, and chemical modifications in food production and GMO foods.

What is a Health Coach?

According to the Institute of Integrative Health, Health Coaches are wellness experts and mentors who motivate clients to make healthy lifestyle choices. These coaches are also known as Wellness Coaches. Their focus is on behavioral changes to enhance wellness. Although part of health coaching relates to nutrition, their perspective is broader, as in holistic nutrition.

Dietician vs. Holistic Nutritionist vs. Health Coach

©Andres Rodriguez

Is one better than the other? Not necessarily. In a purely definitional sense the roles are focused on different aspects of nutrition. Your choosing which one to work with depends on your circumstances, your openness to alternative approaches, and your comfort level with the professional.

As the field continues to grow, these roles are merging with a greater focus on holistic approaches to health. More people, let alone professionals in the field, are becoming aware of the need for preventing disease by focusing on healthy nutrition habits. Dieticians who focused on the pathology of diets are now broadening their focus to the wellness side, and Holistic Nutritionists are embracing the more rigorous scientific approach to assessing food quality. Health Coaches are the newest trend whose attention is on behavioral change.

What’s the Answer?

Regardless of the type of professional you choose to work with, remember that nutrition is YOUR responsibility. These professionals are there to educate and guide you to better understand nutrition, its role in your healthy lifestyle, and your specific nutrition needs that become part of your life and not just a short-term diet plan.

Want to get in touch with Mary Sherriff, ROHP, about holistic nutrition counseling? Email her or visit For Your Health Nutrition & Wellness.

References:

Recipe of the Week: Surprise Red Velvet Brownies

Family Day Fun Activities

©Andre Rodriguez

February is a month in which Family Day is celebrated in several provinces of Canada. Alberta led the way in 1990, when Premier Getty introduced Family Day as an extra day or holiday for families to spend together. His hope was that having the day off to spend with loved ones would strengthen family values.

If you’re a Canadian and observe this holiday, what do you do on Family Day?

We hope you consider making the day a physically active one. Teaching your kids the value of exercise and healthy eating will reap benefits now and in the future.

Active Family Fun

In Canada, so many activities in the winter are weather-dependent. On snowy, cold days it feels wonderful to curl up on the couch with a bowl (or two) of popcorn and watch re-runs of your favorite family movies. That’s fine and good. We suggest you upgrade this event by taking a brisk walk around the block before or after your movie marathon! The walk can include a lively discussion of what movies you’d prefer to watch or which sequel you liked best.

On warmer, sunny winter days, hikes in the neighborhood park, and then drinking hot chocolate upon returning home is another great activity. On the occasional Family Day we’ve even managed to ride our bikes on a paved path. Dressed in what seemed like a thousand layers, we’d come home drenched in sweat.

In Alberta, skiing is a popular activity on Family Day. In fact, it’s one of the busiest times on the ski hill since the day coincides with more days off school because of Teacher’s Convention falling within the same week. A long weekend in the mountains, skiing during the day and walking along Banff Avenue after dinner, is a nice family time tradition.

In Toronto, skating in Nathan Phillips Square is a fun family activity. Going downtown is always an adventure with subway rides and walking along Yonge Street. After such a long active day, kids are surely tired and ready for restful sleep.

5 More Ways to Move for Family Groove

Looking for other ideas for active family fun? Give these a try:

© Indigofish | Dreamstime.com - Winter Football Photo

1. Play games.

Outdoor games like football, soccer, capture the flag, and tag are fun in the snow or on grass. Invent your own twist by adding new rules for the game or playing them on cross-country skis or skates.

Indoor games like Twister or musical chairs, especially with younger kids, will get your family laughing and moving at the same time.

If you are a Wii family, check out this article in Parents.com that reviews “9 Action-Packed Wii Video Games“.

2. Sign up for fun run/walk.

Even in February you’ll find races that are family friendly events. For instance, Ottawa has the Winterman Somersault Event, on February 15, 2015, which includes race distances from 3 km to a full marathon and marathon relays. There is something for everyone in the family! The post-race activities are also fun to attend.

3. Sign up for group ski or skating lessons.

If you’ve always wanted to learn to ski or skate, do it with the family. Group rates are cheaper and you can support each other during the learning process. Be prepared, though, your kids may be such keeners that their skill level may progress more quickly than yours.

If skiing or skating is not your thing, then take group lessons for some other activity like horseback riding, tennis, or squash.

4. Explore on foot a different part of your city.

Many cities in North America are thriving, multicultural centers. Plan a family outing in a part of the city you normally don’t visit. Park the car and walk through the neighborhoods, exploring for novel shops, eateries, and interesting landmarks.

5. Visit or volunteer at a local organic farm.

©Bobby Aback

This activity will take some planning and could be right up on your family’s bucket list. There are many organic farmers in North America and across the world who offer volunteer opportunities for people who want to learn about organic farming. Check out the “World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms” (WWOOF) website for information on these great opportunities.

Get Creative

We know there are a ton of other ways to get your family active so get creative and involve them in making the choices. Create a bucket list of activities from which to choose and keep it as an ongoing list for future Family Day plans, summer vacations, or weekend events.

For summer activity ideas, read our past blog on ethicalDeal “5 Ways to Get your Kids More Active This Summer”