Hi! My name is Megan, and I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. [Don’t know what a RD is, or don’t understand the difference between a “registered dietitian nutritionist” and “just a nutritionist”? Check out this page on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website to find out more.] I completed my Bachelor of Science in Dietetics at Central Michigan University, my dietetic internship at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, MI, and currently hold a position as an outpatient dietitian in a bariatric surgery program. I have been a RDN since 2011 and have worked in weight management/bariatric surgery since 2014.
A lot of people make a lot of assumptions about what makes someone a dietitian. For example, dietitians are skinny and have a great relationship with food and their bodies. That has not always been the case for me. While I recognize that I have thin privilege because I have never been overweight or obese, I definitely would not consider myself skinny. I have not always had a great relationship with body image, either, but over the years I have really worked on this area for myself and now practice what I call “body neutrality” – I have a body, and that’s it. It’s not good or bad. It’s just another part of me.
Another assumption I hear a lot is that all dietitians love to cook and are perfect eaters. No way… no how! The kitchen really intimidates me, which is probably some of the reason I struggle to eat better. My favorite food in the whole wide world is cookies. I also love all vegetables (except beets and cauliflower – you’ll never convince me that cauliflower is a delicious replacement for potatoes or rice, yuck!) and I try to keep my diet as balanced as possible.
The main thing I blog about, though, is running. I have been a runner since 2008 when I ran my first 5k. I have had an on again off again relationship with running, but we’ve been going steady now since 2015 when I started my first streak of running a race every month. I am what I would call a “velocity challenged” runner. I have a similar approach to talking about running as I do about nutrition: it is all about what you want for yourself, not anyone else. Running and nutrition are both individual and unique to every person. I am passionate about both and have been told a time or two that my passion rubs off on people… I hope that maybe it will rub off on you!
RD on the Run 
Just happened to come across your blog, thanks for sharing! I am actually from Novi, MI and currently live in TN working towards becoming a Dietitian myself!!! :-)
Thank you for “keeping it real!” As a fellow RD myself, I am constantly seeing the stereotypes of what a Dietitian should be! I love how you completely are honest….we have the knowledge- but doesn’t mean we need to be sticks!
This boosted my mood 100%! I am working on getting my bachelor’s in Nutritional Science. Last night, I had an awkward ecounter with a classmate (who is dietitian) and she told me I must be a “do as I say, not as I do” type of person because I decided to have a treat while I was out celebrating the end of a tough semester! I let it get to my head today and started thinking that maybe she was right. My head began flooding with stereotypes and I started to get very down on myself. This post helped me get out of that funk and reminded me that I am also passionate about nutrition and helping others :)
Hello,
I’m an indie author who’s starting up a podcast that seeks to determine the link between dreams and food called, “To Eat, Perchance to Dream.” It’s a light-hearted, humorous attempt to see what foods influence dreams and how.
I stumbled upon your blog and I think you would be a perfect guest for one of our first episodes. I would only need about thirty minutes of your time via Skype, and the questions and conversations will be very loose and informal. Mostly about how you became interested in dietetics, a few nutrition tips, and what food’s connection is to dreams, if any.
It would be amazing if you could grace us with your presence–of course, on your own schedule. If you’re interested, please send me an email at nategutman.author@gmail.com.
Regards,
Nate Gutman