I also 'know' Kim from instagram, which I have to admit is a pretty cool way to get to see what other RDs around the globe are up to, passionate about, etc. Many of us get hooked on nutrition because of a love of food and/or active living, and sport is still a large part of her life. I totally relate with her passion about working in health and wellness, as well as mindful eating. I hope Kim and I can sit down to breakfast (also my favourite) one day soon!

Why did you become a RD? 

I was always interested in food and learning about how eating fuels our daily lives and activities. In high school, I rowed on the crew team and started to realize that what I ate (and when) impacted my performance. It was at this time that I also saw how competitive sports could also lead to disordered eating and I became interested in the struggles, stigma and psychology surrounding food.

What area of dietetics do you work in? 

As a corporate dietitian for CulinArt Group, a dining services company, I touch on many areas of dietetics, including food service, corporate wellness and nutrition education. I also blog at KHNutrition.com where I share information on nutrition topics and trends, recipes, fitness and more.

How would you explain what you do? 

I help provide health and wellness strategies and solutions to our corporate, higher education, private school and healthcare clients.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks? 

Each day varies, but my responsibilities range from developing cycle menus to leading wellness training for corporate chefs to providing nutritional analysis on corporate recipes. I write and help design our wellness newsletters, health fair information and promotional materials. I’m also tasked with managing social media for the Wellness Department at CulinArt and occasionally participate in recipe development and testing.

What has been your career path? 

I graduated with a B.S. in Dietetics but did not match with a dietetic internship (DI) program immediately, so I began working as an administrative assistant at a private nutrition counseling practice. Looking back, it was the best thing that could have happened for my career and I gained so much experience and exposure to the field of nutrition in that position. I eventually applied again and was accepted to the DI program at North Shore LIJ Health System in Long Island, NY, which had a clinical nutrition emphasis. After completing the internship program, I began working as a clinical dietitian in a long-term care facility. I sat for and passed the RD exam three months later. Realizing that clinical nutrition was not my passion, I began blogging and becoming active in social media in my free time. At the same time, I came across my current position as an RD who focuses more on health and wellness as opposed to disease and treatment.

What advanced education or special training do you have? 

My passion for sports nutrition and fitness continues to grow, so I recently became a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. My goal is to become Board Certified as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD - *Canadians can do this too!) within the next few years.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up? 

I would love to clear up the whole misconception about dietitians being the “food police”. I wish people knew that we don’t judge anyone for what or how they eat. People often fear that I’m constantly criticizing their food choices, when more often than not, I’m focused on enjoying my own food instead!

What would you like people to know about RDs? 

We are humans. We are not perfect and we often struggle with our own food choices. We don’t all cook perfectly healthy meals every night and we can enjoy pizza and ice cream too!

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

Probably one of the biggest challenges is competing with the misinformation and sensationalism that exists in the media surrounding food and nutrition. People are so easily persuaded by big food marketing or the advice of some doctor on television and it can be difficult to sift through that misguided or incorrect information.

What do people think that you do for a living? 

Make “meal plans”. Truth be told, that’s what I thought I would be doing when I became an RD also, but now I have a more holistic approach to nutrition and encourage mindful eating rather than offering one-size-fits-all meal plans.

What are you passionate about in dietetics? 

Reconnecting people with real foods. Many of us have lost touch with where our food comes from and what it should taste like. Most diets and weight loss plans take the fun out of food and people find themselves eating “food-like products” rather than enjoying whole, real foods.

What is your favourite meal? 

I’ll take this literally and say breakfast. I especially love pancakes, yogurt, oatmeal and veggie omelettes. I could eat breakfast foods any meal of the day!

What tip(s) would you give to our readers? 

Learn about your food and try new things! Find out where your food comes from, what nutrients it provides and how to properly prepare it. I’m constantly learning about new foods and recipes, which keeps things fun! Would you believe that just this year I learned how asparagus grows?

More about Kim:

Website: www.khnutrition.com

Twitter: @KimHobanRD

Instagram: @KimHobanRD

Pinterest: KHoban

Facebook: KH Nutrition

LinkedIn: Kimberly Hoban, RD

Google+: Kimberly Hoban, RD

Thanks Kim!