I’ve been hoping to share Jess’s career with you since coming across her Instagram profile. However, like many colleagues that we ‘meet’ online, I didn’t even know about her day job. She has found her niche for private practice which aims to help dietitians be professionally and personally successful, but that’s only part of what she does as a dietitian.

Why did you become a RD? 

I’ve always been a curious person -- I don’t want you to tell me an answer, I want you to explain the “why” behind that answer. So when my parents would tell me that, say, broccoli is “good” for me, I wanted to know why. I didn’t know what a dietitian was, though, until I got to college and one of the girls across the hall from me in my Freshman year dorm was a nutrition & dietetics major. I was a French major at the time but not exactly enthusiastic about my career options, so I started to entertain the idea of switching over to nutrition and...the rest is history!

What area of dietetics do you work in?

I work by day as a community dietitian primarily doing 1:1 consultations under an Intuitive Eating framework (currently working toward my certification!), and on the side I’m a coach for fellow RDs.

How would you explain what you do?

I empower fellow intuitive-interested dietitians with the tools, 1:1 support, and techniques they need to manage their time effectively, diffuse their stress, and develop assertiveness so that they can feel confident in their nutrition counseling sessions, make a bigger impact in their clients’ lives, and still have time and energy to have a joyful life outside of their jobs.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?

I work a lot of hours between my day job and my business, probably logging a solid 60 or so hours a week if not more. Because of that, my most important weekly tasks are the ones I do for my self-care: from my “solo Fridays” where every single week I take the evening off of my to-do lists and relax (it usually involves PJs, Netflix, and whatever delicious dessert I baked up that week), to my smaller, daily habits like morning breathing meditations and making sure I’m asleep by 10:30pm as much as possible. If I didn’t prioritize those, making room for more as needed if I’m having a particularly challenging week, I’d never be able to accomplish half of what I do. Rest is productive!

What has been your career path?

I’ve actually had the same community nutrition job that I first landed out of my internship back in 2013, but my passion and specialty has evolved over time. I used to think I wanted to work with weight loss. The more I worked with people on their nutrition goals, though, the more I began to see it: pervasive food anxieties making people feel pressured and obligated to maintain unrealistically strict eating habits and body sizes, emotional eating driven by guilt and deprivation, and a chronically low level of self-esteem and confidence. That was when I started learning about the Health at Every Size (HAES) and Intuitive Eating practices, and they were total game changers for me personally and my counseling professionally.

What advanced education or special training do you have?

I’m certified in personal training though I’m debating letting that certification lapse next year. I also graduated from a holistic culinary school in NYC, the Natural Gourmet Institute. And I’m finishing up my Intuitive Eating Counselor certification through Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, which I hope to complete before the end of 2019. 

In an ideal world, what does the industry look like 5 years from now?

I’d love to see a shift toward prioritizing the wellbeing of the healthcare professional. Being a dietitian is really tough, mentally and emotionally, and we can’t give our all to our clients or patients if we’re stretched thin, feeling undervalued, and questioning whether or not we even made the right career decision. I also know that dietitians overall are ambitious, passionate, and hardworking, and we have so much potential to reach so many people if we can create an industry culture that values the sustainability of its individual members’ energy and happiness.

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

Don’t get caught up in perfectionism - we do our best work when we’re willing to get our hands dirty and learn along the way. Believe in yourself and reflect regularly - daily, even - on all the amazing things you have accomplished. And give yourself grace and compassion to not have it all figured out right now.

More about Jess:

Website: www.empoweringdietitians.com

Instagram: @empowering.dietitians

Email: Jessica@empoweringdietitians.com

Facebook: Empowering Dietitians by Jessica Serdikoff, RDN CPT

Thanks Jess!