Fuel Your Active Life

They are not the same thing. A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a regulated, protected title in Canada. To become an RD, you need a university degree in nutrition science, complete supervised clinical training, pass a national exam, and register with a provincial college. I hold a Master's in Nutrition and Dietetics from UBC, and I'm registered with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (licence #3663).

Beyond my private practice, I also work as a Clinical Dietitian at Vancouver General Hospital, where I provide nutrition care to patients in bone marrow transplant, cardiac ICU, surgery, neurology, oncology, and more. That clinical training and daily hospital work means I'm equipped to handle complex medical situations, not just general wellness advice.

The title "nutritionist" is not protected in most Canadian provinces, which means anyone can use it regardless of their education. When you work with an RD, you're working with someone who is held to professional standards, completes ongoing education, and is accountable to a regulatory college.

No, and that's intentional. I don't create or sell meal plans. Instead, I teach you cooking skills and strategies that work for your life, so you're not dependent on a plan someone else wrote. I help you find creative ways to use up ingredients you already have instead of following exact recipes. This is more sustainable, results in less food waste, and actually teaches you how to cook. After working with me, you'll feel better equipped to prepare food that meets your nutrition needs for an active lifestyle, without spending hours every day in the kitchen.

This is one of the most common topics I cover in my presentations to varsity teams and sports clubs. The short answer is: it depends on the duration, intensity, and type of activity. Before exercise, you want easily digestible carbohydrates that won't sit heavy. During longer sessions (60+ minutes), you'll likely need fuel to maintain performance. After, the priority is replenishing glycogen and supporting recovery. I work with each client to build a fueling and hydration plan specific to their sport, training schedule, and body. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, which is exactly why working with an RD who also competes at a high level makes a difference.

I delivered a full presentation on this topic to UBC youth baseball teams and their parents, covering the mechanisms, performance-enhancing properties, efficacy, dosing, timing, safety, third-party testing, and common myths around these three supplements. My approach is always food first. Supplements can play a role, but they should supplement a solid nutritional foundation, not replace it. Whether a supplement makes sense for you depends on your sport, your diet, your goals, and your individual health. I also emphasize the importance of third-party testing (look for NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport) since supplements in Canada are not regulated the same way as food or pharmaceuticals.

RED-S stands for Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport. It happens when you're not eating enough to support both your daily life and your training. It can affect anyone, not just elite athletes, and the consequences go far beyond performance: bone health, hormonal function, immune system, cardiovascular health, and mental health can all be impacted. One of the signs I see frequently is hypothalamic amenorrhea, where someone loses their menstrual cycle for months or even years due to under-fueling. This is a major area of my practice. If you're training hard but feeling constantly fatigued, getting injured frequently, or have lost your period, it's worth having a conversation with an RD who understands the demands of sport.

Absolutely. Plant-based and vegan athletes are one of my areas of focus. The key is making sure you're meeting your needs for protein, iron, B12, omega-3s, zinc, and calcium, which requires a bit more planning but is entirely achievable. I don't follow any particular diet myself, but I incorporate plenty of plant-based meals into my own cooking and training. I help clients figure out what works for their body, their ethics, and their performance goals without unnecessary restriction.

100%. My clients range from varsity and elite-level athletes to people who run a few times a week, hit the gym before work, hike on weekends, or just want to feel more energized throughout the day. Living an active lifestyle and meeting your fitness goals doesn't require a diet or following rigid meal plans. Whether it's elite-level sport, weekend warrior fitness, early morning gym sessions, or anything in between, the same principles of proper fueling apply. If you're active and want to eat in a way that supports how you move, I can help.

Not at all. My 1-on-1 nutrition counselling is 100% virtual through No Sweat Nutrition, so we can work together as long as you're a resident of British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut. I also do speaking engagements virtually for teams and organizations anywhere. The only service that requires being in the Vancouver area is my supervised home meal prep sessions, which are available within about a 1.5-hour drive of the city.