Our Registered Dietitians are an ally in your corner when it comes to navigating the diet culture-filled world we live in.
Creating a Confident You
The internet is filled with gimmicky nutrition fads, diets, and weight loss methods that are based on little to no research. At Valeo, our Registered Dietitians are an ally in your corner when it comes to navigating the “diet-culture” filled world we live in, where there is a new rule or trending diet every day.
We will never judge or shame you about your eating habits or relationship with food. Instead of meal plans, food rules, or other “quick fix” approaches that won’t last, we guide you with the most up-to-date information on nutrition and behaviour change, allowing you to create sustainable nutrition habits.
We aim to remove shame and blame from your vocabulary when it comes to food, and instead empower you to feel more confident and comfortable in your food choices and body.
Discover a More Peaceful Relationship with Food
Seeking a neutral approach to eating
When we remove the labels of “good” and “bad” from food, we can begin to make food choices based on our needs and values instead of external pressures and messages. When we remove morality from food, and listen to our bodies, we are able to more easily tune into our mental and physical needs, ultimately gaining more peace with food.
Our Registered Dietitians guide you to gain a new perspective, skills and knowledge, and improve your relationship with food by
- Exploring how you define “health” and “healthy eating” for you and your body
- Removing shame and blame from food choices and cravings
- Helping you decouple your self-worth and body image from food
- ‘Debunking’ or ‘myth busting’ social media fad diets and food trends
- Providing evidence-based education to help you navigate external factors such as peer pressure, social media, convenience options, and more.
Individualized Nutritional Guidance
Support specifically for your needs and goals
Our individualized, strengths-based approach is backed by research and focused on what is going to work for you.
Nutrition Consultation
A 15-minute free consultation with one of our Registered Dietitians to see if our dietetic services are a good fit for you and to explore what support you’re seeking.
Nutrition Assessment
During this session, we work together to
- Learn together about your relationship with food
- Identify your priorities and create goals
- Determine how you would like to measure the success of your goal(s)
- Plan for follow-up
You will also receive nutrition education related to your presenting concern(s) and be able to ask any questions you may have.
Nutrition Follow-up
You can schedule these 45-minute follow-ups as necessary to best support your wellness journey.
This is a great opportunity to
- Check-in on your progress
- Celebrate your wins and troubleshoot any roadblocks
- Make any necessary changes to our co-created goal(s) or individualized nutrition care plan
- Address any nutrition knowledge gaps
We may also provide you with additional evidence-based strategies, tools, or resources that you can use to continue improving your relationship with food and meet your nutrition goals.
Redefining Your Overall Health
A focus on building sustainable, long-term habits
Our Registered Dietitians can help you with a variety of nutrition-related concerns including but not limited to
- Chronic disease management
- Eating disorders/disordered eating
- Neurodiversity (ADHD/autism)
- Body image
- Allergies and food intolerances
- Gut health
- Sports nutrition
- Osteoporosis
- Anemia
We welcome and can support anyone seeking nutrition guidance; however, we currently offer specialization in the following areas:
Chronic Disease Management
- Obesity or adiposity impairing health
- Diabetes, or blood sugar management
- Cardiovascular disease, including hypertension or high cholesterol
- Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, such as irritable bowel disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- And more
Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating
- Whether you have a formal diagnosis or are looking to improve your overall relationship with food, we are here to support you
- Our collaborative approach with Valeo’s psychology team means that you can be well supported beyond food and nutrition-based approaches, as we recognize that psychology and mental health are a huge piece of the eating disorder recovery puzzle
- Working towards you being able to tune into what your body wants and needs from food, rather than strict and restrictive food rules
Body Image
- Exploring how your relationship with food impacts your body image
- Co-learning about acceptance-based approaches, ultimately working towards positive embodiment
- Navigating changes in body image following significant weight gain or weight loss
- Obesity as a chronic disease
- Self-compassion and meeting you wherever you are in your body image journey
Neurodiversity, Mental Health, and Nutrition
- Nourishing your body even on low appetite or low energy days
- Meal planning and food prep with executive dysfunction
- Navigating any food aversions and/ or texture sensitivities
- Hydration strategies
- Working with your brain to find sustainable strategies for grocery shopping and food storage that work for you
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you going to give me a diet to follow?
We do not give standard, “cookie cutter” diet plans here at Valeo. Instead, we work with you to create sustainable changes in your food and nutrition habits. When we explore the root of our strained relationship with food, we are often guiding you on how you can add foods back into your diet in a balanced way, rather than strictly cutting foods out, making you want them even more.
On the other hand, if you have a chronic disease or condition that requires more strict dietary adherence, for instance kidney disease or food intolerances, we can provide more specific medical nutrition therapy recommendations
What is the difference between a Registered Dietitian and a Nutritionist?
The difference between a Registered Dietitian (RD or PDt) and Nutritionist varies by province. For example, Dietitian is a protected title across Canada, whereas Nutritionist is a protected title only in Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. The protected titles are provincially regulated health professionals, whereas nutrition coaches, registered holistic nutritionists (RHP), and certified nutritional practitioners (CNPs) are not provincially regulated, nor is their training accredited or regulated in content or length.
I’ve tried so many diets and worked on my eating habits, and nothing sticks. How is this approach different?
This approach is different because we don’t prescribe the same “diet” or diet plan to all of our clients. Our recommendations are tailored to you, and customized to your lifestyle. When we work to make changes that you’re interested in, ready for, and willing to make, research shows you’re more willing to commit and stick with the behaviour changes over time
