One of the many reasons why I pursued dietetics

It started in middle school. My type A, driven personality was both a blessing and curse. A blessing in that I excelled in school and on the sports field. A curse because I obsessed about everything, but mostly about my body. Constantly checking to see how my stomach looked in the mirror, letting the number on the scale dictate my mood, pinching my skin to measure my “fat,” asking my siblings if I looked “fatter or skinnier than I did the week or month before.” I told myself that I had to stay thin if I wanted to remain the fastest on the team, eventually play D1 lacrosse at Princeton, and be attractive and desired. Ashamed of my collegiate weight-gain, I adopted rituals post-graduation, like making sure to only exercise in the morning on an empty stomach, using exercise as a punishment if I previously overate, stating that I was “gluten and lactose intolerant” so as to more easily avoid foods. 

My journey towards healthier eating and loving my body began before I decided to pursue dietetics. However, the knowledge I’ve gained during my master’s program – learning the science behind food, metabolic processes, psychology and overall health – has helped me recover from my disordered eating, become an even stronger athlete, and most importantly, feel truly happy and free. 

As a dietitian, I hope to help athletes and those suffering from eating disorders or disordered eating take back control of their thoughts and life, understand how their bodies really work, and learn to celebrate food.