Beyond the Influencers: Why Dietitians Are Your True Nutrition Superheroes
March 3, 2025
By Marco Campana, Knowledge Mobilization and Social Action Coordinator, Access Alliance
At Access Alliance, our dietitians create a friendly space where you can talk about food without feeling judged. They give advice that’s backed by science but fits your personal needs. They celebrate cultural foods and help you plan meals that are both healthy and enjoyable.
In today’s world of social media nutrition influencers, our dietitians stand out. Only people who meet strict standards can call themselves a dietitian. They’re trained and regulated just like your doctor or dentist, ensuring you get safe and effective nutrition advice. They have university degrees in food and nutrition, complete hands-on training, and pass a national exam. They also keep learning about new research and techniques every year.
When it comes to food information, dietitians are your most trustworthy source.
March is Nutrition Month! We’re celebrating our amazing dietitians, Yousra and Calla, and the healthy eating habits they promote. They work with other Access Alliance staff to bring healthy living to all our clients and communities.
Our dietitians can:
- Get your kids excited about eating fruits and vegetables
- Help you stay healthy and strong on a budget
- Answer your questions about food and nutrition
- Build community while cooking together
Let’s explore how Yousra and Calla help you flourish emotionally, mentally, and physically, while honouring your culture.
We’re Nourishing Cultural Ties: Newcomers Cooking Together
In our Newcomers Cooking Together group, participants teach heart-healthy recipes from their cultures each week. Everyone enjoys learning about new ingredients and dishes from around the world.
Recently, participants from Eritrea and Ethiopia taught the group how to make delicious plant-based recipes like:
- Misir wot (lentil stew)
- Alicha dinich (cabbage and potatoes)
- Kik Alicha wot (yellow split peas stew)
- Shiro wot (chickpea stew)
They showed everyone how to eat these dishes with injera (traditional bread) and even celebrated with a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. We’re grateful to our Peer Outreach Worker Aberehet for supporting the community.
Check out our community cookbooks from previous years:
Find out more in this fun video about Newcomers Cooking Together: Men’s Edition!
We’re Nourishing Emotional Health: Women’s Wellness Program
Our dietitians work with other health professionals to create programs like Women’s Wellness. This program helps newcomer women through nutrition education, exercise, art, and therapeutic activities. At Access Alliance, a team including a dietitian, physiotherapist, social worker, and arts health promoter created a special 6-week program for newcomer women. Each session includes education, group discussions, and art activities.
Topics covered include:
- Eat A Rainbow
- Mindful Eating
- Food Gratitude
- Exploring Food, Culture & Health
- Physical Activity
- Body Image
- Self-Care
Participants make creative projects like mindful eating placemats, tote bags, beadwork, clay magnets, rainbow lanterns, and recipe books.
Women who joined the program reported feeling better mentally and physically. They learned to be more mindful when eating, practice self-care, feel more grateful, and improve their nutrition knowledge.
Find out more about our Women’s Wellness program in this video:
We’re Nourishing Mental Health: Feel Good Foods
Our dietitians help you understand how food affects your brain and mood. They offer virtual education sessions about eating for heart, brain, and digestive health. This online format makes it easier for everyone to join, even if they can’t come to our locations.
Each 6-session series comes with workbooks for participants to keep. Sessions include fun activities, recipe challenges, step-by-step planning, and goal setting to help make lasting changes to your nutrition and health.
The “Your Brain on Food” program explores how different foods support brain health:
- Leafy greens provide hydration, fibre, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals
- Fermented foods support gut health
- Seafood offers essential fatty acids
- Colourful foods provide various nutrients
- Legumes, nuts, and seeds offer protein and healthy fats
The “Feel Good Foods” program covers everything about digestion from start to finish. Topics include digestion basics and tips for managing common issues like acid re-flux, stomach pain, gas, bloating, and irregular bowel movements.
Want to learn more about how food affects your mental health? Speak with a dietitian about the brain-gut connection!
We’re Nourishing Physical Health: Healthy Eating for Seniors
Nutrition is important for good health at all ages. At Access Alliance, our dietitians provide nutrition services for all ages – from children to seniors. They offer one-on-one counselling, healthy child screening, senior nutrition support, cooking groups, and educational series.
Our Senior Fitness Program Worker and dietitians created a special program for adults 65 and older. This program combines group exercise with practical information to prevent malnutrition and weakness. Topics include:
- Screening for nutrition risks
- Following a balanced plate model
- Keeping a food diary
- Tips for eating before, during, and after exercise
- Important nutrients for aging: protein, fibre, fluids, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12
Dietitians can help seniors stay fit and healthy by teaching them about nutrients that become more important as we age. They tell us that we help them stay fit and healthy:
- “I feel stronger”
- “It feels good to learn something”
- “I learned the importance of balanced meals
Our seniors love it, but kids do too!
- “2 thumbs up!”
- “It was amazing, chef’s kiss. I didn’t like it I loved it!”
This March, celebrate Nutrition Month by learning more about how dietitians help you nourish your body and flourish in all aspects of your life!