Over the years I’ve had many reactions to telling people that I’m a dietitian. Usually I get asked lots of questions about foods such as “Are bananas good for you” and “Uh Oh I’m eating chocolate” to “How good is β¦β¦ (insert the latest “superfood” here)” along with “I’m on the β¦β¦. diet”.
I find people tend to make funny presumptions about dietitans, so here are some of the ones that just aren’t true…
1. You must be a vegetarian. I loose count of the number of people who assume I am vegetarian. The best was being refused a taster of a meaty food at a supermarket because the store assistants assumed I was a vegetarian. Bizarre as they knew nothing about me. Apparently I look like a vegetarian. So my question is: “What does a vegetarian look like?” Either I look like I may be anaemic or I look like I’m full of amazing plant protein?
Actually I used to be a vegetarian as a teenager and I would be one now if I lived alone and if sausages didn’t exist π We eat meat a few times a week in our house and eat plenty of vegetarian meals too. I do agree that eating plant-based protein is a healthier and more sustainable way to eat, so I would encourage people to eat less meat.
2. No cake for you. I lose countof the number of hilarious occasions when people have bypassed me and not offered me cake/chocolate/sweets thinking that I wouldn’t eat them. Now there are lots of foods I cannot eat as I am wheat intolerant but I do enjoy a treat from time to time, all things in moderation is my mantra. All dietitians like cake, it’s in our code of conduct π in fact at the British Dietetic Association Annual dinner this year the dessert was not a fruit saladβ¦ but a chocolate brownie with ice-cream. Cake is a once a week treat in our house. Homemade healthier flapjacksβ¦ now that’s a whole different story!
3. You must like diets. As soon as I say that I’m a dietitian people love to talk to me about the lastest diets they are on. However in actual fact I am anti-diet. I literally sigh inside when people start with “Oh great, I’m on the β¦. diet, you must know all about that” Lets avoid the fad diets and just eat healthily please.
4. You always go for the skinny option. Now I admit, most of the time I do chose the healthier option. I like the 80/20 rule where you eat healthily 80% of the time and allow yourself some more relaxed eating 20% of the time. So although I may not eat that piece of cake and do choose a camomile tea over a latte, it is not always the case.
5. You must be super healthy. Hmmm. I would say that depends on what you call super healthy. I eat a healthy well balanced diet and exercise regularly (I teach 12 pilates classes a week for starters), but I also eat dark chocolate, drink wine and eat crisps π In my mind this is all balanced and healthy, in your mind it may not be π
Dietitian’s. Usually very into cooking, food, cake and science. Not that into fads, diets and avoidance.