If you just searched for what a Nutrichologist is, and all you could find is this site, you are definitely wondering what this new fandangle Nutrichologist is.

The short answer is… I made it up. Actually, my partner John made it up after hearing me say for the 100^th time, “I can’t keep telling people I’m a nutritionist that works on the principles of health and eating psychology coaching!”

Added to this, I love what I do and can’t get enough of it, so more studies are on the horizon… how do I encapsulate all of that? Somehow John has this uncanny ability with words and very casually looked over at me one day and said Nutrichologist. Ta-da, there it was; after months of saying I’m a Culinary Nutritionist, Eating Psychology Health Coach, and Integrative Nutrition Coach, I could say Nutrichologist!

So now that you know where the name came from, let’s break it all down, and the best way to explain Nutrichologist is to ask you a few questions…

Do you know what you need to do every day to maintain your health and wellness?

If your answer is an unequivocal yes, then message me… I have questions.

If your answer is anything between yes (with a slight hesitation) to heck no, I’m just winging it, then welcome, you are with your people.

Through the years and my studies, I have seen some giants in the health and wellness industry do 180° turns on what they believed as absolute truths. Let’s go bigger; many of the premises for what we have as institutionalised health guidelines are being disproved or ‘edited’. These are people and organisations with some serious credentials that go into studies and details you and I will most likely never fully comprehend… yet… they get it wrong; oops, change their findings?

So, whenever I hear someone say something is THE way to go, I cannot help but wonder what its shelf life will be?

How many things in the name of health and wellness have you tried in your lifetime?

We all want to eat better, live more consciously, and adopt a healthier approach to life in general. We buy books, listen to podcasts, and try different programs but still find it challenging to figure out what we need to do on a day-to-day basis. Some things work, and others we have no idea, but there must be some benefit…right?

I get it. That was me many years back. There was a success (often short-lived), and there was a whole lot of unpleasantness (let’s face it, some of those miracle products/practices aren’t for the faint-hearted). Ultimately, I always felt I wasn’t quite getting the big picture.

The more I learnt, the less I seemed to know, and none of it empowered me to eat and live intuitively. But this isn’t just about me; look around, look at the world. We have so much evidence and knowledge. Yet year on year, lifestyle diseases like obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes keeps rising and affecting our children more and more.

Dawn, that’s pretty gloomy! Is there even any point in trying?

ABSOLUTELY. And by absolutely, I don’t mean that I have a miracle answer or even a fantastic offer. No, real life isn’t that glamorous, it may have glamorous moments (tiara on standby), and we need to celebrate those moments. But the reality is this:

• Anything worthwhile takes work and effort.
• The answer is not out there; it is where you are now.
• There is no silver bullet or single solution.

I need at least 100 points for my cliché badge, but, cliché or not, it’s all true. After all my studies, life experiences, and lessons, I realised a few things. These things that I have learned and continue to learn (because life is incredible that way) lie at the heart of Nutrichologist.

Now for the truth bombs…

• Living and being healthy is profoundly personal and varied, and there are no guarantees. It also looks different from person to person. Period!

In a world where we are bombarded with snapshots of near-perfect people, quick solutions, and instant everything, our own lives can seem less than in comparison. As individuals, we know it’s not realistic, but it doesn’t stop us from secretly trying.

• Our perceptions and reality are often very different.

Life is about ups and downs, ebb, and flow. Even in the crappiest moments of our lives, something can bring us joy. You can look over at your partner wearing their unsexy hobo-esque sleepwear and still see what you love about them. You can be healthy without ever having a smoothie or going on a juice cleanse.

• YOU are unique – find what works for you.

We are all different, and no two people on the planet are the same, which is why we have soooo many different dietary principles and plans. Many things influence what, why, how, and when we eat and live. Circumstances change which means adapting ways of doing and thinking.

What does Nutrichologist do then?

• Guide
  Your journey is deeply personal and, as mentioned, influenced by many factors. Nutrichologist helps you navigate these many influences through exploration, discussion, and experimentation.
• Practical Nutrition
  Information does not always translate into doing. Sharing nutritional information is a part of the Nutrichologist experience, however applying the knowledge using cooking classes, challenges, and discussions is key.
• Experiment
  There is no handbook; the way to find what works for you is through trial and error, focusing on experimentation and exploration. This also means all are welcome and without judgement.

The goal is for you to find your way to being confident and comfortable with your food and lifestyle choices, to help you create your unique user manual and to know how to adapt it without getting overwhelmed.

It is finding your inner guru and learning to trust the one true specialist that knows you inside and out – YOU!

So, join me as we live, learn and laugh through the lenses of mind, body, and nutrition.

Dawn