For the next few month’s, Ally will be interning at Leah Kern Nutrition to gain experience in the private practice world and to learn more about being an Intuitive Eating Dietitian. Over the next few weeks, Ally will be guest writing some blogposts… we have some awesome content planned for you so make sure to keep your eye out on the blog!

I want to formally introduce Ally so you get to learn more about the person behind these guest blog posts we have in store for you. 

What’s your name, where are you from, and where are you currently attending school?

My name is Ally Wheeler and I’m a second year dietetics student at the University of Vermont (Leah’s alma mater)! I’m also minoring in Public Communications, and I’ve been loving my undergrad program so far. I grew up in a small town near the seacoast in New Hampshire, and New England certainly has a special place in my heart. 

What inspired you to want to pursue a career path as a dietitian?

I’ve always been really passionate about food, and  my own experiences with navigating diet culture have pushed me to seek a career where I can help others make peace with themselves and their relationship with food. I believe that everyone deserves to live a life free from the burden of constantly worrying about food and exercise, and by becoming a dietitian, I hope to help others feel seen, valued, and loved.

How did you get into intuitive eating?

As a freshman in college, I took a Fundamentals of Nutrition class that discussed the ten principles of intuitive eating. While I’d heard of intuitive eating as a buzzword in the nutrition world before, this was my first time truly questioning whether my own relationship with food was truly serving me. As someone who’s dealt with negative self-talk from the trap of restrictive diets before, intuitive eating has completely flipped how I view my relationship with myself and with food. 

What do you see yourself doing in your future as an RD?

As an RD, I hope to start my own private practice to work one-on-one with clients and pursue other creative work. I’m especially interested in how social media plays a role in our perception of nutrition and health, so I’d love to focus my energy on connecting with younger clients in this way. Of course, I’m planning on gaining some insight from Leah and several other amazing RDs to guide my career path. I’d love to gain some experience in as many areas of dietetics as I can to give me a broader perception of what each part of this field is like. 

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I spend a decent part of my free time creating recipes and other fun content for my own social media page, Radiant Plates. I started this account/blog in middle school several years ago, and since then this creative project of mine has evolved just as my mindset around health and wellness has. When I’m not taking pictures of food and documenting other bits and pieces of my life, I love traveling, spending time with my friends outside, journaling, and going on long walks with my golden retrievers. Burlington, Vermont is such a pretty place to spend my free time- you can often find me outside hammocking with friends and listening to music or wandering around the coffee shops downtown!

What is your favorite place in nature and why?

I love spending time at the beach- swimming in the ocean just makes me feel so grounded. Every summer, I spend a week or so visiting my grandparents in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and I also love taking a beach day here and there when I’m home in NH. Ideally, I’ll bring a good book, some relaxing music, and a refreshing snack like a smoothie bowl with me. I also love going on walks in the morning or doing some yoga outside. Any chance I have to get a little bit of sun is ideal!

What’s something that makes your heart happy?

I’d say that connection with others and good conversation always makes me happy. I love getting to know people for who they are, and I think that words are really powerful when it comes to creating genuine relationships and empowering others. Also, there are lots of little things that make me smile, like a good cappuccino, anything with peanut butter, and playlists with my favorite music (especially Fleetwood Mac, Grateful Dead, and Billy Joel).

What’s your favorite part about becoming an intuitive eater?

Eating intuitively has certainly allowed me to be so much more present and aware of my experiences.  Rather than putting my energy towards worrying about what food I’m eating and how I’m exercising, I’m focused on enjoying the memories I’m making with the people I love. Learning to fully become an intuitive eater is certainly an ongoing process, but it’s been so rewarding. There’s so much more to life than stressing over how we eat and what we look like!

Follow Ally on Instagram @radiantplates