Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, LDN, CPT — Living The Dream Nutrition

Hannah Hobson, a fabulous dietetic intern in the Individualized Self Study Program (ISPP) at California State University, San Bernardino was able to interview the equally fabulous, Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, LDN, CPT recently to learn more about her journey in becoming a successful RDN. Read on to find out how YOU can become more fabulous too!

Hannah Hobson: You have an impressive list of accomplishments working in the media. What prompted you to focus on this area and become one of the top nutrition and lifestyle influentials?

Erin Palinski-Wade: Thank you so much! I honestly fell into media work by accident. After starting my private practice, I thought it would be a good idea to reach out to local reporters to build name recognition and brand awareness. From there, it snowballed and pretty soon I was landing interviews with top-tier outlets. What I quickly learned was working with the media opened up doors I wasn’t even aware existed. Seeing how my work with the media allowed me to reach a wider audience, I continued to keep up with it and use it to help me connect with my ideal clients all around the country…..and oftentimes in other countries too thanks to the power of social media!

HH: Telehealth is the new one-on-one counseling. How do you build rapport with your clients over the phone or video? What changes have you made in the way you evaluate nutritional needs?

EPW: Great question! Prior to COVID, we had been set up to use telehealth in our practice for clients that were unable to come in-person due to distance or other situations. Having the video function is very beneficial when it comes to ‘seeing’ a client’s expressions and building rapport. I actually love being able to be ‘in their home’ and see first-hand what foods they have questions on, etc. The hardest adjustment is not being able to physically show them anything…like how to measure a portion or read a food label. But thankfully through screen sharing and video, we’ve been able to fine-tune our approach and I honestly feel that telehealth for nutrition meets or exceeds the same goals in-person nutrition counseling provides. And I find clients are more relaxed in their home environment and open up more as well.

HH: How do you stay up to date with the latest research and trends in nutrition?

EPW: It can be a challenge, but I subscribe to news brief emails from a variety of sources so I can get ‘clips’ of the latest research and happenings and then dive into the research when I have time. I also have some amazing RDs who work with me and keep me up to date on the latest happenings so I know what research to go back and read.

HH: As a parent of three small children, how are you balancing work with daily home life during the pandemic? Any tips for stressed out interns regarding staying calm?

EPW: Well, if you have any advice in that area, I am happy to take it as well “LOL”! There are 3 things that help. You have to have a schedule and prioritize your task list each day……..and delegate as needed. I basically start off every day with a very long to-do list in a word document. I highlight the ‘must do’ items for the day and start there. As I work, if I find I am spending time on tasks that could be outsourced, I focus on creating a system on how to do the task and then work to get a member of my team to take on that role. So slowly, over time, I can focus more on what tasks I am needed for and not spend time on the things someone else may be able to assist me with. It is far from a perfect system, but I always find having a visual list helps me to create a plan of attack and lowers my stress. I also have spent the last 10 months working to lower my expectations for myself and be realistic that none of us can ‘do it all’. We all really need to focus on what matters most and realize….usually, the rest can wait.

HH: What advice do you have for someone who is interested in starting a food and nutrition blog?

EPW: If you want to start, dive in and start. There will never be a ‘perfect’ moment to start and honestly with blogging, social media, etc., you learn as you go. So the sooner you start, the better you will get. However in retrospect, I do wish that I had taken the time to understand Search Engine Optimization (SEO) better since now I am spending time going back through old posts to update them. I would say if you take time to learn the basics of SEO before jumping right in, then the work you do moving forward will pay off more (and actually get seen). I also recommend that you have a clear focus for your blog. Know who your ideal reader is. Make sure you make content that matters to them. Sometimes I want to write about a topic I find really interesting, but I know my ideal reader wouldn't care about it. It’s more important to make sure you are writing ‘to’ your audience because that is the content they will relate better with.

HH: What are five food “must have” items you always have on hand?

EPW: Just 5? LOL OK. I always have eggs, frozen spinach, nuts, Greek yogurt, and beans. I feel like if I have these 5 staples, I can always create a filling meal no matter what else I run out of.

Learn more about: Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, LDN, CPT

Nutrition Consultant/Author/Speaker/Spokesperson

"Belly Fat Diet For Dummies," "2 Day Diabetes Diet," "Walking the Weight Off For Dummies"

Instagram: http://instagram.com/erinpalinskiwade

YouTube: https://youtube.com/healthymomhappyfamily

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealthyMomHappierFamily

Twitter @ErinPalinski

Pinterest: @ErinPalinski

www.erinpalinski.com