One of the most popular things searched on the internet in 2019 was diets or some form of dieting. Did you know that there are professionals who specialize in how to use food as fuel? And I’m not talking about your local IG influencer. Dietitians can help guide you to the best foods for you and the diseases or conditions you may have. If you seek these professionals out, you can get a better grasp on what and how to eat to fuel your body. In honor of National Nutrition Month, I have had the privilege of having two wonderful experts in the field of dietetics to share what success looks like in their field. Check out Kim’s story here.

Story:

Ryce:

Hi Johane! Thanks for stopping by! I know that you talk a lot on your podcast and social media about what you do on a day to day basis, but what got you into dietetics as a career?

Johane:

For as long as I can remember growing up I wanted to be a doctor, have my own practice and be my own boss. I grew up in a family where my mom and dad were both culinary trained. Being of Haitian ancestry, this meant that I grew up on some good food. I mean Haitian, French, and African derived dishes were part of our meals very often.  Originally, I had my eyes set on medical school and that was my major, pre-Med Exercise Science (after switching around a few times LOL).  Part of our course load in school required nutrition courses and this is when I was introduced to the field of dietetics.  It was love at first sight or class LOL. I found a major that mixed my passion for medicine and food and the rest as they say, is history!

Obstacles:

Ryce:

It’s so neat to see how many times the path to a career in medicine ends up being the light bulb that people need to go off to realize that there is a way to marry their interests with health sciences and turn it into a career! As you made the transition in to dietetics, what obstacles or challenges did you have to overcome?

Johane:

I was the first person in my immediate family (and among the first in my entire family) to go to college in the United States. My chosen path had not been taken by anyone else, so it was a trial and error kind of thing. My parents being immigrants themselves didn’t know what exactly to do to help me through school so it was always a learning process. The field of dietetics also has very few black women. It was hard to find a person that looked like me to be a mentor. Sometimes you look for that because you feel that a person who is like you will most likely understand the life challenges that occur.

Ryce:

I agree. Sometimes having the initial familiarity based on culture makes a huge difference in how you can learn from a person. You have a common ground and can get to truly learning faster. How did these experiences make you feel and how did you overcome them?

Johane:

God, my parents, my husband and my godmom! We went through it all with trial and error. I went through periods of feeling inadequate, not feeling worthy, wanting to quit several times.  Not knowing what steps to take next in my journey to becoming an RDN was sometimes very hard for me.  Without my team of warriors in my life I would have given up a long time ago.

Action:

Ryce:

Having a community of people around you when you feel like you’re not meeting the mark is huge. How did you make peace with the challenges you faced?

Johane:

I had my eyes on my goals. I had to tell myself over and over that if I wanted to be a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, I had to push through.

Ryce:

How do you think pushing through and continuing to go for your goals helped you throughout your journey?

Johane:

All the obstacles I went through taught me that I was a strong woman, that could withstand a lot of tests. When I am faced with obstacles today, I remind myself of what I’ve been through to get here and that I can get through anything.

Ryce:

It’s awesome that you remind yourself of the things you’ve already accomplished and use that as fuel for the latest challenge. What other advice would you give to someone who is pursuing a career in your field?

Johane:

Go for it! Especially if you are a minority. We need more minorities in this field.  Take it one step at a time if need be to reach those goals. The good thing is that there are more minorities in the field now than there were when I started so, you are more likely to find the support you need.

Plans:

Ryce:

Knowing that there is a generation of new dietitians coming behind you, how are you using your story to encourage someone who may feel like you felt when you started your journey?

Johane:

With all the obstacles I went through and the few resources that I had, I made it to where I am today. If I can do that, students today can definitely succeed. Especially with the access social media provides to make contact with those who are already in the field. I am always willing to help those coming behind me. Contact me, I will provide whatever help I can!

Ryce:

Thank you so much for sharing and encouraging my readers! What’s next for you?

Johane:

Next, well right now I’m learning to balance life with a new little person in the family. Part of my next set of goals is to increase my reach as a media influencer so that more people (who have training like me) are in the forefront as nutrition “gurus” educating the world.

Ryce:

That’s an great segway into me sharing how you can get in contact with Johane. She has a podcast that can be found here and she is also present on Instagram and has her own website.

Johane’s Faves!