Episode 7: Campus Health Dietitians on the Record Transcript
[00:00:07.240] - Kayla
Welcome to Nutrition Navigator's podcast, Bringing Nutrition and Wellness to you. Together, we learn from a variety of health professionals about their stories and how they contribute to the world. That as wellness, our program is called Nutrition Navigators, where we aim to help college students navigate nutrition on and off campus. We focus on diversity and work to make wellness a less stressful place where all bodies are celebrated. We are a monthly podcast where we interview health professionals in the field about health and wellness topics for college students.
[00:00:37.210] - Kayla
This is our opportunity to grow and build community with the University of Arizona students. My name is Kayla, the student coordinator for nutrition navigators. Ashley Munro is my co-host and one of the nutrition counselors at Campus Health and the advisor for Nutrition Navigators. On today's episode, we have all three of the dietitians from Campus Health. In addition to Ashley, we have Lisa McDonald and Christy Wilson. They are here to share answers to students common nutrition related questions.
[00:01:05.480] - Kayla
And just to note that all the content on the podcast is for a general audience is intended to be for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. Now, let's welcome Lisa and Christy to the show.
[00:01:29.390] - Kayla
So today, we have our three dietitians from Campus Health, we have Ashley Munro, Lisa McDonald and Christy Wilson. First of all, ladies, thank you so much for being here today. I'm super excited.
[00:01:42.380] - Kayla
My first question for you three are that so we know that you work at Campus Health. What makes each of you uniquely qualified to discuss nutrition?
[00:01:51.940] - Lisa
This is Lisa, I have been working in the field of dietetics for twenty five years and in that twenty five years I've done outpatient counseling in a variety of different settings, everything from a health and wellness resort, to a rehabilitation facility and now a campus health. I've done a lot of work with with eating disorders as well as healthy eating counseling.
[00:02:23.520] - Christy
I'm Christy. Hello, everybody. I have been working in the field of nutrition and dietetics since, '99. After completing a bachelor's in nutrition at UofA, then, anybody who is a registered dietitian has to do a postgraduate internship where you get that experience of working with patients, learning from other dietitians in the field. Depending on the type of internship that you're doing, you're getting clinical experience and different settings like clinical settings, hospitals, community clinics, all different environments.
[00:03:18.330] - Christy
Then oftentimes there's food service as well. So you learn about that part of the industry of food and nutrition. After doing a postgraduate internship and getting that really hands on experience with working under the supervision of dietitians in the field, then you're able to take your registration exam.
[00:03:45.810] - Christy
And I think that really sets that's mainly what sets registered dietitians apart from other health professionals, is that experience in an internship. It's quite competitive, but it's an experience that really you're not going to get anywhere else and then to have to take your exam and then continuing education to support that credential of being a registered dietitian.
[00:04:17.760] - Christy
It is extremely important and extremely valuable. And and it really matters. Those credentials matter, because when you're comparing a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) with that title versus somebody who is only using the term "nutritionist", there is a very clear divide as to the expertise of somebody who holds that credential and has earned that credential versus someone who may have read a lot of books and watched a lot of YouTube videos. It's not the same. Not at all. So myself, I've worked in different settings, outpatient settings, talking to patients about primary care issues like diabetes and hypertension and heart disease, and then also worked in a non-profit setting where I was working with HIV patients and giving out pantry bags and teaching cooking classes and such.
[00:05:22.680] - Christy
And then I worked at the VA for 11 years doing inpatient outpatient counseling and teaching some classes and then working at UofA for with students for the past four years. Then my I guess niche, I guess, would be culinary nutrition. That's something that I really enjoy doing, the Cooking on Campus program, then doing nutrition counseling, working with students so different from from Lisa's expertise and specialty, but I think that's what really makes our team so great.
[00:06:11.440] - Ashley
Thanks, Christy. And I love that you mention the program highlight, too, at campus health. Lisa, can you speak a little bit about body positive since we're throwing around some program highlights.
[00:06:24.760] - Lisa
Sure, I'm the advisor for Body Positive Arizona, which is a community outreach program led by students with the goal of helping to improve self-esteem and body image for university students. We've been holding courageous conversations, just kind of holding safe spaces for people to come and talk about weight, inclusivity, health at every size, social media. We've got one coming up that's going to be on how to have a very positive holiday season. As we know, that can be a pretty stressful time for students and especially those dealing with some body image and disordered eating kind of thought processes and behaviors.
[00:07:09.820] - Ashely
Awesome. Thanks so much. And this is Ashley. Thanks, Christy. I love how Christy also mentioned, that dietitians require continuing education, I think that uniquely qualified us because we are required... By law, essentially to maintain up to date information about health and nutrition, and I feel like that is a unique piece of what makes us qualified and makes us the experts as far as answering those questions that the public have and that we're going to do today as well.
[00:07:45.400] - Ashley
So just to add for my where I stand. So I'm a registered dietitian as well, along with the ladies. I'm a certified diabetes care and education specialist and a certified intuitive eating counselor. So I really started in a clinical setting. I worked in a hospital initially, and then I moved over to working in the community and outpatient a couple of years after being in the hospital. And I've been dietitian for almost eight years. And I've been at the university for just over a year. So I am the newest member of the team. And I'm so honored and privileged to work with you students here on campus. I just have some have some special interest. My certified intuitive eating piece kind of plays a huge role, as you've noticed, as we've talked even on the podcast, having a healthy relationship with food and body is a for sure passion of mine.
[00:08:50.200] - Ashley
I love working with students around those kind of questions and needs and making sure that they feel like their own best nutrition experts. Thanks Kayla for that question. So I guess I will ask the first question of our two special guests today. What is each of your favorite part of working with college students since that's who we kind of hang out with week to week and I guess Lisa you can go first.
[00:09:17.140] - Lisa
I love working with college students, just being around that energy, the enthusiasm and learning about the students pursuits related to education and their career aspirations. I just find it to be an invigorating environment to be in and just love the energy of the college student, particularly related to nutrition. A lot of students that we work with, this is the first time they really are taking on the responsibility of feeding themselves. It's kind of fun to be a part of that process and them learning what works for them and supporting them and help to weed through a lot of the nutrition information that we're bombarded with all the time. That's the nutrition excitement around working with the college students.
[00:10:07.660] - Ashley
I feel like that's such a good point. Like this is the first time a lot of folks are making all those choices. They're doing it all, their doing the shopping, they're doing the cooking. I think that's really important piece. I don't think in college I knew that there were registered dietitians on campus available to me to ask some of those questions. I love that we're available and willing to work with students with all different kinds of questions and needs depending on what they're most interested in learning.
[00:10:39.520] - Lisa
Yeah, and you know, and I'm not sure that all universities do provide access to your dietitians and I think when I was in college, that probably was not available. I think it's a very valuable service that we have here available to students.
[00:10:56.500] - Christy
Yeah, I'm going to piggyback on what both of you said. I'm glad that we are available. We're available every day, you know, whatever variety it is of us, because Lisa's here seeing students every day. Ashley and I break up the week. And so I'm front part of the week. Ashley's the last part of the week. So we're seeing students every day. I really appreciate their curiosity and the questions that they have, the information they're exposed to it also, it just keeps that curiosity that I've always had about nutrition, just sort of like top of my mind. And to know, like, what's the latest nutrition information or misinformation that's out there, because it keeps me on my toes so that I can better serve the students.
[00:11:59.530] - Christy
We do some mentoring with nutrition students, and so I always love that and and I feel like if I can help a student, whether it's doing nutrition counseling or being a mentor for students, then it makes me feel good. It's just like really is meaningful to me and to be in a career that I can feel that way, I think it's I chose the right path.
[00:12:41.750] - CHristy
It's just it's really important to enjoy what you do.
[00:12:54.890] - Ashley
Absolutely, and I share elements of what you both mentioned, I think a big theme, and one of my favorite parts, which is obviously personal because it's it's my job, but they they teach us so much.I feel like I learned so much from our students. We want to show up and do our best for them and we want to empower them. Then seeing that light bulb go off or seeing them reach that moment where they're feeling more confident around how to make nutrition choices, that is a that is a fun moment to watch, and I think that that makes it really rewarding.
[00:13:40.430] - Ashley
Plus, like college students in their nature, like there's so much variety on campus and there's like there's a pulse on campus, even in a virtual setting. There is something about the college experience and the academic season that just has a fun vibe to it. It makes, you know, the variety of a job very fun, because we do nutrition presentations, we do our programming, we work with students one on one. I've never had a job where I've had so much flexibility and variety, just loveliness, that's different day to day. I also love how much we're talking up being dietitians, so if anyone is out there and you're looking for a cool job. We have obviously explained that this job is rad.
[00:14:29.930] - Christy
College students are learning so much, so they always have good ideas. For example with Cooking on Campus, we started a whole second program. I call it like the spawn of Cooking on Campus, which is Dorm Room Eats. Dorm Room Eats was where we actually went into the residence halls and did cooking demos.
[00:14:58.870] - Christy
It's a very specific audience. But that was the students idea that wasn't coming from me as the advisor. It was something that they saw a need and they filled it and found a way to do it and found a way to get funding for it. And so it's stuff like that that's like, you know, it makes me excited to to work in this environment.
[00:15:22.430] - Ashley
Absolutely. The podcast, Kayla ,this is your baby. This was your idea.
[00:15:33.020] - Kayla
I love hearing you guys talk about how much you love your jobs. Especially the piece about how you guys are learning from the students, too. It's not like you're just telling the students, "this is what you need to do" "you have to eat this." It's really like you're creating those connections with them and they feel really comfortable, and it's a healthy relationship.
[00:16:06.530] - Kayla
It's a healthy environment overall and absolutely love that. You guys, like, highlighted that because I think students probably don't realize that. They just think, oh, if I see a dietitian, they're just going to tell me what to eat and what to do. And that's that's not the case at all. So thank you for sharing that
[00:17:31.760] - Lisa
Absolutely.
[00:17:32.300] - Lisa
And I think the fact that all of our programming is student led, it's so important because it's now relevant. We have that student input. It's relevant to the students experience. I think it's so important that it's not just by us that we're in the background being the advisors and and running with the student's ideas.
[00:17:54.530] - Kayla
Yeah, that's so great. And I also wanted to mention if you're listening to this and even thinking about pursuing dietetics, this is your sign, do it, because listening to Ashley, Lisa and Christy talk about their jobs, makes it sound so awesome.
[00:18:48.540] - Kayla
OK, so next I'm going to start asking some questions that students commonly have and that I'm sure a lot of students listening right now would like to know.
[00:19:00.720] - Kayla
My first question is, what is Keto and is it good for you? All right.
[00:19:06.340] - Lisa
So this is Lisa. I'm going to answer that one today. So Keto is is one of the many diets that we see in social media and pretty much everywhere. I was just talking to the group earlier about just a shopping trip to Costco. And you see the word Keto on so many different foods that are available in the stores now. It's one of the diets out there promoted for weight loss right now. And I guess what sets this one apart is that it's a diet that's really high in fat with a moderate amount of protein and very limited carbohydrate intake.
[00:19:43.770] - Lisa
The suggestion is to be at least 50 grams or less of carbohydrate, which is quite low. And it really takes a lot of foods out of the diet that have very strong nutrient value as well as fiber value. So we do worry a little bit about one's ability to get their micronutrients, a little tiny nutrients that are in fruits and vegetables met, because the diet allows for very little fruit and vegetable intake and also very little grain intake. So you're looking at a lack of fiber and a lack of different micronutrients that are going to be taken in on that diet.
[00:20:23.130] - Lisa
Sometimes when people start a diet like this, they will have some weight loss in the beginning, a lot of that is some water loss. There's also potential to have something called the keto flu. It can feel pretty bad when you start this kind of a diet. You can feel lightheaded and dizzy, might even be nauseous. You also might have difficulty with sleep when you engage in this kind of an eating pattern. I think one thing that is frustrating when people try these approaches is that everyone's body's reaction to Keto diet is a little bit different.
[00:20:59.910] - Lisa
And so people may not get the same results as someone else or someone that they saw on social media. And that can create a lot of frustration with the diet. I think what's concerning to me about it is, is this a diet that's allowing us to be in tune with our own hunger and fullness cues, as well as what's satisfying to us. Anytime someone's thinking about trying an approach to eating, I always want them to think about, is this something I can see myself doing for the rest of my life?
[00:21:32.970] - Lisa
Is this a sustainable approach to eating? And if not, then I encourage trying something different, something that's going to be able to include foods that are enjoyable to that person. So I know it's out there and people are bombarded with so many different dietary approaches out there. This is one that there are some concerns for people with with health issues such as liver disease, kidney issues, thyroid, even, that maybe they shouldn't delve into this kind of a diet.
[00:22:07.260] - Lisa
And there's also some concerns in those same arenas and what the long term consequences of this diet might look like, including heart disease, kidney stones, liver disease, that that type of thing. Yes, I would I would proceed with caution with anything that super restrictive like this and encourages eliminating or almost eliminating any particular food group. One other piece, I might add, is that one of the things that we get from carbohydrate is the enhanced ability to make serotonin, which is a feel good brain chemical that affects our mental health and wellbeing.
[00:22:47.070] - Lisa
And so I do get a little bit concerned about that, too, with some folks who might struggle with depression, anxiety and mood disorders, things along those lines, it might not be the most supportive diet for those kinds of issues.
[00:23:02.330] - Ashley
What I love so much about that, Lisa, is all of these just a reminder that there are there could be negative outcomes from trying a particularly highly restricted male pattern, and that it probably not l a do it yourself kind of meal pattern. I know some folks have needed to have lab work done to make sure if they're sensitive to changes in cholesterol, that this could be a recipe for turning on some of those family traits around high cholesterol. The risk of disordered eating in highly restrictive diets like this, whether that be related to mood or other underlying factors. I think it just reminds us, if someone asked me to go out to dinner tonight, would that stress me out because of the meal plan I'm on? And if that's the case, how do I feel about that?
[00:24:03.470] - Ashley
Just get curious about, like, am I going to be able to live my life? So I love that you mentioned this style of eating should be something that we can sustain forever and that we find satisfying, that our bodies find can do efficiently because our bodies weren't meant to weren't designed to run on ketones. It does. It's like I always explain it to patients like your if if carbohydrates are premium gasoline ketones are like diesel, trying to run your Honda Civic on diesel.
[00:24:33.890] - Lisa
Absolutely. That's a great way to to look at that. And thank you for bringing up that disordered eating piece, too, because I think any time we're looking at a highly restrictive diet like this, it's going to put that person who is at risk of disordered eating disorder thought pattern's at a higher risk when they engage in this type of eating. So I think that's an important consideration here, too.
[00:24:57.830] - Ashley
And I think people know if they tend to be very all or nothing in nature. Right. Like if you tend to be someone who is like all in or all out. And that's just a pattern you see throughout your life with lots of different activities, that could just be a pause for concern. When we're thinking about changing our way of eating or even moving, that makes that asks for such restrictions. You're just I feel like it's like you're going to feel like you're either doing amazing and winning or you're going to feel like you're losing.
[00:25:33.500] - Ashley
And it's like, well, how does that how is that for my mental health.
[00:25:37.220] - Kayla
Thank you guys for going over that. I think the super important topic, because a lot of people in general wonder what that is or they think they know just from simple articles they see. I think it's important that we inform students what it is and if it is good for you or not. So thank you.
[00:26:00.590] - Kayla
The next question that students have are what is intermittent fasting?
[00:26:07.190] - Christy
Intermittent fasting is isn't a diet in the conventional sense. It's basically cycling between eating and not eating. It puts time restrictions on when you can eat and when you can not eat.
[00:26:31.730] - Christy
It's another way really to restrict your intake. If you already are a person who has struggled with restriction in an extreme sense, then this can this can further complicate things. It puts further barriers in the way of eating and eating when you're able to eat, eating when you want to eat. For some people, they have found it beneficial because it has them eating on a certain schedule, from this time to this time, that's when I can eat. Then it gives you that cutoff point and it solidifies that misinformation that you can't eat after a certain time because X, Y and Z will happen or might happen, which, you know, people have issues around that.
[00:27:45.530] - Ashley
I feel like people like rules, like what you just mentioned. It's like it's this set time. It's it's a rule. And I think rules can be really comforting for folks. And that gives us this false sense of, maybe success or false sense of like I can do this, "I can follow the rules". But I mean, what happens on a day where you're hungry, not within your window? Then you don't feel great about yourself and that's not fun.
[00:28:13.970] - Christy
Yeah, it's it's putting rules. When it comes to eating, it's putting restrictions that are not necessarily necessary, if that makes sense, so it can complicate the mentality around, what is healthy eating? According to a clock, and I think that when you're putting barriers to your options and being flexible, especially when you're a student, it can be, damaging, I don't know if that is the right word, but it can just make healthy eating more difficult. The more rules that you set around eating, the more difficult healthy eating gets, which is unnecessary.
[00:29:20.150] - Lisa
One thing I would add in there is both of these diets are so restrictive, both that we've addressed so far are so restrictive, that sometimes what it leads to on the tail end is more binge like eating. And so whether it's I'm not allowing what it is, that's truly satisfying to me or I'm starving because it's not been my window and I've been hungry for two hours. That can be a setup to then over consume and be too full and maybe choose things that don't make you feel so great. I think that's an important thing to address. And that holds true for both of these diets that we've brought up so far.
[00:30:00.980] - Ashley
Absolutely. In intuitive eating, we call it primal hunger, where your body is physiologically responding to there being famine or physiologically responding to not getting what it needs. And it doesn't have the ability to be mindful. "I don't really care what it is I eat". I can't really slow down necessarily as well, because my body just is getting the message of "feed me now, danger, danger".
[00:30:31.400] - Ashley
I think that primal hunger is real. And what Christy mentioned, about it reinforcing that message "see you needed that rule because look what happened." I think that's really unfair of diet culture to put on us because your body is just trying to do its job. It's just trying to keep you alive. And that's so wonderful. But because this rule was imposed, then you're left feeling like, "oh, I couldn't even get that right." Biology trying to do its job and a rule making it really hard for it to do that.
[00:31:10.450] - Christy
And like what Lisa said, it could it could lead to binge eating because it's like, "well, you're approaching that cutoff time and so you better get it all in before that magic hour". But it can also reinforce restriction as well when you're not supposed to be eating within a certain period of time. It can it can go either way, but either way doesn't lead to a necessarily healthy approach to taking care of yourself. It's it's putting up this this time frame of yes versus no. But there's nothing set in stone when it comes to timing and eating.
[00:32:22.990] - Lisa
And I think it's important to note, too, that the research around these diets are not great in supporting what people engage in them for to begin with. Like what? What is the weight loss? That's usually why people are using these diet, what is the weight loss outcome? And the research doesn't really hold up and the types of research that have been done are not great either.
[00:32:51.190] - Ashley
I was going to mention that I'm so glad you reminded me. The research on intermittent fasting and cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone that we produce when we're stressed. And intermittent fasting has been shown to cause stress on our bodies. We talk sometimes about how diets inherently are stressful because you're always on edge and wondering "am I doing this right." It's just a high pressure situation, even if it doesn't seem that way. Some of the research they've done, they've seen some early results that intermittent fasting could be beneficial in certain patient populations. They may see some short term benefit in certain areas, like their their lab levels and I am being very general here. But but they still see increases in their stress response and stress is really hard on our bodies. And long term stress can be really damaging and be an independent risk factor for complications like developing chronic diseases. So, I need to ask myself do " I really want to be doing something where I'm going to put my body in this high sense of stress every day, all day for an extended period of time?" And is that in the name of health? Is that healthy? Kind of. Maybe not?
[00:34:22.720] - Kayla
Again, I absolutely love the information because I think it's so important for students to know this stuff, and I think I'm especially grateful that we're doing this podcast so that it's kind of like students get a taste of what I experience, you know, being around you guys listening to, you know, all the things you say.
[00:34:45.670] - Kayla
The next question I'm going to ask is, do we need to be counting our calories?
[00:34:52.330] - Ashley
Yeah, I feel like this question comes up quite a bit because there are so many ways to do it these days. Like with the development of all of the apps on phones, there's all different types of apps and there's all different types of diets, too.
[00:35:09.040] - Ashley
So each new age diet like keto, intermittent fasting, they all have their own dejour of an app, dejour to count whatever you're counting. So if you want to count something, there's probably an app to help you count it. But again, like, is this going to be something that I want to do forever? So I think a lot of times when we approach calorie counting, I will ask a student, have you ever done that before? When they're asking you this question and they will say yes and I will kind of come back and just be curious as to was that useful?
[00:35:43.270] - Ashley
Was it helpful for you to count your calories? How was it helpful? What did it do for you? What did it not do for you? And can we weigh the benefits versus the harmful effects of calorie counting, just from a personal perspective. Just from your own lived experience. Because I don't live in your body. So if you found this to be the most amazing man on the planet, who am I to tell you to stop doing that. Kayla mentioned earlier, this is a collaborative process that we're going to do together when we work on our health goals. And I am not in the business of telling you what to do, mostly because, like, I don't live in your body and human response to being told what to do is to do the opposite.
[00:36:28.570] Ashley
Maybe if we step away from that and we talk about what really is your goal or your concern when it comes to why we want to be counting things, what that gives you. Then I think we can talk about body diversity. If two people ate the same and we move the same and we eat the same foods, we're still going to look wildly different.
[00:36:59.690] Ashley
Even calorie counting is a huge estimation. So if you're eating food, say we both eat a piece of lasagna. I know that was a very random choice, but it's what I ate for dinner last night. If we eat a piece of lasagna, we are going to absorb different amounts of that lasagna. I'm going to absorb maybe 400 calories and you're going to absorb 250. I'm making these numbers up. But the point is, even eating the same things because my body is different than yours, you're going to absorb a different amount of those calories. But we're both tracking. And it may not even be that accurate. So I think we just have to ask ourselves, is that worth it.
[00:38:40.880] - Lisa
One addition there, too, is that you can be taking in whatever that estimated right number of calories might be, but still not getting the nutrients your body requires. I think it's is there is more complexity to it than counting the calories. We want to think about not only nutrients but also, again, satisfaction. You're getting a variety of foods in there. And it's not only about the calories.
[00:39:14.360] - Ashley
That is such good point, because, like, if you're at that mark, like whatever the app is telling you, like you've you're in the Green Zone of yay and like you, but you're you're not necessarily hungry, but you're not satisfied because your day was filled with these foods that you think you "should" be having.
[00:39:30.680] - Ashley
Then then. Yeah, I was that of true benefit. If you're still hungry and now you're going to feel bad because you're going to want to keep eating and you're out of quote unquote your your limit for the day, I think. Yeah. So that's a really good point. Yeah.
[00:39:47.870] - Christy
I think it it sort of takes the eyes off of the quality of those calories. And so a lot of times when I talk to students who are looking to improve their eating habits and ask for a, quote, diet or a certain they're concerned about calories, it, you know, that focus on only calories and counting calories really puts the focus off of what is making up that total calorie content. Is it? I love that we ask those questions about what are your favorite foods and what are ways that we can work with you so that we're not so focused on numbers, but more focused on what you're getting out of that food that you're eating personally.
[00:41:32.210] - Ashley
Yea. Every year the ADA puts out the standards of medical care and for nutrition, and they talk about the number one thing that we should be discussing with patients when it comes to food and nutrition is maintaining the pleasure of eating. And I think it's really good for the association to recognize that. How important that is.
[00:42:02.000] - Ashley
That food is so much more than just numbers and things that we put in our body that it's it's our culture, it's love, it's comfort, it's community, there's just so much more to food than what it says on the back of the food label.
[00:42:16.790] - Kayla
I'm never going to stop stressing how important this is. So I'm just going to say again. So I, I just love it because again, the counting calories thing like the ops and people just seeing it everywhere, it kind of makes students feel like, oh, well, you know, it's not going to hurt to count your calories. And even classes like I've had in the past, they've had us like, you know, download this app and count your calories.
[00:42:47.210] - Kayla
And when I was doing it, it felt so stressful like I had to count all of my macros. And I was just like, oh, my gosh. Like. And just seeing how much I was eating and not getting to the results that I wanted, I was it was so stressful. So I can't imagine just like everyone else to like how so? I just love that you guys really stressed, you know, that it's going to lead to that.
[00:43:16.060] - Kayla
So thank you. And I know students are probably like this information is great. I hope they're taking notes because this is super information.
[00:43:26.200] - Kayla
So my next question is, if there's one piece of advice that you could give to the student audience, what would it be?
[00:43:34.090] Lisa
I'm going to go have something Ashley already said, and that is to learn to be your own best expert, like really working and being attuned to your own body and what works and what doesn't work and what helps you function your best during the day, because no one knows your body like you know your body. And so that would be my my main goal, my main takeaway in helping students.
[00:43:56.200] - Ashley
And I can piggyback off of that one because it goes in line with it that getting curious. Stay curious about your food choices and what things feel like in your body and and and maybe don't forget that your body is something that you can trust and that you can trust. Your body is here to help you. It's going to hang out with you forever and ever. And so you can trust your body. And if you feel like you can't, that's that's OK. And that maybe that happened on purpose and maybe that's a result of something. And there are folks out there like Christy and Lisa and I would be honored to walk beside you and be your support as you're learning to retrust your body.
[00:44:43.240] - Christy
Yeah, I like the curiosity piece that you mentioned, Ashley. And as somebody who started college, not really knowing how to cook, not knowing much at all about what I was eating, and I didn't even care about nutrition and quality of what I was eating, but I was curious. And so that's what that first nutrition class taught me, was that there's more. There is a function to those foods that we're eating.
[00:45:21.350] - Christy
Besides all of the enjoyment piece of it, which, you know, starting college, that was purely what what really determined my food choices was like, oh, now I can eat anything because I'm not at home.
[00:45:41.000] - Christy
Learning about it, being curious about those foods that you're eating and how you feel after eating them. And also because for me, I have such a love for culinary nutrition is, take that curiosity into the kitchen, whether you're at home or even in a dorm setting. I know it's more complicated now with COVID and the time that we're living in, but, you know, try new foods and really be adventurous when it comes to what you're eating and go outside of those normal, maybe same old foods that you're always eating.
[00:46:26.810] - Christy
And you really keep up that curiosity, not only with foods that you're eating that may already be prepared, but try new foods that maybe you've heard about and haven't tried yet and take that curiosity into the kitchen and prepare your own foods, because that's all part of self care as well.
[00:46:57.680] - Lisa
One thing I've loved about this conversation is there's been just this whole shift in thinking about instead of what did we take out, what do we control, what do we count? I think all of us at some point in today's talk have said something about enjoying food and what's satisfying and be curious and and try new foods. And I often also talk to students about, you know, thinking about nutrition in terms of what's going to help me function my best.
[00:47:24.230] - Lisa
And that's going to look a little different for everybody too. So kind of decoupling this, having to control for weight loss is the only aspect of nutrition. There's so many other ways to think about our diet and our nutrition.
[00:47:41.150] - Kayla
Awesome. Thank you, guys. And so I do want to mention, like God, just when I ask this question, obviously, with how well I know the three of you, there was like an expectation I had. And I just want to mention that all three of you guys, like, answered the exact way that I thought you were like just because from this past couple of years, like being around you guys as often as I as I am, it's just it's such a great, healthy environment.
[00:48:11.550] - Kayla
So like students listening, you guys can imagine, like, how much it's changed, how I think about, like food and eating. And I mean, even before, you know, working with you guys, I was obviously like in nutrition, but I it wasn't to the extent as it is now. So I absolutely love that I had these experiences. And then being able to share with the students I think is like super great is not many students get to listen to as much as I get to listen to.
[00:48:43.370] - Kayla
I think this is super great. My last round of questions, it's come to the end of our podcast, so I will be asking our rapid fire questions for all three of you. So my first question is, if you could only have three foods ever again, what would they be?
[00:49:03.500] - Lisa
I will go first and Mexican food and I know that's broad, but you name it, chocolate chip cookies would also need to be there. And let's see, what would a third one actually, I think I'd be good with just those two.
[00:49:24.650] Kayla
Well, I mean, yeah, like the Mexican food. That could be like two categories already. I get those. Awesome. I love it.
[00:49:32.570] Christy
Oh, gosh, this is so hard for me because I love so many different foods. Well, of course, I grew up on Mexican food, but specifically I have my favorite birria, which is the shredded like slow cooked beef burro this weekend. And it just solidified the fact of how much I love I need this street period. Borrowers with things that they make there. They're so good, like the best burro in town. And I would say anywhere I went to Mexico City, but I never tasted a birria burro like this one in Tucson. So that one for sure. My mom's Mexican rice, which I can make pretty, pretty darn good, and I love sushi. I'm assuming that other fourth civiche, I love civiche so I, I think I'm beyond the three.
[00:50:41.540] Ashley
Those are all great options. I love it. Oh sorry. I was, I was still thinking and mine have evolved so and they're very specific. So Salvado toast with peanut butter honey and sea salt because it's just always satisfying and I can eat at any time of the day. Then I'd say a quesdilla and then I want an egg and mushroom and cheese omelet. Eggs are my jam.
[00:51:26.930] Kayla
Wow. Now you guys are pretty detailed.
[00:51:33.140] Christy
If anyone knows food, Dietitians know food.
[00:51:59.450] Kayla
Yes, I agree. OK, breakfast or dinner?
Lisa: Dinner for me.
Christy: breakfast, breakfast for dinner is even better.
Ashley: Breakfast all day.
[00:52:14.950]Kayla
All right, cool, cool. Crunchy tacos or soft tacos?
[00:52:19.690] Lisa
Depends on the day. If I crunch or not.
[00:52:31.360] Christy
Like, it depends what's in the taco, but I'm going to just go soft taco, because it's the most because if it's crunchy, it's a very specific kind of crunchy taco.
[00:53:06.790] Kayla
OK, last question. If you could have dinner with these three people dead or alive, who would they be?
[00:53:17.980] Lisa
I would choose my mom who passed away a few years ago. She's my hero. And then probably, I would say Michelle Obama and Brene Brown.
[00:53:35.350] Kayla
Yes. Love it. Love it. Love.
[00:53:38.200] - Christy
Oh, my gosh. This is so hard. Oh, very. OK, I'm going to pick I'm going to pick, like, famous people because that's where my brain went immediately. George Lopez, because he's hilarious. Lisa, you said Michelle Obama. I love her. I'd go with Barack Obama because he is one of he's a hero of mine. So is Michelle Obama. But anyway, I'm just picking in my ideal fantasy world and then, oh, I thought of Freddie Mercury. I just I just think his life is so interesting. And obviously his he's so talented and passed away at such a young age. Yes. I'm going with Freddie Mercury, George Lopez and Barack Obama. We'd have a bomb meal together.
[00:54:49.840] Lisa
Can I come from a dinner party?
[00:54:56.890] Ashley
We had a guest one time that was that said the Obamas. Like whoever was available that night, she would just want one of them.
[00:55:08.470] Ashley
Now I know how our guests feel, this is a really hard question, but I came to I think I came to Brene Brown, Selena. And if you don't know who Selena is, she's a singer. And, yeah, she's amazing. My childhood in a nutshell. So, Brene Brown, Selena and Julia Child would be my three folks.
[00:55:53.470] Ashley
Yes, Thank you. And Thank you, Kayla, for shooting off questions today. And thank you to my favorite colleagues, Lisa and Christy, for being on the show with us today, sharing the knowledge, the love of curiosity and the love of changing times where we show up for our clients and they show up for us.
[00:56:30.800] Ashley
That's our show. Thank you so much for listening.
[00:56:33.260] Ashley
Please share with your friends and connect with us on all our campus health social channels and email us at CHS-NutritionNavigators@email.arizona.edu, to submit your questions and comments about the show. We are so excited to be bringing you monthly content to spark curiosity and further empower you to feel your best. We are sponsored by Campus Health and our program in health promotion and preventive services. We want to thank our well. I want to thank our colleagues, Lisa and Christy from our very own campus house for coming on the show and taking the time to talk with us about all things food and nutrition, plus some myth busting along the way.
[00:57:11.090] Ashley
It's important for us to us that students have a sound and practical information about health. And it's our job to help all of you feel confident that you're your best nutrition expert. We'd also like to thank our sound engineer and editor Brain Paradis for coordinator for undergraduate recruitment, for helping us sound lovely on the show. Until next time, Be Well Wildcats.