What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics? I was born into nutrition and wellness. My mom was a Certified Diabetes Educator (RN) and 98% of the time my parents could not afford a babysitter. So, I grew up going to work with her and spent time in counselling offices and conference rooms that were decorated in nutrition education. As an adult, it’s not something I knew I wanted to do right away, but as soon as I took a nutrition class, it all clicked. I have a passion for education just as my mom did!

Your Job Title? Outpatient Dietitian and Worksite Wellness Dietitian 

Company you are with now? JTA (Jan Tilley and Associates) Wellness is a privately owned (by a Registered Dietitian) company that emphasizes in nutrition and wellness, providing a hands-on, personalized approach to support the needs of our clients and workplace employees.

Website:
http://www.jtawellness.com

Social Media:
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jtawellness/?ref=br_rs
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jtawellness/
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jta-wellness/

 Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you? Every day is completely different and that is what I love about my job! One day, I may be in office seeing patients and writing articles for our blog and the next I may give a workplace wellness presentation to a group of employees. My job is dynamic and requires quite a bit of flexibility in every sense of the word but is so rewarding. I work with a group of 6 other dietitians in every specialty in dietetics so I learn something new every day.

How did you get your current job in dietetics? Let’s start with: God has His plans. I always knew I wanted to be in education but didn’t know how I would get there. My husband is also a Dietitian and works in area that we later found out would require some travelling. I started my career, as most Dietitians do, in a clinical and foodservice setting, learning the foundations of our field. After 3.5 years of doing that in various forms, I lost my purpose in Dietetics. I enjoyed what I was doing, but realized my passion was no longer there. Around the same time, my husband was transferred to a different location and the only other Dietitian position available in that town was outpatient. The minute I said yes to that job offer, I went back to that first nutrition class I took and realized I was where I was meant to be. My husband’s job has taken us to California and throughout Texas, but I never left my purpose of education. Over 3.5 years, I worked in education and did contracting side gigs, had my own blog, volunteered with the Academy, and spent time in leadership positions with regards to education. When we moved to San Antonio, I knew this experience would get my foot in the door somewhere, but I didn’t expect it to be my dream job! My husband’s new position is a long term one, so we are very excited to be planted here and working doing something we love. 

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way? I was born with intuition and drive. I trust my gut and I can sense personalities well. But, I’ve always had the drive or the heart for motivating others to live their best lives. I’ve had to learn it’s about progression, not perfection. There are so many skills as a RD you have to learn that would wouldn’t have even considered during school. I am still growing as a Dietitian, which means I am going to make mistakes. And in those failures, I am learning many new ways to be successful.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you? There is a quote that I love, “You’ve got to go out on a limb sometimes because that’s where the fruit is.” – Will Rogers. Try new things, make mistakes, and learn from your past. All the colloquial sayings of the millennial area hold true. And as cheesy as they sound, they can land you right were you were meant to be.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be? TRAVEL, my husband and I love to travel and try different cuisines, experience different cultures, languages, and ways of life. We would do it full time if we could.

Sarah Koszyk is founder of Family. Food. Fiesta. A family-based wellness program and blog focusing on recipes, family health tips, and videos with kids cooking in the kitchen. She is a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Coach specializing in sports nutrition and adult and pediatric weight management. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or LinkedIn.