What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics? When I was 6 years old, my mom went from being a science teacher to going to medical school at age 36. After hearing about her experiences, I knew I wanted to be in the health care field but was not interested in anything where I had to deal with blood or needles. My stomach is too weak for that ;)

I also loved to bake and cook as a kid, so I decided that nutrition would be the perfect mixture of health care and food.

Your Job Title? Registered dietitian, recipe & video creator, blooper maker, and sharer of how to have fun with food

Company you are with now? Self employed — Living Well Kitchen

Website:
memeinge.com/blog

Social Media: 
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/memeinge/
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livingwellkitchen/
– Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/memeinge/

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you? Well, it really does change every week, but I try to focus on one theme for each day. Otherwise, I am all over the place. Typically, I spend one to two days filming videos and/or editing. Other days, I plan out social media & blog posts. Other days, I focus on writing, and some days are focused on clients or marketing. Right now, I am in the middle of creating a cookbook with my grandmother, so that has been my main focus for the past few months.

How did you get your current job in dietetics? In my internship, I realized that a traditional job as a hospital dietitian was not for me. Nor was I interested in working at a WIC clinic or in food service. I saved some money while in grad school and decided that I’d start my own private practice after I graduated. At the ripe old age of 24 (ha!), I started a private practice and started writing my blog. The rest is history.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way? I have always been someone that beats to my own drum, which was really helpful when it came to creating my own job. I am also creative which is a skill I think you need to have an enriching life. Something I had to learn was how to stay disciplined with all the flexibility I have in my job. Also, how to say no.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you? Two things: 1) don’t do things just because you are supposed to. Check in with yourself when you are making decisions and make sure you aren’t doing it because you “should be” doing it. 2) Don’t compare yourself to others. I still struggle with this, but I try to remember that everyone is where they are supposed to be. You have to go through certain things to learn what you need to learn. Also, everyone has struggles but they aren’t obvious through the cultivated life portrayed on social media, and you can’t compare yourself to that.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be? Someone who cleans up my mess every time I cook ;)

Really, I would pick traveling.

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.