Wendy Jo Peterson, MS, RDN, is one of the most captivating, hard-working dietitians I know. She has written 7 books (4 of which I own and use weekly – and also recommend to clients). She’s an incredibly motivating speaker and inspired me to join a Mastermind group after seeing her 2009 FNCE presentation. I was thrilled to be able to interview her and learn about her career, which she has created to accommodate her love of travel and the care of her daughter. Freedom and flexibility is golden when you have a passion for your job. Wendy Jo shares how she lives her dream life. - Sarah

What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics?
Initially, it was my grandmother’s diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer and the role of her dietitian. Then I tossed around culinary school and decided I did not like chef hours, so opted for dietetics.

Your Job Title?
Author, Speaker, Culinary Nutrition Consultant

Company you are with now?
Edible Nutrition—consulting and freelance writing

Website:

www.justwendyjo.com

Social Media:

- Instagram: @just_wendyjo

- Facebook: @just_wendyjo

- Twitter: @just_wendyjo

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you?
Typical day includes recipe development, recipe prep, and recipe/food photography. It really varies by assignment or project that I’m working on. Some days I spend 100% with my daughter, and then other days it’s a balance of emails, social media, and writing or developing. I try to check emails twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, unless I’m expecting communications. Social media and emails can really suck the hours of a day and disrupt creative flow, because of this I don’t do any notifications on my phone. These little things have really helped me be more focused and productive in a day. My day kicks off around 5:30am and I try to fit in writing before my daughter wakes up at 6:30am. Then around 10am I fit in another 2 hours of work. We always break for a warm lunch and outdoor walk. In the afternoon, I try to jump back on and do computer work or meal prep for a shoot. Every day is different, but that’s exactly how I like it!

How did you get your current job in dietetics?
My culinary passion evolved into the recipe development and because of my work ethic and trust earned with my publisher I’ve been offered numerous books along the way. Speaking has always been a natural fit. I feel at ease on a stage presenting the science of nutrition, especially with a knife in hand! No one handed this job to me; it’s morphed into a full business along the way.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
My work is 85% something I have natural talent for, but I’ve definitely researched and homed in on my craft—and I’m still always learning. Recipe development comes naturally to me, whereas, I spend more time with creative writing. My degree probably hurt my creative writing side-ha! Because, in technical writing we are using language that you cannot use in magazine or creative writing articles. I spend far more time writing than I do creating recipes. Photography is something I am working on my craft and trying to improve my skills with daily photographs. Food photography is a great way to stretch our creative marketing and becoming a full package for contracts. As for speaking, the larger the audience, the more animated I become. But, as with everything I do, I read, watch, and learn more each day to perfect the craft. Initially I joined Toastmasters®, but later realized that National Speaker’s Association (NSA) was a better fit for my goals. Both are outstanding to help individuals feel more empowered speaking, whatever your personal goals may be.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
Find your strengths and focus in on them! Read more, watch more, learn more to enhance your natural abilities. Learning never ends! Find a balance in work and life early on. It’s okay to push hard, but use yourself as your mile marker, not others. Stay true to you, your voice, and your desired message—your authenticity will be appreciated. Our community is small, so support others in our network and you will reap the benefits.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what
would it be?
TRAVEL! Exploring the world is bucket filling for me. Money is great, but it’s just a means to feed my desire to travel.