An Introduction
Hi! I’m so glad you’re here.
My name is Janice Dada and I’ve been a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist since 2007 and have been in private practice in Newport Beach, CA since 2009. Since then, a lot has changed about my nutrition practice. I have evolved from practicing “traditional dietetics” to providing care that is client-centered, non-diet, and weight-inclusive. I would describe traditional dietetics as more science and less person, in other words, “eat this, not that.” This is how most dietitians I know were trained to practice. In contrast, my current method of practice gets curious about motives and intentions without giving blanket answers and solutions. I find this allows for deeper, more meaningful work that gets to the core of why a behavior exists. For example, for someone who desires to lose weight, traditional practice would suggest a calorie-controlled meal plan as the answer. Progressive practice would instead offer compassion to this individual for wanting to change their body and ask for some history and context, offer support, and ask questions about the desired outcome.
During my time as an RDN, I have also become certified as a Sports Dietitian (2009), Diabetes Educator (2009) and an Intuitive Eating Counselor (2018), and have taken advanced training in both integrative & functional nutrition, pregnancy, pediatrics, body image, and eating disorders.
I have spent the last couple of years figuring out how to meld all of these interests together. The bottom line is that what unifies almost all of my clients is a unique food experience shaped largely by early interactions with food and a desire to change something about their current eating behaviors or body image. I could really just call myself an eating behavior Dietitian.
For this blog, I’d like to dedicate each month to a specific topic. I’d like to start January 2019 off by focusing on what I believe are important messages related to child nutrition and body image. It’s a topic I have become very passionate about from my own clinical experiences with clients sharing their stories and as a parent of 2 little ones myself. I’ll share the first in this series in the next post. I hope you find the information useful.
