Hey SweetSmarties, I got to interview pediatric dietitian Jessica Rosecrance this month! It was honestly so fun, and you’ll hear plenty of delightful giggles in this episode! :D I really appreciate her relaxed approach to food and eating, and I love how honest and accessible she is! We agree that it’s so important to be truthful, and it helps tremendously to share an authentic perspective about topics that are often glamorized or highly curated. We connected this idea to social media, which can foster comparison, and we reminded everyone that most people are very intentional about what they chose to show, which is usually the highlights of their lives, so it’s important to keep in mind that we’re only seeing a small fraction of their experiences. She started in geriatric care, and then quickly moved to pediatric, which caused me to comment on the circularity of our lives: the beginning and end have a lot of similarities, which was very relevant to her dietitian work, and elicited our first bout of chuckles, followed by many more! I asked her how she helps people develop a healthy relationship with food, eating, and their bodies, which matters immensely to me! We spoke about practical strategies, and were always very understanding and compassionate, which is essential when navigating something so challenging, vulnerable, and complex. We discussed a lot of the language we’ve learned to speak about this inclusively, like the phrases “all foods fit,” “fed is best,” and “health at every size.” She focuses on adding foods, rather than taking them away, and I mentioned the potential harm of a restrictive mentality, as well as how much stress and anxiety can hurt us, so I was so glad to hear about this additive approach! I also mentioned my two main guiding principles of balance and variety, and how helpful and healthy it is to be more laid back about our food choices, acknowledging the exceptions of medical conditions, allergies, and other necessary adjustments. We talked about the social and cultural elements of eating, delving into how food is much more than just nutrition! I brought up my Crohn’s disease, which I’ve had since I was 8 years old, and how being intravenously fed at various points of my life really emphasized that to me. We also discussed her learning her mom’s Korean recipes, and I asked her how to help people find joy in eating. She provided some great advice about how to respond to picky eating behavior, and she clarified that she doesn’t treat eating disorders or people with more complicated situations, like my Inflammatory Bowel Disease for example. We unexpectedly spoke about my sleep struggles and just other aspects of her life, like her kitchen remodel and zany temporary commute flying from Northern to Southern California and back in one day every 10 days for 6 weeks! Lastly, we talked about her mommy and baby group beginning next month, called Starting Solids, and we also spoke about her cancer diagnosis, as well as a health scare she experienced with her youngest son. I asked about how her dietitian work connects to all that, and what I really enjoyed was our conversation about the psychology of it. I appreciated her speaking about the fear and falling down research rabbit holes, which I can definitely relate to, so it was nice to bond over that, among many other aspects of our discussion. :) She takes insurance, which is rare for a dietitian, and if you want to work with her, you can visit https://www.nutritionbyjessrose.com/! She also has a vibrant instagram presence @yourpediatricdietitian, so you can follow her account for some entertaining, informative content (just like our interview)! This conversation was our first meeting, and I love how much we were able to laugh together, while also covering deep issues, being open and genuine in the most relatable, helpful, educational way! I hope you enjoy this discussion, and I’m excited to return with a new one next month! ✨
