A day in the life and food habits of a young dietitian

Sandy Nance, MS, RD, LDN, CLT is a dietitian and health coach with Total Nutrition Technology (TNT), a company that helps people lose weight, manage their health and enhance sports performance. Nance, 25, has been working with TNT for two years. She also recently started another job at Integra Wellness Center as an outpatient dietitian and functional nutritionist.

Prior to working with TNT (and moving to Charlotte), Nance worked as a dietitian at Hy-Vee grocery store in Moline, Illinois.

“It was my job to promote a healthy lifestyle through grocery store tours, food demonstrations and group education sessions,” she said.

Nance’s passion for food started in high school and it is what ultimately led to her pursuing a career as a dietitian.

“Not only did I love to eat, but I also loved to learn about the many different health benefits of certain foods,” she said. “I became infatuated with nutrition and its ability to affect long-term health. Becoming a dietitian was the next logical step in making my passion my career.”

Sandy graduated from Viterbo University in Wisconsin with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics. Following her graduation, she decided to continue her education at Saybrook University where she earned a Master’s Degree in integrative and functional nutrition. In addition, she became a Certified LEAP therapist, which allows her to help patients manage their symptoms from food sensitivities.

Nance has been a registered dietitian for three years and what she enjoys most about her job is helping people.

“I love working with people—and food is something everyone has to think about,” she said. “The best part of my job is helping people see the long-term benefits of good health and recognizing that even the smallest change can make a big difference.”

Here’s what a typical day (and food) is like for Nance at TNT:

6:30 a.m. Wake up

“I try to sleep and wake the same times throughout the week. A regular sleep schedule is great way to stay healthy.”

7 a.m. Breakfast

“I always start my day with a balanced breakfast. Normally, I will eat eggs with oatmeal or a Barely Bread bagel with cream cheese. I continue breakfast with fruit and a cheese stick. If I am running short on time and need a quick breakfast I may choose to make a smoothie. My favorite smoothie has chocolate protein powder, one banana, peanut butter and almond milk.”

8-11 a.m. Client meetings

“I spend 60 minutes or more talking with my clients about their health and wellness goals and how TNT can help them reach their goals. The key to success with my TNT clients is lifestyle change. My hope is that my clients can realize that even small changes will help them reach their goals.”

Also: 10 a.m. mid-morning snack.

“My mid-morning snack normally consists of a Lara Bar and piece of fruit.”

Noon: Lunch

“For lunch, I am usually eating a meal that I have prepped beforehand. Lately, I have been making a protein with rice and a kale salad topped with trail mix.”

Speaking of meal prep, Nance says that is her key to success. “After my trip to the grocery store on the weekends I will cook, chop and prepare anything I can ahead of time for the week. I usually chop vegetables and cook my lunch meals before the week begins. I love to relax during the evenings and cooking a large meal is one of the last things on my mind.”

3 p.m. Afternoon snack

“In the afternoons, I will snack on more fruit and usually a Greek yogurt. My favorite is Oikos triple zero greek yogurt. If I am looking for some extra crunch, I will often snack on Artisan Tropic plantain strips.

1-4 p.m. Client prep and assistance

“In addition to meeting with clients, I create customized meal plans for them. The meal plans are based on the dietary exchange system and calorie calculations [and] about 90 percent of my clients use them.”

During this time and throughout the day, Sandy is checking email and answering client questions.

6:30 p.m. Exercise

“Three or four days a week, I take a class at CrossFit Weddington.”

8 p.m. Dinner

“For dinners, I am usually cooking for both my husband and I. My favorite dish includes wild-caught salmon, baked homemade sweet potato fries and roasted broccoli. My goal is to include at least two servings of vegetables for lunch and dinners.”

10:30 p.m. Bedtime

“I feel like [getting] eight hours of sleep is the minimum for me. If I don’t, I may not feel it the next day, but I will feel it the following day.”

Photos: Courtesy of Sandy Nance

This story was originally published July 31, 2017 at 11:00 PM with the headline "A day in the life and food habits of a young dietitian."