Medical Professional of the Month:
Megan Reynolds, MS, RDN, CSR, LD
Nutrition is not a one size fits all formula; it’s a science that’s unique to each person. That’s why fad diets work for a select group of people, but not for others, says Megan Reynolds, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) in Westlake.
Reynolds, a dietitian since 2005, officially founded her business Healthy HELPings Nutrition Services in 2015. Her passion for nutrition evolved from her interest in the science behind how what you eat affects how you feel in sports performance and in day to day life. “I was also interested in the role of food to treat or prevent disease and fascinated to learn about food as medicine.”
At Healthy HELPings, Reynolds counsels people, educates them, and creates individualized nutritional plans based on their health needs and goals. She sees adults for a variety of reasons, including weight management, diabetes, kidney disease, gastrointestinal issues, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and general healthy eating. Individual plans can range from creating full meal plans and demonstrating portion sizes to explaining optimal nutrients and changing one meal or a few foods each day.
The most rewarding part of creating these plans is “helping people meet their goals and change their diet and lifestyle,” says Reynolds. “I love seeing others experience improvements in their quality of life and feeling better by setting and attaining realistic goals.”
How to Set Attainable Health Goals
She has a healthy helping of advice on what people should do when they want to make a healthy lifestyle change. First, contact a registered dietitian who is an expert in the field of science and nutrition. Then make attainable goals. “Think of changes that you are comfortable with and can continue beyond when you reach your goal,” says Reynolds. “Changes that are difficult to maintain, will also make it difficult to stay at your goal.”
Another tip Reynolds shares is to write down what you’re eating because it will provide better insight into what you’re doing well and what you can improve on. If you need additional help, phone apps are also an incredible resource. Use MyFitnessPal to track what you eat. 7 Minute Workout gives you workouts you can do at home in seven minutes with no equipment. Simply Yoga helps teach yoga poses, and Insight Timer offers meditations, which can help decrease stress and emotional eating.
Reynolds leaves off with a piece of advice that people can utilize every single day: “Stay positive! Not every day will be your best, but you have a new opportunity tomorrow”. Look out for more information from Reynolds, as she contributes and creates meal plans and resources for Liner Legal Largest Loser program!
1991 Crocker Rd., Suite 600, Westlake, OH 44145, (440) 892-3343
