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Meet Registered Dietitian, Courtney Skanderup!

Registered Dietitian Saskatoon Alison Friesen Online Nutritionist

Courtney Skanderup MSc, RD

Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist

Specialty: Eating disorder recovery, mental health, emotional eating, intuitive eating, chronic disease, IBS & digestive health, geriatrics/seniors health, dysphagia/swallowing issues, and women’s health

Pronouns: She/Her

Thoughtful and empathetic are words often used to describe Courtney. She strives to create genuine connections with clients and works to create an inclusive space for all. She is passionate about working with individuals struggling with health issues, yo-yo dieting recovery, disordered eating and helping clients feel at peace with food and their bodies.

Courtney grew up in Calgary and was active in figure skating and provincial level field hockey. Upon graduating high school, she moved to Vancouver and completed a Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition, and Health, majoring in Dietetics at the University of British Columbia. She completed her internship in Kamloops, B.C. with Interior Health. Courtney has extensive experience in nutrition for seniors, chronic disease management and texture modified diets for dysphagia (swallowing issues) given her diverse role in caring for over 130 residents in a complex care geriatrics facility. She has had the opportunity to work with the Ismaili Muslim Community and appreciates the cultural significance of food and family. Courtney also has experience providing nutrition counselling at a family medical clinic where she saw physician referrals for family meal planning, heart disease, IBS issues, diabetes, weight concerns and more. Although she has experience in multiple specialties, Courtney finds her spark working with those struggling with disordered eating. Having experienced an eating disorder and recovery in her teens, as well as volunteer work with a non-profit eating disorder foundation, she has great compassion and understanding in this area.

Courtney is a member of Dietitians of Canada and is registered with the College of Dietitians of Alberta and the College of Dietitians of British Columbia. She is a life-long learner and continually works to further her knowledge to best support her clients. Courtney recently completed her Master of Science in Dietetics from North Dakota State University with a focus on eating disorders, weight stigma, pregnancy, and infant health. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition, Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor and a Certified Craving ChangeTM Facilitator specializing in strategies for problematic and emotional eating. Courtney also has specialized training in digestive health issues with training in the low FODMAP diet from the Monash University.

Courtney loves spending time with friends, family, and her dog, Pepper. She enjoys being active outside, long walks listening to true crime podcasts (any True Crime Obsessed fans out there?), a cozy latté, craft beer, and Greek food – including crispy, salty, Greek pizza. She has completed yoga teacher training and previously taught aerial yoga. She loves crafting and her pandemic project was a large macrame arch. She enjoys trying new recipes, experiencing new tastes at restaurants, and sharing food with others. She finds great satisfaction in baking bread or biscuits and is still trying to master the art of a perfect pie crust.

 

Courtney practices as a Licensed Registered Dietitian in Many Parts of Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, NWT, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and the Yukon)

 

Courtney practices as an Online Nutrition Educator in Certain Parts of Canada (Ontario, PEI, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) and in the United States / International Borders

 

Looking for a Dietitian that specializes in eating disorder recovery, developing a healthy relationship with food and your body, seniors health or chronic disease?  Courtney can help!

Success stories

"I am a psychologist in private practice and it is very important to me that my clients have the best care with other health care professionals. For that reason Health Stand Nutrition is my only source for exceptional Dietitians. Andrea and her team provide highly knowledgeable, compassionate, and real world support to my clients who require assistance with food lifestyle. I trust my clients to them and you would be in excellent hands making them part of your health care team."
Adele Fox, Psychologist
“This is the first time I feel satisfied; my cravings have diminished dramatically and I have a whole new relationship with food. I am eating guilt-free for the first time in my life. My energy has also dramatically increased and I feel great!
Rhonda Jenkins, Nutrition Counseling Client
“The Dieticians at Health Stand Nutrition help you to take action on the science behind eating well by making it practical, understandable, and fun. Their office is cozy and not at all clinical or intimidating. I felt like I was sitting down with a really smart, caring friend who wanted to help me make the best choices for my lifestyle and food preferences. They really are the best in the business.”
Marty Avery, Nutrition Counseling Client
“I have come to think of the program as a one stop shopping excursion for everything one needs to know about creating a joyous relationship with food and our bodies. In a single word, the course has gifted me with freedom from the punishing rigidity of disordered eating, old stories that never were true, and body dysmorphia that did nothing but make me lose sight of a body that has done everything I've asked, despite my careless dismissal of her needs. Now when I look in the mirror I find myself shifting from harsh criticism to gentle gratitude.”
Lynn Haley, Pursuit of Healthiness Online Course Participant
“I spent 3 hours when first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I learned more from my Dietitian about food in those 3 hours than I had learned in all the years of my life. I also love the newsletter, there is always something to learn.”
Peter Whitehead, Nutrition Counseling Client
“I didn’t realize how strong my “diet mentality” was, and all the rules I had in my head about food. I was in a cycle of reward/punish/binge/cringe. I booked with your business very reluctantly, on the repeated advice of my doctor, to get my slowly rising cholesterol levels in check. I thought I knew everything about food, and my behaviour with food, but I was definitely re-schooled. My weight is creeping down, I feel good about my diet, exercise, body image, and lifestyle.”
Amy Floyd, Nutrition Counseling Client
“Thanks Andrea for an amazing presentation, I have heard all positive remarks from attendees and the evaluations show the same sentiment. It is really gratifying when a speaker does their “homework” and weaves in our profession’s day to day challenges within their content, you did an awesome job of this! You truly took the “die” out of Dietician! Your information on healthy eating and simplifying how we can work towards this as we are all so busy really hit the mark. Andrea connects very well with her audience; she is energetic, funny, and very approachable.”
Carole Ann LaGrange, Transfusion Medicine Safety Officer

Event Planner for Laboratory Diagnostic Imaging Annual Event

I am a family physician who sees patients with a myriad of eating concerns – from wanting to know how to plan healthy meals for active families, to weight loss, to eating disorders, and so on. I cannot recommend the Health Stand team highly enough. I have worked with (and been to!) other Dieticians in the past and too often find that they just ask for food logs and make suggestions that are easily obtained online or in books. The Dieticians at Health Stand offer much more than just telling clients what they “should be eating.” In contrast, the team really does more of a counselling practice, and they work hard to help their clients learn more about why their eating habits may be off track and not optimal for them, as well as helping people to effect change at a deep level that, most importantly, is sustainable for lifetime health.”
Dr. Deb Putnam, Family Physician

Nutrition Counseling Client & Referring Physician

“I am a busy mom, with kids in high level sports, working full-time downtown, and running our home acreage outside the City. I now have the knowledge and tools I need to plan for and manage the chaos of meal planning.”
Gillian Gray, Pursuit of Healthiness Online Course Participant
“As a construction company, we select speakers who can relate to our industry and its employees. Andrea’s message was delivered with humor and empathy. She makes people feel as though they can make changes without leaving behind every favorite food. Andrea focused her presentation on healthy eating as a way to keep energy high throughout the day. This message and the way it was delivered resonated with our predominantly male, blue collar culture. I would highly recommend Andrea as a speaker for groups such as ours. She will get your message across without alienating anyone in your audience – which is a huge hurdle when trying to introduce a wellness program in the workplace!”
Stephanie Wood, HR and Safety Manager

Fisher Construction Group, Burlington, WA

I found my Dietitian warm, funny, and skilled at teaching nutrition concepts without the overwhelm. The general approach of each session was to mix science with emotion, which was exceedingly effective in helping me shift my perspective on food from one of anxiety to one of joy and curiosity.”
Erin Kronstedt, Nutrition Counseling Client
“Excellent presentation! What a refreshing change to have a speaker inspire rather than “lecture” about nutrition. Your captivating stories, tips and overall approach to healthy eating uplifts and puts people at ease. It was great to hear we don’t need to strive to be perfect eaters, and that small changes really can make a difference in how we feel and in our health. Thanks to Andrea, we have solutions to our everyday nutrition challenges that can actually work in real life!”
Tina Tamagi, Human Resources

ARC Resources Ltd.

“Had I not joined this course I would have struggled with no focus, low energy, and mindless eating. Excellent teaching and motivation. This is not just a course, it is a nutrition club with mentorship, support, and connections with other people with similar situations.”
Lorri Lawrence, Pursuit of Healthiness online course participant
 

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