Our Registered Dietitian Calgary & Global Online Nutritionist Team

Andrea Holwegner, BSc, RD The Chocolate Loving Nutritionist
CEO (Chief Energy Officer), Online Course Facilitator & Professional Speaker

Pronouns: She/Her

Andrea Holwegner is the energetic founder and CEO of Health Stand Nutrition Consulting Inc. established in 2000. Her mission is to empower people to create a healthy and joyous relationship with food and their body.

She has counseled thousands of individuals and groups, including Olympic athletes, CEOs and employees in all different types of industries. She is also known as the chocolate loving nutritionist, believing anyone can achieve health without guilt or complexity, and that the secret to success is having fun.

She leads a team of experienced dietitians that help busy families with meal planning success, weight concerns, eating disorders, digestive issues, sports nutrition, heart health, diabetes and more.

Andrea is the creator of a one-of-a-kind online nutrition program The Pursuit of Healthiness^TM that focuses on helping busy people and time-strapped employees in companies achieve better health, meal planning success and move towards their personal best weight.

Andrea is one of a handful of Registered Dietitians in North America who are qualified professional speakers. She knows how to deliver relevant content mixed with humor and fun, capturing corporate, association and government audiences with a buzz that’s better than caffeine! Her simple ideas elevate productivity, work-life balance and health in a wide range of corporate, government and association audiences.

Andrea is a regular guest in the media and has been an on-air expert for Global Calgary Morning News, Breakfast Television, CTV Morning News, QR77 Radio and CBC News. She has written for the Calgary Herald newspaper and has been interviewed by CBC Radio in almost every province in Canada.

As a consultant on health trends and spokesperson for the food, grocery and restaurant industry, companies such as the healthy smoothie franchise Jugo Juice work and AG/Buy-Low Foods work with Andrea for her understanding of health-conscious consumers and to enhance credibility of marketing initiatives. Andrea is also the nutrition consultant for Brightpath Early Learning Inc., a publicly-traded company and leader in Canadian childcare.

Packed with knowledge, Andrea has/is:

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition & Food Sciences and Dietetic Internship from the University of Alberta.
• A certified Craving Change™ expert specializing in strategies for problematic and emotional eating
• A member of the Dietitians of Canada, the College of Dietitians of Alberta, the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and the Global Speakers Federation
• A member of the Employee Health Insurance Advisory Committee and Private Practice Interest Group for the Dietitians of Canada
• Recipient of a regional award by the Dietitians of Canada: The Speaking of Food & Healthy Living Award for Excellence in Consumer Education.

In her spare time, Andrea enjoys skiing and mountain biking in the Canadian Rockies. As a foodie she also adores sipping wine with her husband over a delicious meal. Most of all, she loves being a mom and playing in the dirt in the vegetable garden she grows with her son.

Download Andrea Holwegner’s Bio:

• Full bio: PDF | Word Document
• Short bio:  PDF | Word Document
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Anne Vaillancourt BSc, RD
Registered Dietitian & Counseling Program Director

Pronouns: She/Her

Passionate about all things outdoor and nature, Anne’s mission is to help people live their best life by supporting them through emotional and physical changes in body and mind.

Focused on developing positive trusting relationships, you can count on Anne to listen, support you and guide you through the goals you create for yourself.

Anne grew up in a suburb of Montreal in a bilingual household. In the winter she played street hockey and figure skated and spent her summer helping in the garden and swimming in the backyard pool. Anne is an accomplished equestrian who worked as a camp counselor, riding instructor and polo groom at the stable where she boarded her horse from ages 12 to 22. Growing up in a French-Canadian family, much of her time was spent helping her working mom make delicious but cost-effective meals. Anne’s favorite foods have always been cheese, bread and everything maple! As an adult her new favorite food is now nutritional yeast on whole wheat toast with a cold glass of milk! (Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it)!

Anne graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Sciences. Her internships included rotations at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, the Montreal General Hospital, and the Saint-Anne’s Veterans’ Hospital.

Following graduation, Anne moved to Calgary to start her family and her career as a Dietitian. She quickly realized her talents expanded into managing people and organizations. Anne’s philosophy is to always lead with an open heart, in family, friendship, and business. Anne has co-owned two award-winning multi-location health franchises in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

She is registered with the College of Dietitians of Alberta and Dietitians of Canada. Anne also holds certifications in “Building Self-Esteem in Children and Adults” and “Train the Trainer.”

Having been a Dietitian in private practice for over 20 years, Anne joined Health Stand Nutrition as the Counseling Program Director. She is likely the first person you will encounter when inquiring about working with one of our Dietitians. You can expect to be treated with respect, warmth, and compassion. You can also expect timeliness and guidance to help you on your journey towards better health and wellness.

With physical and emotional health and wellness as a core value, one of Anne’s mission statements is “Every day I do something active – outdoors.” You can catch her hiking or camping with her two adult children and friends, walking her dogs, gardening, biking, rollerblading and kayaking. She also enjoys playing and coaching girls’ basketball in the fall and loves winter sports such as skating, cross-country skiing and yes, tobogganing!

Jana Spindler, BSc, RD Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Disordered Eating, Emotional Eating, Mental Health, Women’s Health & Sports Nutrition

Pronouns: She/Her

Fitness enthusiast and lover of all things food, Jana is passionate about helping her clients improve their relationship with food and their body. She is a strong, motivational leader.  Jana also offers the balance of a warm, supportive coaching style to nudge her clients from their comfort zone while feeling safe and supported.

Originally from a small town in Nova Scotia, Jana grew up cooking hearty comfort food in the family kitchen and playing any sport she could. Jana moved to the Prairies to study Mechanical Engineering and to play competitive basketball for the University of Saskatchewan. After studying nutrition on the side for some time, she decided to make the switch from engineering and dive into the field of nutrition.

As a high-level athlete, Jana saw firsthand the impact that nutrition can have on sports performance. She tweaked her own nutrition and saw great benefits in her achievements, strength and recovery time. This further sparked her interest in nutrition and learning as much as she could about sports nutrition for athletes and recreational fitness enthusiasts in the gym.

She has experience working in a range of environments including general nutrition and heart health education as a clinical dietitian for neuro-rehab patients.  She has also provided nutrition counselling for clients of a personal training facility and worked as a family educator in a childhood obesity prevention program.

As her career progressed, Jana has developed a niche in working with recovering yo-yo dieters, eating disorders and mental health clients. Jana’s philosophy focuses on working towards enjoyment of all foods (including her favorite treats of date squares and fresh baked cookies) and body confidence. Jana has a very rare background of being both a sports nutritionist and an eating disorder dietitian.  She has a special interest in helping athletes use nutrition as their competitive edge while maintaining a healthy relationship with food and their body image.

Jana has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the University of Saskatchewan. She completed her accredited dietetic internship through the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region. Jana is registered with the College of Dietitians of Alberta and Dietitians of Canada. She is a Certified Craving Change™ Facilitator and has experience working with clients who are engaged in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotion Focused Family Therapy, EMDR and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Jana is a Canadian Certified Counselor and has completed her Masters in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University fulfilling her goal to practice as both a Dietitian and Therapist. Jana’s strong leadership skills on the Health Stand team has naturally given her the title of Counseling Team Lead given she loves to mentor and encourage other Dietitians to grow and excel in their roles.

Jana continues to be a fitness enthusiast today. She loves scrambling tall peaks, hiking, running, biking, basketball and “lifting heavy” things” for fun in the gym. She enjoys chasing her nieces and nephews around, coaching girls basketball and travel. Jana believes in living the healthiest life that you can honestly enjoy!

Alison Epp, BSc, RD Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Disordered Eating, Mental Health, Sports Nutrition & Fertility

Empathy and kindness are two things you will notice about Alison, oh, and her love of good food and sport! Alison is known for her client-centered approach that looks at a person as a whole in all aspects of physical, mental and spiritual health.  She uses a blend of nutrition research and behavior change principles to help individuals create meaningful and lasting change. While she has diverse experience in a wide range of areas, she specializes in eating disorders (such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder) as well as sports nutrition and fertility. She is compassionate and certainly won’t expect you to be perfect in your journey to achieve a healthy pregnancy, recover from an eating disorder or improve sports performance. She is passionate about helping you find peace with food (including soulful foods chosen for taste such as her favorites like a bowl of buttery popcorn or a burger with fries).

Alison grew up in Cochrane Alberta playing sports competitively starting from a young age.  This background allowed her to understand the importance of fueling her body to improve energy and performance. After attending the University of Saskatchewan she worked full-time for the Sport Medicine and Science Council of Saskatchewan. This allowed her to work with a large range of competitive athletes including national level teams, Paralympic athletes, the NHL/WHL as well as University, provincial and club sport teams. This gave Alison a wealth of experience and sparked her to start her own private practice in Saskatoon.

As Alison continued to work in the area of women’s health and sport nutrition, she saw some of the great challenge’s athletes face, specifically in the area of mental health. This pushed her to work with more clients struggling with their relationships with food and body while still understanding the desire to compete as an athlete. She even started a podcast, The Warrior, with hopes to inspire and educate individuals with stories from those who have overcome significant challenges.

Alison has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the University of Saskatchewan and completed her accredited dietetic internship through the Saskatoon Health Region. She is registered with the Saskatchewan Dietitians Association (SDA) and College of Dietitians of Alberta. She is also a member of the Professionals in Nutrition for Exercise and Sport (PINES), Dietitians of Canada Sports Nutrition Network, Saskatoon Weight Attitudes and Disordered Eating Committee and the International Federation of Eating Disorder Dietitians (IFEDD).

Alison is a Certified Craving Change^TM Facilitator specializing in strategies for problematic and emotional eating.  She is also currently taking her Master’s of Counseling Psychology through Providence Seminary to fulfill her goal of working as both a Dietitian and Psychologist to better support her clients.

When Alison is not working, she is a mom to a vibrant and strong little girl. She has stayed a sport enthusiast enjoying swimming, volleyball or snowboarding (or really any new sport introduced to her). Her and her husband are excited to introduce their growing family to sports as well.

Shauna Kime, BSc, RD, CDE Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Weight Concerns, Women’s Health, Type 1 / Type 2 Diabetes, PCOS, Heart Health & Meal Planning

The first thing you will notice about Shauna is her contagious optimism, energetic personality and zest.  Shauna loves teaching and has a heart full of compassion and empathy for helping clients work through health and weight concerns.  You can’t help to feel more confident and excited to take action to improve your health after spending time with her.

Shauna has a zeal for all things ‘food’ – from taste testing healthy, new products on the market, to experimenting with new recipes and feeding fellow foodies.  She is always eager to help others understand the countless ways to add flavor and fun with cooking to improve health for all ages and dietary needs.  Sharing her expertise in the kitchen has transformed into teaching cooking classes to kids and parents, helping them grow their love for food variety, kitchen skills and how to make healthy foods taste great. She believes all foods fit into healthy eating (including ice cream which she ranks as her top favorite even in the winter which is her favorite season).

Shauna has diverse experience travelling and working abroad as well as in Canada. She graduated from the University of Wollongong, Australia, with a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics degree.  She completed her accredited dietetic internship through Campbelltown Hospital, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital, and Nutrition Australia. She then travelled throughout Europe where she further gained an appreciation for the important connection between traditions and cultural foods.

She has worked in a private clinic setting focusing on weight management, healthy eating behaviors and disordered eating. Shauna has also worked with Alberta Health Services, specializing in the area of disease management, cardiovascular disease, weight concerns and diabetes. She specializes in family meal planning, cullinary education, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), weight concerns and has a special interest in women’s health from adolescents to menopause and beyond.

She is a member of the College of Dietitians of Alberta, The Dietitians of Canada and is a Certified Craving Change^TM Facilitator specializing in strategies for problematic and emotional eating.  Shauna also holds a highly skilled national certification as a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE®). 

In her free time you can find her with her husband, son and dog Koda, spending time outdoors whether it is exploring the mountains or training for a 10K, half-marathon or sprint triathlon. She is also an active member of her church community and empowers adolescent girls as a youth leader. As a cookbook addict you can also naturally find her trying new recipes and hosting friends and family around the dinner table.

Daniela O’Brien, BSc, RD Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Disordered Eating, Emotional Eating, Weight Concerns, Pre/Post-natal, Infant/Kids/Family Nutrition, & Women’s Health

Daniela is known for her contagious smile, warm approachability and collaborative approach to nutrition counselling for individuals and families. Her non-judgemental, calm demeaner mixed with confidence and clear direction is especially helpful when families are struggling with meal planning challenges, picky eating, health issues and complex eating disorders.

Daniela is fascinated by the natural complexities of family life among which food plays a central role. Feeding a family well is not just about serving health conscious meals, rather it is an art that requires good humour, plenty of joy and practical ideas that fit the flow of messy and sometimes crazy family time. Daniela is determined to help families thrive, take away the dread and power struggle of meals and enjoy delicious, simple creations and memorable table connections.

Daniela was born in Mexico City and raised in several Latin American countries. Her exposure to different foods and traditions captivated her interest in understanding how food shapes people and society. Her inquisitive approach to life and her delight in deepening her studies helped her land in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia (BC) with a full-ride scholarship where she completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Food, Nutrition and Health. She completed her dietetic internship in the Fraser Health Authority in Greater Vancouver; of course, with more questions than answers!

Daniela set out to work in the field of eating disorders in BC at the Woodstone Residence in Galiano Island and at Looking Glass Residence in Vancouver where she was a highly respected member of the multidisciplinary care team. She developed, implemented and fine-tuned the nutrition program in her role as a Clinical Dietitian and Nutrition Team Lead for residential treatment of anorexia, bulimia and other specified feeding or eating disorders. This challenging yet fascinating role quickly developed her into a compassionate listener, a caring professional and a true advocate for viewing a person beyond the shallow parameters of mere physical health.

Eating disorders would remain a big part of her career through her part-time private practice since 2011. Daniela has also served as a Dietitian in the Perinatal Nutrition Clinic and Reproductive Mental Health in BC’s Women’s Hospital, where she helped women achieve healthy pregnancies and an understanding of post-partum and infant nutrition. She has also worked at the BC Children’s Hospital for the Centre for Healthy Weights / Shapedown BC where she supported kids, teens and their families with weight concerns in collaboration with physicians, psychologists and exercise specialists. Her individual counselling and group programs always advocated for establishing a healthy relationship with food and positive body image.

Daniela is a current member of the College of Dietitians of Alberta and Dietitians of Canada. Daniela is certified as a Craving ChangeTM Facilitator specializing in strategies for problematic and emotional eating. She offers services in both English and Spanish.

When not helping clients, Daniela is busy being a dedicated wife and a mother of four! She knows first-hand the challenges of eating well when expecting, feeding picky eaters and the daily-grind of figuring out what to make for dinner tonight!

Christine Devaney Towsley B.A.Sc., RD Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Intuitive Eating, Weight Concerns, Heart Health, Family Nutrition, IBS (Irritable Bowel Disease)

A friendly and calm demeanor, combined with over a decade of clinical experience, makes Christine an ideal guide for people wanting to lead their best lives.  Experiences gained by working with people of all ages from a wide spectrum of backgrounds have provided Christine with tools to support clients with highly attuned care and practical solutions.

Christine has a special interest in weight inclusivity, metabolic syndrome, heart health, IBS and other digestive health concerns.  She also specializes in family nutrition for busy parents and steps to improve your relationship with food and body. No matter the concern, she will walk alongside you every step of the way. 

Born and raised in Ottawa, Christine chose to complete her Bachelor of Science, in Applied Human Nutrition at the University of Guelph.  It was here where her love for the mechanisms of nutrients and how they each benefit the body grew.  Christine then completed her accredited dietetic internship through the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, where she was placed in both urban and rural locations throughout Northeastern Ontario.

Upon graduating internship, Christine landed a position on the Timmins Family Health team, where she was the sole Dietitian on a large multi-disciplinary health team. She was responsible for creating and disseminating nutrition education presentations and workshops, promoting and evaluating wellness initiatives, as well as individual counselling on a wide range of nutrition issues and concerns such as weight concerns, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and infant feeding.

From there, Christine moved back to her home town of Ottawa to work within the grocery industry.  Christine was one of the first Dietitians on what eventually became a national team to drive nutrition education and awareness to customers, store colleagues, and the greater community surrounding her catchment area.  As an in-store Dietitian, she was responsible for creating and providing nutrition education in the form of presentations, cooking classes, store tours, one-on-one counselling, and helped to increase customer loyalty and drive sales within her stores.  It was in this role and working with clients seeking to lose weight where she began to understand the complexities surrounding those individuals’ desire to change their body size, leading her to dive into the research surrounding diet culture and intuitive eating.  Christine was also the lead for media and regularly appeared on CTV morning television.

Christine grew up with French and therefore understands and speaks at an intermediate language level which is helpful for many of her French clients. She is a member of the College of Dietitians of Ontario, the College of Dietitians of Alberta and Dietitians of Canada. Christine is also a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and certified as a Craving ChangeTM Facilitator specializing in strategies for problematic and emotional eating.  When not working as a Dietitian, Christine is busy raising and wrangling her two young sons, catching up with friends and family, and most likely snacking on her favourite food…tortilla chips.

Britney Lentz BSc, RD Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Disordered eating, intuitive eating, mental health, IBS and digestive health, emotional eating, chronic disease, & women’s health

Pronouns: She/Her

One of the first things you’ll notice about Britney is her energy, zest for life and love of food! Britney is passionate about supporting her clients in developing a healthy and satisfying relationship with food and their bodies, allowing them to live life to the fullest. Her approach is supportive and compassionate – she will meet you where you are at and walk alongside you to find your joy in eating.

Born and raised in Calgary, Britney grew up with a love of science and the arts, spending most of her teenage years dancing competitively. Britney moved to Vancouver to pursue an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of British Columbia and stumbled upon nutrition in an elective course. She found the intersection of food and science fascinating, and switched her major to Food, Nutrition and Health. After graduation, Britney sought to do more with food and nutrition, desiring to go deeper into clinical practice to help people fall in love with food and nourishing their bodies. She returned to the University of British Columbia for a second degree and completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Food, Nutrition and Health and completed her accredited dietetic internship with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

Britney has experience working in a range of areas, including executive medical health, family meal planning, heart health, digestive health and mental health in her previous role as a Mental Health Dietitian and Clinical Dietitian for Telus Health Care Centre. She has also provided staff relief in outpatient pediatric diabetes at BC Children’s Hospital and has written professional content for a digestive health agency. Britney first discovered her interest in mental health early in her career when she provided staff relief atLooking Glass Residence for residential treatment of anorexia, bulimia and other specified feeding or eating disorders. She went on to work as a Clinical Dietitian for Fraser  Health North Eating Disorders Program and since then, has been passionately interested in helping individuals heal from yo-yo dieting, disordered eating, and restrictive eating disorders. Britney’s philosophy is that all foods can fit into our eating patterns, recognizing that food is so much more than the nutrients it contains – it brings us joy, connection, flavour, and fun!

Britney is a regulated member of the College of Dietitians of British Columbia, the College of Dietitians of Alberta and Dietitians of Canada. She is currently working towards her designation as a Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor giving her a more specialized skillset in helping her clients make peace with food and rediscover the pleasures of eating. She is a Certified Craving ChangeTM Facilitator specializing in strategies for problematic and emotional eating and has specialized training in digestive health issues after completing training in the Low FODMAP diet from the Monash University..

When she’s not working with clients, you can find Britney out hiking in the mountains or trying to find the city’s best cinnamon bun. She also spends a lot of time with her pup and best pal, Parker, who hopes to become a therapy dog when he grows up!

Courtney Skanderup MSc, RD Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Disordered eating, mental health, emotional eating, intuitive eating, chronic disease, geriatrics/seniors health, IBS & digestive health, dysphagia/swallowing issues, & 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.

Jamie Lee Kwong BSc, RD Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Disordered eating, pediatrics, mental health, emotional eating, family meal planning, chronic disease, anti-inflammatory eating, arthritis, & women’s health

Jamie will greet you with a warm and approachable smile that has a way of putting you at ease. You can count on her to be adaptive and collaborative in coming up with right-fit solutions that meet your health, mental health and family needs.

Jamie was born and raised in Calgary and destined to be a Dietitian given the food loving family she grew up in. She was inspired to pursue a career in nutrition by her mother, who previously worked as a Dietitian. Furthermore her Chinese grandma taught at a culinary school so Jamie learned from the best about the fusion of tasty western food with traditional Chinese food. Jamie was drawn to the idea of combining her passion for both food and science into a career, which led her to move to beautiful Vancouver, BC to complete a Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition and Health at the University of British Columbia. Jamie then moved to Vancouver Island to complete her dietetic practicum, where she was able to explore a variety of practice areas in both clinical and public health settings.

Upon completing her degree, Jamie returned home to Calgary and obtained a casual Dietitian position at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and quickly grew passionate about working with families, infants and children of all age groups. During her time, Jamie has had the opportunity to provide staff relief in a variety of clinical settings, including Cardiology, Cystic Fibrosis, Oxygen and Neonatal clinics. Jamie has also spent time working at the Pediatric Centre for Weight and Health collaborating with a team of health professionals to promote healthy lifestyle habits for children and their families.

Jamie was introduced to the realm of nutrition and mental health when she began training to provide staff relief at the Calgary Eating Disorder Program. She gained experience providing both inpatient and outpatient care for adult and pediatric patients living with eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and unspecified eating or feeding disorder. Jamie’s pediatric and eating disorder experience eventually landed her further experience as a Pediatric Mental Health Dietitian at Alberta Children’s Hospital where she provides care for adolescents living with various mental health conditions including ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, somatic symptom disorder and eating disorders.

Outside of her clinical role, Jamie provides nutrition education sessions for clients living with arthritis at the Joint Effort program at the University of Calgary. She has also co-instructed an advanced nutrition course for fourth year students in the Faculty of Kinesiology for three semesters. Jamie values her role as a nutrition educator and helping clients and students translate the complex science of nutrition in ways that are meaningful and practical.

Jamie is a regulated member of the College of Dietitians of Alberta, the Saskatchewan Dietitians Association and Dietitians of Canada.  She is a Certified Craving Change^TM Facilitator specializing in strategies for problematic and emotional eating. When not working, you can find her outside enjoying the sunshine or catching up on the latest episode of The Bachelor or Bachelorette. Jamie also loves to explore Calgary’s growing food scene and has been nicknamed the noodle queen as she is always on the hunt for the best bowl of noodles, ramen, pho, chow mein or pasta!

Carlin Frimmel BSc, RD Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: meal planning, weight concerns, metabolic disease, diabetes, chronic disease, recreational sports nutrition, & women’s health

Carlin has a natural knack for connecting with people and making them feel at ease. She is known for her bright smile, sincere care, and infectious enthusiasm when working with clients. Carlin is passionate about supporting clients in their health journey, goals, and making peace with food and their body. She believes strongly in empowering people to make lasting change that suits their needs and lifestyle.

Carlin was born in Edmonton and has lived in South Africa for 7 years during her childhood. She returned to Canada to complete high school and university, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science (Dietetics Specialization) from the University of Alberta. During her dietetic internships, Carlin was able to explore a variety of clinical and public health settings but was immediately drawn to counselling work and took a keen interest in disordered eating, eating disorders, and mental health. She has experience providing ongoing virtual nutrition counselling to clients with metabolic syndrome, weight concerns, stress eating and meal planning for busy lifestyles. Through this experience, Carlin learned the value of trust building and consistent support between her and her clients, and strives to create a safe, non-judgmental environment with all her clients.

Carlin is a regulated member with the College of Dietitians of Alberta, the College of Dietitians of Ontario, the College of Dietitians of BC and with Dietitians of Canada. She is committed to life-long learning and is currently enrolled in a year-long eating disorder course for Dietitians and is a Certified Craving Change^TM Facilitator specializing in strategies for problematic and emotional eating.

Carlin enjoys cooking, bread baking, gardening, and outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, biking, snowboarding, and surfing. Her favourite foods to enjoy are anything bread related (sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and fresh bread, of course), craft beer, or a good slice of New York cheesecake. She combined her passion for the outdoors and cooking and started an outdoor food blog (Camp Kitchen), where she shares easy, delicious, and approachable recipes for camping and outdoor activities. She believes food is so much more than just fuel for our bodies, but can be the source of so much joy, connection, community, and creativity.

Carlin now calls Cochrane, Alberta, home, and you can often find her outdoors, enjoying the sunshine, good food, and seeking another mountain adventure.

Wan Xu BSc, RD Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Disordered Eating, Mental Health, Emotional Eating, Intuitive Eating, ADHD, Asian Diets, Weight Concerns, Chronic Disease, & Women’s Health

Pronouns: She/Her

Wan is a non-judgmental, client-centered and weight-inclusive Dietitian. She enthusiastically believes that everyone can eat healthfully and soulfully (but how we define this will look very different from one person to another). She’s proud of being a practical Dietitian who’s skilled in simplifying complex science into easy-to-understand ideas and strategies you can take home and implement seamlessly. She enjoys connecting with a wide range of clients, especially those who struggle with mental health concerns, eating disorders and those that have a complicated or stressful relationship with food and their body. Validation, compassion and empowerment are ways Wan engages her clients to help them move forward on their eating and health journey at a pace they can manage. You can count on her to obtain feedback so that she can adjust her approach to best meet the needs of her clients.

Wan was born and raised in Shenzhen, one of the biggest cities in China and is fluent in Mandarin and English. She came to Canada alone to pursue her nutrition degree at the University of Saskatchewan. This unique experience was indeed challenging but has also inspired Wan to support others from different cultures on the best way to bridge healthy eating with their favorite cultural foods.

Wan completed her accredited dietetic internship through the Saskatoon Health Region and has experience working with both adult and pediatric populations.  She has worked in Saskatchewan and Alberta as a Mental Health and Eating Disorder Dietitian supporting people with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, yo-yo dieting recovery and emotional eating support. She has also supported people with other mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, trauma, bipolar disorder and personality disorder, to enhance their nutrition and health.  Given Wan has experience working in both hospital and community settings she has facilitated care collaboration among a range of healthcare providers such as physicians, pediatricians, psychiatrists, mental health therapists, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists and pharmacists.

Wan is registered with the College of Dietitians of Alberta, the College of Dietitians of British Columbia, and Dietitians of Canada. She is a Certified Craving ChangeTM Facilitator specializing in strategies for problematic and emotional eating. Because of her special interest in mental health, Wan has also completed various levels of trainings such as intuitive eating, mindful eating, Health At Every Size, as well as continues to deepen her understanding in therapeutic treatment methods used by therapists she collaborates with including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, family-based therapy, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, acceptance and commitment therapy, narrative therapy, and solution focused therapy.

Wan lives in Red Deer, Alberta with her partner, who is also a Dietitian. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, dancing, swimming, berry-picking, and of course, being a foodie and exploring the tastiest foods in town. For fun Wan likes to show her pediatric clients images of her adorable collection of stuffed animals to show them they can still be a kid at times in a grown-up world. Despite missing the ocean and humid warm weather she grew up with, she has embraced winter in Canada and enjoys sledding (if checking out Christmas lights doesn’t count).

Christine McIntosh PhD, RD Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Disordered Eating, Mental Health, Emotional Eating, IBS & Intestinal Health, Anti-inflammatory Eating, Arthritis, Chronic Pain, Weight Concerns, Women’s Health & Menopause

Pronouns: She/Her

With the heart of an adventurer, Christine goes deep and wide to understand a person’s food story. With a big smile and keen perception, she listens well to collaborate on a plan for the healthiest food life possible. There is not a nutrition concern that she does not want to explore, no food she would not taste, or a place she would not roam.

Christine has always been fascinated with food. In childhood, whether it was picking wild blueberries off the rocks in Northern Ontario, making up her own recipes for her parents and siblings, or eating the ethnic foods of childhood friends new to Canada, she valued the diversity of natural foods and world cuisines. As an adult, she still enjoys foraged foods and setting up great meals with whatever is on hand. Her early respect for food first turned into love of nutrition science in her teens, then into a lifetime of inspirating a great food life in others.

Christine loves to learn. A commitment of lifelong learning includes a PhD in Education. Driven to provide the most effective counseling style to assist others with health behaviour change, she studied teaching and psychology.  Her nutrition education began at Toronto Metropolitan University, followed by a dietetic internship at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. She later completed a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Alabama. She is a certified Craving Change ™ Facilitator with experience with working in Narrative Therapy approaches. She is registered to practice dietetics in Alberta, Ontario, Australia, and parts of the United States.

Committed to client centered care, Christine is trained in motivational interviewing, a conversation style that brings out the ‘why’, ‘what’ and ‘how’ to help create an ideal plan for sustained health change. Her confidence and kind manner easily guides people along as they establish their new food habits. Experience in mental health, eating disorders, midlife and aged nutrition, as well as chronic disease management, means she knows how food fits into complicated lives. She’s been happily working with complex food lives for nearly 25 years.

Christine has made dietetics a world adventure. From health facilities in deserts to tropics, from street health to mega city hospitals, from clinical leadership to university lecturing, nutrition has been the center of it all.  She’s spearheaded new nutrition programs such as community food box delivery, eating disorder support, medical nutrition programs for intestinal health and surgical rehabilitation. But she continues to follow the trail back to her real passion of helping others in the many ways food impacts our lives.  Her travels as a dietitian brought her full circle to relearn that no matter where we live, food is meant to be an enriching part of life. With Christine, you know that food is part of life’s adventure.

When not helping clients, Christine is restoring a century farmhouse with her husband or enjoying long walks in the outdoors. You might also find her talking to her foodie adult children (the apple does not fall far from the tree), whipping up a creative salad, perfecting the family favourite of home made pizza, or finding new ways to eat her favourite grain, oats.

Jana Ranger BSc, RD Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Women’s Health, Menopause, Weight Concerns, Emotional Eating, IBS & Digestive Health, Infant/Kids Nutrition, Disordered Eating, Mental Health, Heart Health, Diabetes, Dysphagia/Swallowing Issues, Kidney Disease

Pronouns: She/Her

If you spend any amount of time with Jana you will notice that you feel like you are connecting with a fun-loving, relatable friend you’ve known for quite some time.  Her bubbly personality mixed with her heart-centered and compassionate approach, will gently guide you toward achievement of your goals in a safe, non-judgmental way.

Jana LOVES food (both nerdy vegetables she grows in her garden AND a good quarter pounder with cheese)!  With this love comes a deep understanding of the emotional and sometimes complicated role food plays in our lives and in busy families.  She believes that eating should evoke a calm sense of joy, contentment and satisfaction, and it is her number one goal to help her clients achieve this.

Jana graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Nutritional Sciences and started her career as a community dietitian in rural Eastern Ontario.  Since 2009, Jana has counselled thousands of individuals in a one-on-one and group settings.  Jana is registered with the College of Dietitians of Ontario, Saskatchewan Dietitians Association (SDA), the College of Dietitians of Alberta, and Dietitians of Canada. She is a Certified Craving Change^TM Facilitator specializing in strategies for problematic and emotional eating.

Although she has extensive experience working in many areas of nutrition from infancy to geriatrics, Jana specializes in women’s health, menopause, infant/child nutrition, family meal planning, IBS and gastrointestinal disease, emotional eating, weight concerns as well as eating disorders.  She has also worked with clients with mental health concerns and those struggling with or recovering from substance abuse, kidney disease, swallowing issues, diabetes and heart health to name a few.

Jana grew up with French and therefore understands and speaks at an intermediate language level which is helpful for many of her French clients.

She loves being the mom of two very active boys.  In her spare time, when she isn’t cheering them on at the hockey rink or soccer field, she can be found kayaking the Rideau River, tending to her herb and vegetable gardens or creating something fun in the kitchen.  Her most recent ventures include baking artisan bread and pies, drying vegetable greens into powders and making the perfect home-brewed fire cider!

Carolyn Shepherd
Client Success Advocate

Pronouns: She/Her

Early in adulthood Carolyn focused her career in fitness and attended Mount Royal University where she completed The Personal Fitness Trainer Program certificate. Carolyn designed fitness programs for a variety of populations, with a personal passion for those who were a little shy to enter the gym or felt stigmatized if they lived in a larger body. Her natural ability to connect with empathy built trust, and she saw her clients confidence blossom. Her own journey to pursue better health and a desired body esthetic led her to learn more about the complexities of weight loss. It was through this experience and work in the weight management field, she realized the critical
importance of a balanced (not extreme) approach to eating for sustainability and fun.

She is the mother of two awesome boys who each uniquely teach her so many life lessons and things about herself. When her boys were little she knew she wanted to be home with them and opened a home esthetics studio to accomplish that goal. She certified locally in programs for artificial nails and waxing and completed her Advanced Pedicure/ Level 2 Pedologist training at The North American School of Pedology.
She volunteered her advanced footcare services to seniors and those unable to manage their own foot care needs. Through continued training she became known for her mastery in the application of natural looking eyelash extensions. Her business offered lash and brow services exclusively as her established niche for 17 years. When Carolyn was seeking a change she licensed with the IFSE Institute Canada as an Accident Sickness Insurance agent where she specialises in protecting her former colleagues in the beauty and wellness industry with unique lifestyle coverage for them and their families.

Carolyn is focused on utilizing her talents and finding greater purpose. She is a moderator for a women’s support group and volunteers as an event coordinator to acquire donations from local businesses to ensure the inclusive programs remain available to everyone.

As a mother her favorite way to spend time with family is preparing tasty foods to enjoy together. Her love of trying out flavours from other cultures is not always appreciated by her family. Finding foods to satisfy her cravings for Indian or Thai flavours that her boys will also eat is a constant work in progress. Her favorite comfort food is cheesy tuna noodle casserole with ripple potato chips or panko crumbs toasted on top! While she also loves sour gummy candies, she also finds tart fruits such as pineapple and kiwi fruits are equally enjoyable.

Daniela De Orbe, BBA, Marketing Coordinator
Specialty: Brand strategy, digital marketing, content marketing, social media and market research

The Health Stand Dietitian family would describe Daniela as a breath of fresh air. Her warm approachability and natural curiosity about wellness and food makes her a welcome member of the team. She values purpose driven work and enjoys seeing the impact that her role has on truly making a difference in people’s health and mental health.

Born and raised in Alberta, Daniela was brought up in a Mexican household playing sports and staying active through school and club volleyball. Her mom’s Mexican dishes first sparked her joy of food. Today this love of food inspires her to become a great cook, eager to learn and try all kinds of recipes.

Always with a keen eye, her fascination with why people gravitate towards certain brands encouraged her to pursue a Marketing degree at Mount Royal University. During this time, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Madrid, Spain, immersing herself in different cultures and trying any and all cuisines!

Daniela is most passionate when her marketing solutions make a true impact on an organization. Through internships during school, she’s worked in various industries, establishing and growing organizations’ digital presence and community. She’s become a natural at discovering a problem, coming up with a creative yet strategic solution, putting it to the test, and finding ways to make it better.

Constantly working towards growth in every aspect of her life, Daniela aspires to build strong connections with those around her, continuously cultivate well-rounded skills, and evolve as a marketing expert. She’s excited to apply her background in strategy, community engagement, and market research to help continue to fulfill Health Stand Nutrition’s mission.

When she’s not nose-deep in projects, you can find Daniela enjoying a siesta, adding to her extensive collection of plants, and Marie-condo-ing her home. A natural adventurer, Daniela chases to capture any sight of pink clouds, and loves exploring new places, cultures, and cuisines.

As for her favourite foods, Daniela is torn between her mom’s Chilaquiles and roasted artichokes!

If you have questions for our nutrition marketing coordinator please reach out here.