Our Favourite Part About Being Dietitians + Benefits of Seeing One

Jana Spindler, BSc, RD Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Disordered Eating, Emotional Eating, Mental 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. She is currently working towards her Masters in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University to fulfill her goal to practice as both a Dietitian and Therapist.

Jana continues to be a fitness enthusiast today. She loves 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!

Shauna Kime, BSc, RD 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 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..

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.

Christine Devaney Towsley B.A.Sc., RD Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Weight Concerns, Intuitive Eating, 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 also speaks French and is a member of the College of Dietitians of Ontario, the College of Dietitians of Alberta and Dietitians of Canada. She is 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.

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

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 currently working towards her certification as a Certified Craving ChangeTM Facilitator specializing in strategies for problematic and emotional eating.

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 Skanderup BSc, RD, Registered Dietitian & Online Nutritionist 
Specialty: Women’s Health, Weight Concerns, Emotional Eating, IBS & Digestive Health, Disordered Eating, Mental Health, ADHD, Heart Health, Diabetes, Indigenous Health, Sports Nutrition

Pronouns: She/Her

Some of the things we love about Paige is her infectious smile and enthusiasm alongside her outgoing social nature and welcoming demeanor. Born and raised in Calgary, Paige started her career as a Registered Dietitian after completing her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and dietetic internship through the University of Alberta. Paige is a regulated member of the College of Dietitians of Alberta, College of Dietitians of British Columbia (pending) and Dietitians of Canada.

Through Paige’s one-on-one counseling you will find how she compassionately supports those seeking to balance their busy lifestyles with their nutrition. She specializes in meal planning, women’s health, emotional eating, diabetes, heart health, digestive health, sports nutrition, eating disorders and mental health. She empowers long term habit change by helping her clients create routines that respect their own unique definition of health, values, and preferences (rather than unrealistic regimes fueled by fear, guilt and will power). She has supported many adolescents, athletes, and caregivers to alleviate chaotic eating patterns tied to their disordered thoughts about food and their body.

She has completed the Mental Health First Aid Course and ASIST Applied Suicide Intervention Skills in addition to a 1-year eating disorder education program for Registered Dietitians to further increase her understanding of mental health and open up space for difficult conversations around food. Paige’s approach incorporates mindful eating, intuitive eating, interactive meal support, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Though Paige has worked in a variety of care settings from outpatient counseling to inpatient clinical hospital programs, she has had an extensive focus in First Nation communities. Working with the communities has broadened her expertise in chronic disease management, community health programming, and food sovereignty. Recognizing how each client’s identity and experiences impact their health behaviours, Paige is committed to decreasing the stigmatization of marginalized identities across the nutrition field in the pursuit of health equity.

Outside of work, Paige enjoys being very active. She enjoys running short distances locally, the challenge of a half marathon, and trail running in the mountains recreationally. In addition to hiking, rollerblading, and rock climbing, she relaxes with portrait drawing celebrities (a new hobby she picked up when she broke her wrist snowboarding!). Above all else, you will recognize she has a deep passion for new food and sandwiches. You will struggle convincing her that there is a better sandwich than a Reuben on toasted marble rye bread.