Meet Registered Dietitian, Maryke Schouten 
Get to know Registered Dietitian, Maryke Schouten on our team!
We are excited to introduce you to Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist on our team, Maryke Schouten.
Maryke specializes in women’s health, menopause, weight concerns, emotional eating, heart health, diabetes, chronic disease, family meal planning, geriatrics/seniors health, dysphagia/swallowing issues, plant-based and sustainable eating. She is a natural storyteller and uses this skill to translate her love for nutrition into simple messaging for children and families.
We asked Maryke to share a few things about herself so you could get to know background, areas of speciality, favourite foods, and more! Learn even more about Maryke, her experience and interests as a dietitian in her full bio here.
What is your background as a Registered Dietitian?
My career began in Vancouver, BC in complex continuing care where I worked both as the kitchen manager and clinical dietitian – I was honoured to be able to affect all areas of our residents’ lives, nutritionally. I found the science nerd in me loved the broad variety of health issues but the storyteller in me loved building relationships and listening to the fascinating lives of our elders.
I moved to Alberta in 2006 and stepped into a consultant role in a large long term care chain where I worked with kitchen managers and site dietitians – all covering over 30 sites in three different provinces. It was a wonderful opportunity which showed me the diversity of how we live and eat in Canada from rural places like St. Paul, Alberta to downtown Toronto, Ontario.
After that I found myself drawn to public health and education and started a contract position offering grocery store tours in Calgary and surrounding areas. As this began during the pandemic, I had to learn to teach online, bringing the grocery store to a screen near you! I absolutely love the dynamism of teaching about healthy choices right where people make their purchases – but I found I missed one-on-one connections.
My personal passion for psychology (I love knowing what makes us humans tick!) led to a realization that counselling provides the perfect marriage of our motivations with nutrition and here I found my place with the team at Health Stand.
You will find I am curious as to your life and wellness story and will walk beside you as your ‘thinking partner’ with my nerdy science and psychology brain but mostly engaging my human heart to help you achieve lasting success on your wellness journey.
What are your areas of specialty at Health Stand Nutrition?
My areas of specialty include Women’s Health, Menopause, Weight Concerns, Emotional Eating, Heart Health, Diabetes, Chronic Disease, Family Meal Planning, Geriatrics/Seniors Health, Dysphagia/Swallowing Issues, Plant-based & Sustainable Eating
With my background in the complex setting of continuing care I am comfortable and skilled in chronic diseases such as heart health and diabetes but my years teaching in the grocery stores (and side line as a storyteller) have made me an adept communicator, translating nutrition into fun words and simple messages for families and children.
One of my passions is growing food and that ties into sustainability – I regularly wonder – where does this food come from? What were working conditions like? Is this entire package recyclable? There are many things to consider in terms of our food choices that affect our own health individually but also the health of the entire planet. It’s fascinating!
What is your favourite part of being a Dietitian?
The best thing is that I get to talk about food all day long! Food is nourishing in so many ways and I love that the Health Stand approach of soulful and nutritious follows exactly my beliefs and values.
As I mentioned above, I love how complex food is too – from how it grows (soil nutrition), to how it makes us feel, how it builds community and promotes socialization – food is a universal connector and healing substance that is second to none.
What is one myth that you want to clear up about Dietitians?
We are not the food police!
The last thing I would ever do is judge the choices you make. I come at health and wellness with an eye to where you want to go with your health and wellness, what motivates you and gives you delight. No policing here, but rather support and encouragement on your journey.
What is your favourite nerdy nutritious food chosen for health?
Oh my gosh, I almost hate to admit it but I love salads! They are so versatile, delicious and nutritious. From a finely chopped kale and lettuce base you can add roasted veggies, toppings like cheese, sour cream and salsa for a Mexican flair, or berries and pumpkin seeds, of my all time favourite: candied pecans. Don’t get me started on the variety of dressings you can add!
The only salad downfall I experienced was years ago on a trip to Spain – though I do love ham once in a while you could not get a salad without it there. It wasn’t even listed on the menu – ham was assumed in every dish.
What is your favourite soulful food chosen for taste, enjoyment, and social fun?
Not just one, but a whole category: if it’s salty and crispy, I’m there! From basic potato chips and popcorn to gourmet cheese and crackers, that’s my happy place. A charcuterie plate is like heaven – all those options to eat either individually or layer in a variety of ways is a delight to my taste buds. Have you tried cheese on crackers with sauteed mushrooms? But there’s also the sweet and savory – cheese, cracker and red pepper jelly or tomato jam… then the olives on the side…I could go on and on!
What is something that people may not know about you?
In my 20’s I bicycled from the Netherlands, through Belgium and across to England. There we were stopped by local police as we biked along the M5 highway and were told it was illegal. Eek! So once we got to London via the much slower small back roads, we loaded our bikes onto a train to catch the ferry to Ireland and biked to visit family in Killarney.
Though we ate in myriad places, camping along the way and staying at the occasional bed and breakfast, what I remember distinctly was the huge bottles of Coke that I downed with abandon. This was before I started my studies in nutrition, but I was fascinated at how differently my body behaved (and the cravings I had!) when I was super active compared to my usual quiet life at home. It underscored for me how our bodies tell us stories all the time, how the stories change over time as we grow, mature, become more active or less, change where we live or who we live with but it’s always telling us stories – if we pause to listen.
I look forward to hearing your story and joining you for part of the journey, and always with an eye to the horizon of joyful nourishment.
Learn more about Dietitian Maryke Schouten and check out her full bio here covering all her nutrition background and experience.
Interested in starting nutrition counselling with Maryke?
If you want to book an appointment to begin or continue your nutrition journey with Maryke, please contact us.
Learn more about our Nutrition Counselling Dietitian Services. And don’t forget to check your health insurance! Many insurance plans cover Dietitian services
Brought to you by our friendly Registered Dietitian team at Health Stand Nutrition Consulting Inc. For more balanced living advice check out our RESOURCE MEGA BANK of nutrition articles, videos, healthy recipes, newsletters and meal planning kits here: www.healthstandnutrition.com/personal-nutrition/resource-mega-bank/
