Meet Registered Dietitian, Paige Thomsen 
Get to know Registered Dietitian, Paige Thomsen on our team!
We are excited to introduce you to Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist on our team, Paige Thomsen.
Paige specializes in heart health, diabetes, anemia, IBS and gastrointestinal disease, emotional eating, weight concerns as well as eating disorders. She has also worked with clients with a range of mental health concerns and those struggling with or recovering from substance abuse, food insecurity, and budget-friendly meal planning.
We asked Paige to share a few things about herself so you could get to know her below in this blog post. Learn even more about Paige, her background, and her experience in her full bio here.
What is your background as a Registered Dietitian?
I became a dietitian for 3 particular reasons:
1) I had a desire for a career in healthcare but since I have a fear of blood I knew I needed to look for creative ways to help people around their wellness.
2) I love discussing and trying new food from a wide ranges of cultures.
3) I know firsthand the universal pressure of diet culture which led me to become hyper-focused on nutrition and my body and I’ve broken free from this and wanted to help others with the peace of mind they deserve.
I graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition with Honours. My career as a dietitian commenced with a private company promoting a healthy lifestyle and meal planning software. I provided nutrition guidance to clients through weekly appointments and tailored meal plans. Clients that we supported sought support regarding weight concerns athletic performance, energy levels, menopause, anemia, heart disease and diabetes. While weekly appointments fostered accountability, I aimed to instill independence and sustained behavior change for clients. I genuinely believe true nutrition transcends mere “discipline” and education; it encompasses safety, understanding core values, and nurturing self-efficacy.
Fortuitously, I transitioned to a profoundly rewarding role as a dietitian serving a First Nations reserve outside of Calgary. This experience empowered me to secure grants and facilitate community programs centered around food sovereignty, food security, and cultural competence, marking one of the most fulfilling chapters of my career. Some mentionable programs include teaching families how to raise chickens, offering a mobile drive-thru food market during the COVID-19 lockdown, and offering traditional hide tanning education for students via Indigenous-led youth programs. I even got my Canadian Firearm Safety Certification to help support youth hunting programs!
Driven by a desire to explore my creativity, I established my own practice within an interdisciplinary clinic to promote nutrition and healthy relationships with food. I completed a one year intensive eating disorders course for Dietitians, along with Mental Health First Aid and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, to foster a sense of safety for clients discussing vulnerable feelings about food and their bodies.
I also initiated a “Supper Social Club” aimed at promoting mindful eating and cultivating healthy relationships with food, counteracting the internalized guilt many experience when eating. Inspired by the notion that physiotherapists exercise with their clients, I believed dietitians should dine alongside their clients. Additionally, the Supper Social Club provided an opportunity for restaurant chefs to serve as educators regarding their cultural ties to food and unique aspects of the menu.
Now, with the support of a dedicated team of dietitians, I provide nutrition counseling on various topics mentioned below with the overall goal of helping people enjoy food freedom and peace of mind.
What are your areas of specialty at Health Stand Nutrition?
I love working with clients who are wanting to reduce the fear around food and gain a better sense of independence and clarity on how to navigate their health goals and concerns.
I specialize in heart health, diabetes, anemia, digestive concerns, disordered eating, eating disorders, sport performance, food insecurity, and budget-friendly meal planning. I also offer nutrition support for those dealing with addiction/substance abuse and mental health concerns.
What is your favourite part of being a Dietitian?
I love talking about food and someone else’s experiences with food. Food is so personal and can capture memories, culture, creativity, and resilience.
I love learning about each client’s unique story and I love supporting them in writing the next chapters of their eating and health journey with confidence, autonomy, and lots of happiness. It is so rewarding to see clients have more time and less stress when it comes to eating.
What is one myth that you want to clear up about Dietitians?
Myth: Dietitians only help with weight loss.
When I first started my career as a dietitian, I was giving out my business cards and someone joked saying “Oh are you giving this to me because I need to lose weight?”
Although “diet” is in the word dietitian, it doesn’t mean we focus on “dieting for weight loss.” The word ‘Diet’ encapsulates everything related to how we eat. Dietitians can build deep connections with clients to uncover inner motivations for behavior change and help align a person’s diets with their values, lifestyle, and overall identity to live a more fulfilling life.
What is your favorite nerdy nutritious food chosen for health?
Jicama or Daikon Radish or Rutabaga
I LIVE for root vegetables. I absolutely love trying new foods and these were introduced to me late in life so I have been loving the new addition to my vegetable repertoire. Just peel, chop, and roast!
What is your favorite soulful food chosen for taste, enjoyment, and social fun?
Sandwiches. No question.
I feel like I was born to love sandwiches. My mother and I have always shared a deep appreciation for bread and cheese. We used to sit on the couch watching a movie eating slices of white bakery bread and cubed cheese, so naturally loving sandwiches makes sense.
I also come from Danish descent and after recently visiting Denmark, I confidently stand by that Danes make phenomenal (dare I say the best) sandwiches.
I love to hike and you will never catch me on an outdoor adventure without a sandwich. They are portable, versatile, and always hit the spot.
What is something that people may not know about you?
I did a stand-up comedy routine recently regarding nutrition and it was a blast! I am very fascinated by the art of comedy and the role of humour in our lives. Getting on stage and making people laugh brings me so much joy.
One other fun fact about me that many people don’t know is that after I broke my wrist snowboarding in 2021, I had a lot of downtime and started drawing. I realized I really enjoy drawing (especially sketching celebrities and the opportunity to draw someone new)!
Learn more about Dietitian Paige Thomsen and check out her full bio here covering all her background and experience.
Interested in starting nutrition counselling with Paige?
If you want to book an appointment to begin or continue your nutrition journey with Paige, 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/
