Meet Morgan Riley, Registered Dietitian
Hi, I’m Morgan Riley, a Registered Dietitian.
I work with people who want to eat healthy meals (while still enjoying your favourite foods or meals with friends) even if you don’t have the time to spend hours grocery shopping and cooking, so that you aren’t stopping at McDonald’s every day, and can finally feel healthy and get back to your fun-loving self.
You want the energy to have friends over on the weekend, or go out with co-workers to a restaurant, or stop by the gym after work.
You don’t want to be stuck on medications for the rest of your life, and you’re sick of getting colds or headaches all the time, or just not feeling your best.
Remember when you could eat out with friends at a nice restaurant and enjoy your night out, but now you’re worried about being seen as that “person on a diet.”
Too tired to cook?
You want to be able to run into the grocery store and grab what you need, cook a healthy meal for yourself or your friends and family, and have everyone laughing around the table. This is especially true if you’re living alone for the first time.
I know you want all these things, but obviously, it's easier to just keep on going as you’re going, grabbing convenience food when you’re hungry, and skipping the gym because you’re too tired.
On top of that, you never learned how to cook as a kid, or you just don't have the time, so how do you do it as an adult? Maybe you’ve tried to eat healthy before, but after a few weeks, you found yourself right back where you started.
You don’t even know where to start. You’re thinking, “Why are there so many different choices in the grocery store.” Seriously, ever notice how there are a thousand types of yogurt to choose from (plain or flavoured, Greek or Balkan style, 1%, 2%, whole) and what do I choose?
You recently went to your doctor and he said, “your cholesterol is high.” Now you’re worried about what you should be eating and you start Googling, but….. You find 10 different “experts” with 10 different opinions about what's really healthy.
“I know how you’re feeling because I’ve been there myself.”
I didn’t learn how to make healthy meals for myself when I was growing up because my parents didn’t really know how to cook themselves.
This all changed for me right after high school when I joined a volunteer group for 6 months. I was living with people from different provinces and backgrounds who all seemed so confident cooking, I wanted to cook for them but felt embarrassed that I didn’t know how.
I finished my volunteer program and came back home, but still didn’t know how to put together a healthy meal for myself, my energy was low, and I knew I had to make a change, or my eating habits were going to negatively affect my health.
I realized that I needed to learn how to create healthy meals for myself and others.
I did what you probably would do, which is start Googling. I found a million crazy “fix everything” diet claims that promised if I just followed their strict rules, I would feel amazing.
I would find mouth-watering recipes that overwhelmed me by the arm-length list of ingredients and have no idea which recipe to follow.
That's when I decided to become a dietitian. I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition at Saint Francis Xavier University and started working as a Registered Dietitian (RD) at Broadmead Care Society. I’m also a member of the College of Health and Care Professions of British Columbia and Dietitians of Canada.
I now feel so much more confident in my ability to eat healthy and take care of my body, and I still have time for the things I love (like biking, Zumba, and spending time with friends).
You don’t need to do a Bachelor of Science degree just to eat healthy or make delicious-tasting, healthy food, but you do need to start taking care of yourself now (because you just moved out, got a new medical diagnosis, or want to start eating out with friends again while still enjoying your food).
“You need simple, easy solutions that won’t take a lot of time.”
You’re going to be able to make healthy, simple meals, because, yes, a bagged salad is a great option. Let’s replace your fast food with fast at-home options.
Instead of strict diet “rules,” we’ll discuss:
What are the current recommendations for your medical diagnosis, so that you don’t need to read through the journals filled with medical jargon, or worry you aren’t following your doctors’ guidelines, and you can see those numbers (cholesterol, blood sugars) go down.
Why we eat the way we do, so that you can better understand your eating habits and how to change them.
How to incorporate small changes that made a huge difference, so that your new healthy habits stick.
How to shop at the grocery store or read a food label so that you can quickly run in and grab what you need, while knowing you’re picking the best options for your needs.
How to quickly put together a healthy, delicious meal without wading through a million recipes, so you don't feel overwhelmed in the kitchen.
Figuring out what other factors in your life are causing your lack of energy, stress eating, tiredness (because you’re so much more than just what you eat).
Gain confidence and feel healthy!
With this, you’ll feel more confident in your ability to prepare healthy, delicious food without spending all your free time cooking. You’ll feel more energized to spend time on the hobbies you love. You can have a meal with friends without being fearful of going “off” your diet. You can feel confident you are taking care of your body no matter what medical diagnosis or life challenges you’re facing. You can finally feel healthy.
Where we’re located:
The Kristen Yarker Nutrition Agency Team is spread across Victoria, BC, Nanaimo, BC, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Our team offers virtual services throughout BC and select provinces across Canada.
All services are now via private and secure video call.
I’m living with gratitude on unceded Coast Salish Homelands.
Click HERE to book an information call so that Kristen can find out more about your situation and together, we can determine if we’re a good fit.