Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Katy Spencer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Katy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

Yes – I was working in what is called an LTACH (Long Term Acute Care Hospital) and Oncology. My patient load consisted of very sick patients due to either poor lifestyle choices, aging or illness. While I knew my role of nutrition was paramount to their care, it was not the setting I best wanted to help people in. I was seeing the aftermath or poor lifestyle, and the already sick patients. But my heart has always been in preventative care – this is nutrition education and implementation for those that want to pursue a healthy lifestyle as a tool to age well and feel good, instead of dealing with it on the backend from poor lifestyle choices. Being in a job I hated, but in a field I loved empowered me to take the next steps to pursue private practice, so that I could work with my ideal clients and empower people early on in their wellness journey.

Katy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Katy Spencer, RDN, LDN. I have been a registered and licensed dietitian for 6 years. Prior to practicing as an integrative RDN, I received my Bachelor’s of Science from Auburn University in Nutrition & Dietetics, and went on for my Dietetic Practice Internship through Winthrop University.

I have always been an athlete and simultaneously a lover of good food. Marrying the two together, the field of nutrition and dietetics has always drawn me in. I know what a difference nutrition can make in performance, aesthetics, and ultimately long term health – so it was an easy decision to make a living from it. No pun intended, I truly eat, sleep and breathe a love for a healthy lifestyle and empowering others to do the same!

My practice provides 1:1 individualized nutrition coaching, from the comfort of my clients’ homes. I get to see clients virtually, which allows me to work with people all across the country. As a woman, I am more drawn to and help women predominantly in my practice. With a special emphasis on women of reproductive age – so anywhere from 18-45 years old. What sets my practice apart from other dietitians’, is my approach to integrative wellness. This means we not only look at food and nutrition, but we also address overall lifestyle habits – medications, sleep, exercise, toxin exposure, hormones, etc. I believe our bodies are not made up of different systems (heart, brain, gut, etc.), but that each of these systems work together and in tandem. So by taking an integrative approach with each of my clients, it allows for healing and success on a holistic and comprehensive level.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

I believe a curiosity to continue learning and having an open mind is a huge part to succeeding in this field. This field can sometimes feel very subjective or like it is constantly changing. I have learned that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. We have to be adaptable in the field of nutrition because new research is constantly being presented. And I have seen time and again that much of what I learned in school just 8 years ago, has already begun to change or has been challenged through new research.

But while adapting and sometimes changing my philosophy on certain foods or practices has been a part of my story as a professional, my North Star has always been whole food nutrition and a balanced approach. My advice to readers – know your North Star, but also know how to be flexible and curious.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I started my private practice in 2018 – that was the same year we found out we were pregnant with our first child! While it was an exciting time, it was also a busy time where I was working to grow my business. We as a family had to make some changes once our son arrived. I wanted to do both well – be home with my son and continue to grow my business. So finding a way to do so that worked with our family dynamic was challenging at times to say the least.

But through the multiple pivots I have had to make in my personal and business lives – we now have more kids (3 to be precise!), and moved twice to two new states over the past 4 years – it has taught me flexibility. I have had to continue to learn that showing up each day may look different from season to season. And knowing how and when I need to pivot has become a skill I am constantly trying to improve upon.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.simplyspencer.com
• Instagram: @simplyspencer_
• Facebook: Simply Spencer Nutrition
• Twitter: @simplyspencer_

Image Credits
Sara Kerhoulas (headshots and laptop picture)