We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mindy Musselman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mindy below.

Hi Mindy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear a story from back when you were an intern or apprentice. What’s a memorable story you can share with us?

To become a registered dietitian, you first get your undergrad degree (and in recently it became a requirement to get a masters as well) and then you apply to dietetic internships in order to complete your education and sit for the RD exam. The internship process is competitive with limited spots at universities and companies across the country. I was happy to get an internship with Aramark. Internships are unpaid work experience at which they discourage you to do any outside work to stay focused on the program. In my first month of the 11-month internship, I was sent to a hospital to work with the chef in the kitchen for 2 weeks. This was a rotation I was looking forward to because I was interested in culinary science and the behind-the-scenes work in hospitals. I arrived early so by 7 am, we could get started. The first words out of the chef’s mouth when he was introduced to me were, “I don’t want some intern in my kitchen!” I was shocked, sad and embarrassed. I returned to the main hospital our internship was at and came across my director. When she asked why I was there, my embarrassed 22 year-old self started crying. I explained what happened and, of course, she called the chef. I was feeling pretty poorly about how the internship started. Fortunately none of the other 7 interns were sent to work with this chef and I instead spent those 2 weeks working with the chef at the Sprint headquarters where I learned many culinary tips and tricks, plus had a fantastic time. I kept my head up when I returned to the “mean chef” hospital for a separate rotation and eventually earned his praise simply by showing that I was willing to learn, pay attention and get things done. Being an unpaid intern is tough, but it’s an opportunity to learn, mess up and try again. And know that sometimes, even when you are just trying to do your job, you can’t please everyone. Internships can be hard on both parties, but there is so much to learn. Now, when I have a dietetic intern, even if I am busy, I remember what it felt like and that I can learn much from these young, new dietitians-to-be.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a dietitian who helps adults with chronic metabolic conditions reduce the risk of complications and enjoy a full and healthy life. I love showing people how they can enjoy life including their favorite foods and keep their health in check (everyone knows donuts and Velveeta are 2 of my faves!). Many people come to me confused about what they’ve read or heard about nutrition. My job is to help them clear the confusion and determine their best route for good health.

Good health is freedom. Freedom to do what you want without pain, medications and frequent doctor’s visits holding you back. My granny had diabetes and took pretty good care of herself while her brothers, who also had diabetes, suffered complications like amputation from poor diet and drinking alcohol. This is part of the reason I became a registered dietitian and diabetes educator.

If you are looking for a partner in planning your future health, I’d love to help. Dietitians focus on nutrition education, behavioral counseling and practical planning to instill healthy routines. In my 17 years of practice, I’ve worked with thousands of people from infants to my oldest client who was 96 years old. My main areas of interest are diabetes, weight management, gut health and intuitive eating. In my private practice, Well My Way Nutrition, I work with clients one-on-one via virtual visits so we can meet more frequently and within busy schedules. I created Well My Way because I saw while working in larger medical groups, the gaps in conventional dietitian services and insurance coverage. My 3 and 6 month coaching programs were designed specifically to fill those gaps, like help between visits and detailed meal planning. For more information, I’d love for you to visit wellmyway.com

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Many dietitians come out of their internships, pass the RD board exam and think they know it all! I was very ready to be a dietitian in the real world when I passed my exam. My first job had other ideas though. I was hired as a dietitian in a grocery store, which I was really excited about. I remember being in the office, working on a computer to put together a gluten-free friendly foods list I would proudly parade around the store. One of the managers came in and said, “Time to unload the trucks.” My reply was something like hey, i’m working on important things here so I can’t. I quickly learned, at this store, everyone helps out. Unloading trucks and stocking the shelves were not below any job title. After a few weeks of this, I learned where every single item was in the store. I learned what items my potential clients in the Health Market were looking for. I made connections with customers while stocking shelves. I read tons of food labels and learned more about the supplements we carried. I had to unlearn that a college graduate knows everything and relearn that I was entry level with a lot to learn.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Before starting my private practice, I worked for a large medical group for 10 years. In that time, I stocked up a lot of PTO. I was rarely sick and didn’t go on long vacations. When the time came to decide if I would make the leap to private practice, I had a decent amount of savings but I knew I didn’t want to touch it. Looking at my PTO bank, I realized I would have most of the capital I needed to start my practice.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wellmyway.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewellmyway/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WellMyWay
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wellmyway5075

Image Credits

Chosen Photography