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

Hi Shanna, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I became a Registered Dietitian in 2015 after completing my degrees at Kansas State University. Although I’ve had an interest in nutrition and health for a long time, I didn’t always have a very healthy relationship with food and my body. Like many others, I had struggles with body image and disordered eating behaviors throughout my teens and early 20s, and after a few years of practicing as an RD, I finally had a realization that something needed to change.

My strained relationship with food was impacting my mental health and my relationships, and I wanted freedom. I stumbled upon the concept of intuitive eating and dove in to learn everything I could. I gradually began to embrace IE into my own life, incorporate it into how I worked with clients, and my life changed for the better. It was a slow process and one that took time and a lot of personal work, but I would do it over and over again to get to the place that I am in now when it comes to food and how I treat my body.

Over time, the content I share on my blog and social media has shifted with my own perspective and journey with food. I am passionate about helping others, especially women, learn how to care for themselves through food, intentional movement and self-care, in a way that feels realistic, affordable and fun. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be insanely expensive, time-consuming and stressful. It is very possible to have a healthy, balanced lifestyle and peaceful relationship with food, and I want to show others how to do that.

Shanna, 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 brand is called Wellness For The Win. I started my Instagram and blog back in 2015 right before I officially became a Registered Dietitian. I also started my podcast, The Wellness For The Win Podcast in May of 2022.

I share a wide variety of content on all of my platforms, but ultimately I want to show others how to achieve true wellness. I believe that wellness goes way beyond what we eat, and that our body size is the least interesting thing about us. I want to show and teach others how to care for themselves from the inside out. Physical, mental and emotional health all matter. Nutrition is an extremely important aspect of our overall health, but food should enhance our lives — not control our lives.

I hope to show others that it is possible to strike that balance and move away from the all or nothing mindset when it comes to our health. You don’t have to be “on” or “off” a diet for the rest of your life. You can just live in a way that supports your goals and that you hopefully enjoy — that is the key to long-term success.

On my blog and Instagram you can find tons of healthy, easy and family-friendly recipes to help you start eating healthier, without sacrificing flavor or fun in the kitchen.

On my podcast, you will hear real, vulnerable conversations on all kinds of topics. I just want to support women in their goal to feel their best, physically and mentally, without focusing on the scale or restricting foods you love. As a mom of an almost 2-year-old boy, and with another boy on the way, I especially want to support moms throughout their motherhood journeys. Being a mom is incredible, and it’s hard, and moms need ALL of the support + reminders to continue to care for themselves, too.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I started my Instagram back in 2015, and it was still pretty new back then! Instagram and social media have changed A LOT since that time, so growth strategies looked very different then than they do now. In other words, there was very little “strategy” involved when I first started. However, I just really tried to focus on sharing what I was passionate and knowledgeable about, and always stayed authentic to who I am.

That would be my biggest advice for someone who is just starting. Stay true to who you are along the way. With social media today, it’s really easy to get caught up in all the trends and what everyone else is doing. It’s okay to have fun participating in trends, but just be sure you are still sharing things that feel authentic to you and align with your values and vision for your brand.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Over these past few years of really focusing on growing my business, I have loved listening to various podcasts for tips and strategies along the way. Some of my favorites are The Goal Digger Podcast with Jenna Kutcher, Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield, Build You Tribe with Chalene and Brock Johnson, and more recently I have been enjoying the Pursuing Her Purpose Podcast.

I have a full-time job in addition to running my business, so I always appreciate learning how I can be more efficient and effective in my business since I am limited on time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wellnessforthewin.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/wellnessforthewin/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/wellnessforthewin/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXHIxsT8EfrM9ZVrUkS7vTw
• Other: Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wellness-for-the-win-podcast/id1622500441

Image Credits
Samantha Hollingsworth (@samanthahollicreative) – family photos Flytographer @flytographer – outdoor shots Melanie Soltz Photography – white background mother + son photo