10 Questions with Rianna Tonn, RD Dietitian
Let’s get to know Rianna Tonn, a Registered Dietitian at The Wellness Clinic, the new woman and family focused clinic in Brandon, Manitoba. Rianna grew up in the small town of Plumas, MB and graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutritional Sciences. She specializes in helping women break the cycle of chronic dieting, improve body image, and “finding food freedom”. She also has experience incorporating this intuitive approach into the nutrition support of various health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and IBS.
We asked Rianna 10 questions to help readers learn more about her and how she got into the field of nutrition counselling and discussed some common facts and misconceptions about food and diet.
How did you get into the field of nutrition, dietetics, and nutrition counselling?
I have always been around and loved food. From volunteering in the cafeteria in high school, to baking with my family growing up, it’s always been a big part of my life. Growing up, I also did struggle with disordered eating, which I believe fueled my obsession with food and nutrition. My experience with food (the positive and the not-so-positive) lead me to entering the Dietetics program through the University of Manitoba, where I really started appreciating how the body works and how food and nutrition supports us. From there, I finished my degree in Human Nutritional Sciences, completed an internship, and wrote a national registration exam to become a Registered Dietitian.
What have you learned from being in the nutritional counselling field?
It has taught me so much! I am so grateful to have gotten into this space. One thing that stands out to me is that food is so much more than just nutrients. Food is connection, food is culture, food is attached to a lot of emotions, food means a lot to people. It’s not just as simple as ‘eat this, don’t eat that’. I love that nutrition counselling allows me to navigate that with clients and find the best way for food to support them.
What’s a common misconception about nutritional wellness that people often have?
You do not have to eat ‘perfectly’ to be taking care of yourself. Who defined ‘perfect eating’ anyways? (FYI diet culture had a big role in it). Yes, food can be powerful for making us feel our best, but it’s about much more than just what we eat or how many vegetables we eat. Nourishing your body in a way that feels good and works with your lifestyle is much more important than eating in a way that society defines as ‘perfect’. Learning to really listen to your body and becoming informed about nutrition from a reliable source can help you find a pattern of eating that works best for you.
What is one quick tip you could share about nutritional health that someone could put into practice tomorrow?
Drink water. If you’re reading this and water is available to you, take a sip! I don’t like to give out generalized nutrition advice because food and nutrition is so personal, but I think we all need the reminder to take an extra minute to hydrate.
What information or words of wisdom would you like to share with women regarding body image and building a healthy relationship with food?
If your relationship with food is not serving you, it does not have to stay that way. There is always another way to live with food and your body. It’s exhausting feeling guilty for every meal, or always planning how you’re going to ‘earn’ or ‘burn’ it off or feeling stressed in social situations because there’s food around. Although this is not an overnight journey, if you started now, just think of where you could be in just a few months with the right support. You deserve to have a peaceful relationship with food and your body.
What’s the process for nutritional counselling and how might someone benefit?
Nutrition counselling is a personalized experience, so depending on the reason why you’re seeking out this service, whether it be for PCOS, high blood pressure, disordered eating, or anything in between, how we go about it will be individualized. I always start the process with a slightly longer initial session to get to know the person and assess where they’re at. At the end of that session, they usually leave with a few goals to implement or try, and then we’ll follow up from there. My goal is to make my clients feel supported and provide guidance on their next steps so that they feel confident. I use a weight-neutral, person-centered approach, where we focus on the relationship with food and body, actionable behaviours, and overall wellness. This approach takes the pressure off of ‘the numbers’ and has been beneficial for clients to make sustainable changes that feel good, while improving physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being.
How long does it take to change habits around nutritional health?
Everyone is different! Healing your relationship with food and making nutrition changes takes time. For some it takes less time, and for others more. You’ll likely experience challenges throughout your journey, which is why working with a registered dietitian is so important.
When you’re not working with the Wellness Clinic, what do you like to do during your free time?
I love spending time with my family, going for a walk or to a spin class, cuddling with my cat, and watching any sitcom – The Office is my go-to!
What is one fun fact you’d like to share about yourself?
I’ve been to Disney World five times, and I absolutely plan to go again.
What is one fun or interesting fact about food?
Honey dill sauce (you know, the best dipping sauce for chicken fingers) is a Manitoba specialty! You will only find it when you’re eating out or grocery shopping here in Manitoba.
If you’re interested in meeting with Rianna to learn more about her approach to nutritional counselling, visit The Wellness Clinic’s Patient Portal to book an appointment online.