RDs Spill the Beans – Featuring Jill!

RDs Spill the Beans is a feature where I interview Registered Dietitians about the food they eat and their nutrition philosophies.  People always seem to be interested in what dietitians eat, so now’s your chance to take a sneak peak into a dietitian’s fridge 🙂

Today’s interview is with Jill Worboys, a dietitian working in Population Health in the beautiful Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Over the years she has adopted various styles of eating; from vegan to raw, she’s done it all! Keep reading to find out what eating style she has comfortably settled into now.

Jessica: Describe your eating style in 5 words or less

Jill: I eat delicious healthy food.

Jessica: What are your favourite foods?

Jill: I am going to interpret this question a little different than most would; I am going to describe my favorite meals! These are meals that we eat on a regular basis. Number one right now is fish tacos, with handmade tortillas I make myself. Pasta puttanesca is so good! Puttanesca is a sauce that has tomatoes, olives, capers, anchovies, and garlic. I add a little Macedonian feta on top.

I always try to make some sort on Indian dish a couple of times a month, my favorite cookbook is Vij’s at Home.

Our go to quick meal these days are pita pizzas. I love how crispy the pitas get when you bake them in the oven. We are always experimenting with toppings; the last interesting one was Velveeta cheese and broccoli!

Another quick fav is my “big salad”, which consist of leafy greens, grated beet and carrot, toasted sunflower seeds, chickpeas, raisins, Macedonian feta and a balsamic dressing.

Jessica: List 5 foods that are always in your fridge or pantry

Jill: There are so many! We just moved into a new house and I had to convert the linen closet into a second pantry!

1. A few different shapes of pasta, so quick to prepare and delicious.
2. Panko crumbs are always good to have on hand to add to crab cakes, salmon patties or sprinkle over grilled zucchini with a little bit of parmesan cheese, yum!
3. We always have some sort of tofu; smoked tofu is delicious in stir fries, in a sandwich or on crackers.
4. Hot sauce, at least 5 different kinds. Last fall, Lucas made a smoked habanero sauce that you must apply a small dab to food with a toothpick, it’s so spicy!
5. Now that it’s summer, we always have soda water to make “fizzy bubblers:” juice one whole lemon, pour over ice along with soda water. So refreshing and tart, name cred to Lindsay Adams and Tyler MacKay.

Jessica: Are there any foods you would never eat from a nutrition point of view?

Jill: No! I believe that all food is good food. Those not-so healthy foods, like poutine, are okay to have once in a while! I have a smaller portion and don’t eat it often.

Jessica: If you could only send one nutrition message out to the world, what would it be?

Jill: Have a healthy relationship with food. Once we start labelling foods as “bad” we just end up wanting them more. Going back to the last question, all food is good food.

Jessica: What do you think people should relax more about in terms of eating/food?

Jill: The latest trends. Super foods, coconut oil, coconut water are all popular right now. They are popular because of all the marketing that goes on to promote them, not because these foods are actually going to make you healthier! When someone asks me about what I think of coconut oil, I tell them that coconut oil manufacturers are making lots of money!

Jessica: What inspired you to become a dietitian?

Jill: I have always been interested in food. In high school I wanted to be a chef, and took a class that offered work experience in that field. I quickly realized that I did not like the long hours, the evening and weekend work of a chef. I took a few years off after high school and worked at a gym where I became interested in nutrition and weightlifting. I looked into the nutrition program at the University of Manitoba and knew it was for me!

Jessica: Do you have a favourite vitamin, mineral, or other nutrient?

Jill: Molybdenum, hahaha, just kidding! Isn’t that yours Jessica?

I can’t say that I have a favorite vitamin, mineral or other nutrient, they are all super important and lovely!

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