Move to Wellness 2024: Functional Nutrition with Sheri Weitz
Sheri Weitz is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist passionate about helping people transform their health using an integrative approach: one that combines functional nutrition, lifestyle coaching, a non-diet approach using mindful eating techniques, and more. In this interview Sheri shares insights with DeliveryRank on achieving a healthy lifestyle.
What inspired you to choose a career path in nutrition?
I love that food comes from the earth, and changing our health through food and natural supplements became inspiring for me. I’ve always wanted to be a healer in some form. Deciding which type was the challenge. After a lot of research and shadowing other health care providers, I decided to pursue functional nutrition.
The path toward becoming a Registered Dietitian didn't focus on this specialty, so now I study functional nutrition on my own and can't get enough of it. When a client tells me I changed their life, nothing feels better! I’m a wellness cheerleader and coach along with being a clinician.
What are some of the most common nutritional mistakes that you observe people making?
Black and white behaviors and attitudes towards food and eating behaviors. Let yourself be well without being perfect! That can be a challenge, and that’s where a dietitian and nutrition coach with solid knowledge comes in to help guide clients into the "gray" areas. Another common mistake is drinking fruit smoothies – they’re loaded with sugar and it’s better to eat fruit than to drink it.
If you could persuade people to change three things about their diet, what would they be?
1. Eat as much organic produce as you can afford.
2. Eat plant-based more often, which doesn't mean you have to be a vegan, just a part-time vegetarian.
3. Eat 5-9 servings of vegetables and fruit per day.
How important is exercise and how much of it should we be doing?
Movement is medicine. Exercise is one of the most important keys to wellness. Most studies show we benefit from 150 minutes of high-intensity cardio per week, but I work with clients to start moving in any way possible even if this means a 15-minute walk every day. Any movement is better than none!
Do you have any tips or advice to offer on what to look for when considering pre-cooked or pre-packaged meals for convenience?
Always read the actual ingredients. This is what you’re putting into your body! The first ingredient is what’s present in the largest percentage. Watch out for artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and try to avoid them. They tend to be the last ingredient. If a food has many ingredients this is often a red flag; healthier products tend to have fewer items on the ingredient label.
