Registered Dietitian
Certified Diabetes Educator
Chicago, IL
Brief Introduction/Tell Us About yourself (where you are from, etc)
I'm Laura Cason, a fun loving enthusiastic Registered Dietitian. I currently reside in Chicago. I am a career changer formerly working in media agencies doing strategy work for brands like Ziploc, Covergirl, and Heinz foods. The work was challenging, but I was craving something more fulfilling and I found myself burning out from stress. As a result, I wasn't eating properly because I would use food to cope with stress. Exercising was formerly part of my lifestyle but was not part of my routine any more. I had always been interested in nutrition, and started to explore what kind of career that could be. I was inspired and couldn't wait to start helping people. So I changed my life around (whole story here) and became a Registered Dietitian in 2015. Outside of work, I like to hang out with friends, try out different exercise classes, learn salsa dancing and play beach volleyball.
Why did you decide to pursue a career in nutrition?
See above.To provide further background, my interest in nutrition goes as far back as high school track when our coach told us to carb load before races. After college, I trained for the marathon and read a book about nutrition. Learning how food impacted my training and recovery was worthwhile to , so this was another pivotal point leading to where I am today.
How did you become passionate about healthy eating?
I think when we eat healthy, we feel our best and more balanced. I think nourishing our body is our job. But it's easier said than done. I find joy in keeping my body as healthy as possible. I find it my job to help people make healthy eating a habit and lifestyle. There should be joy to it and that's what I try to convey to people who I work with!
What kind of training did you undergo/certification you received?
I hold a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) credential in addition to the standards for Registered Dietitians. To receive this, I completed a certain amount of hours working with patients with diabetes, took specialized courses and sat for an exam.
What do people look for in a nutritionist or dietician?
I think people turn to us to help make sense of the "noise" they hear and read from the news. They want to know what's true about food and what's not. I also think people need motivation and education to reach health goals while they juggle everything else in their life.
If you could persuade people to change three things about their diet, what would they be?
Portion control, add more nutrient dense vegetables to their plate, don't "diet", learn a healthy lifestyle!
What would you make as a quick and healthy dinner option, if you have 30 minutes of preparation time?
To make a balanced quick meal, I like to bake chicken or salmon in the oven and cook rice and vegetables on the stove. Nothing beats terriyaki salmon, asparagus, and cauliflower rice. I also like to make breakfast for dinner. I like adding some veggies to the eggs, cook canadian or turkey bacon. Add a piece of whole wheat toast on the side or top it with the eggs and bacon and there's your quick balanced dinner!
What is your favorite snack?
Almonds, cauliflower chips, or pistachios.
What nutrition trends are you paying attention to in 2020?
Keto diets, intermittent fasting, gut health
Plant based living is becoming more and more popular. When eating a mostly plant based / vegetarian diet, are there certain foods to focus on to make sure we’re getting enough nutrients and protein?
Getting enough protein and vitamin B12 (mostly sourced from animals) is often challenging for plant based/vegetarian diets.
Speaking of plant based, what are some of the benefits of drinking chlorophyll water / benefits of liquid chlorophyll?
Some of the cited benefits of drinking chlorophyll water are weight loss, reduced inflammation, and possible improved red blood cell quality.
What’s one of your favorite organic/natural supplements or vitamins you recommended?
I typically don't recommend a certain brand of supplements or vitamins. The TYPE of vitamin and supplement should be based on a variety of factors like current food intake, vitamin levels in the body, medical condition, and lifestyle.
Where can our readers find you? (Instagram, Facebook, etc)
IG: lcas15
