Tori Hamilton, R.N.
Registered Nurse
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Mothericity, Founder
Brief Introduction/ Tell Us About yourself (where you are from, etc)
My name is Tori Hamilton. I am an obstetrical Registered Nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, freelance writer and mom of three. I am the founder of Mothericity.com - the first virtual care platform for every aspect of motherhood. I live in an old farmhouse on 7 acres in Ontario, Canada.
Why did you decide to pursue a career in nutrition?
Food is what fuels our bodies, and affects all aspects of life. I specialized in infant nutrition, specifically because nutrition during the first year of life shapes a person's habits and health for the rest of their life. There is so much we don't know about breastfeeding and human milk.
How did you become passionate about healthy eating?
With three kids, I need to set a good example for healthy eating. I still have much to learn, but I have learned so much in the past year from our team of Registered Dietitians on Mothericity. I love having a multidisciplinary team to learn from.
What kind of training did you undergo/certification you received?
I have a bachelor of science in nursing degree from the University of Western Ontario and have over 1000 hours of breastfeeding support experience and 120 hours of education from Mohawk College. I completed a 4-hour exam to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
What do people look for in a nutritionist or dietician?
I am not either of those things, but I do have 3 Registered Dietitians on our team at Mothericity. Our clients look for RD's who they feel comfortable with and who they feel a connection to. It's important that RD's work with the client's nutrition goals and make a realistic plan that the client feels excited about. Our providers offer a free consult to meet before booking an appointment.
If you could persuade people to change three things about their diet, what would they be?
- Enjoy your meals as a family
- Focus on fueling your body with nutrient-dense foods, not dieting, weight-checking or counting calories
- Make time for meal prep and planning - this makes all the difference!
What would you make as a quick and healthy dinner option, if you have 30 minutes of preparation time?
Our children are loving chicken thighs right now. If I have 30 minutes of prep time I would make a chicken and rice soup in the instant pot - great for cold winter days.
What is your favorite snack?
I have a great recipe for a healthy breakfast cookie, made with natural peanut butter, chocolate chips, flax and rolled oats. So easy and delicious!
What nutrition trends are you paying attention to in 2020?
Our family is looking toward more vegan and paleo meals. We have recently come to the realization that our youngest may a dairy sensitivity, so we are looking to try new recipes that are dairy-free.
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?
A well-rounded diet is important, and different foods have different benefits. Avocado can be added to sandwiches, wraps, or made into guacamole. Nuts such as almonds, cashew, walnuts can be added to salads and pasta dishes. Kale and spinach can be added to salads, smoothies and more and are high in protein and other essential nutrients.
Speaking of plant based, what are some of the benefits of drinking chlorophyll water / benefits of liquid chlorophyll?
Chlorophyll is the pigment created by photosynthesis that gives plants their green color. While eating vegetables that are green in color provides chlorophyll naturally, many people find that taking liquid chlorophyll helps them lead a healthy lifestyle.
What’s one of your favorite organic/natural supplements or vitamins you recommended?
For moms looking to increase their milk supply, I recommend using moringa (mallungaay). It's a natural galactagogue that also is a strong antioxidant.
Any favorite health / nutrition podcasts or books you recommend to our readers?
I don't have any in mind, but I have found a lot of great info from dietitians on instagram using the #dietitiansapproved hashtag
Where can our readers find you? (Instagram, Facebook, etc)
Readers can find Mothericity.com on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
