I’m so glad you’re here! Read on to get the lowdown on what Sustain + Nourish is all about.
Thank you so much for clicking on this site, I’m beyond grateful to have you here. Let me explain what you can expect from Sustain + Nourish and why I decided to start this endeavor.
First off, I’m Christina, a freelance writer, registered dietitian (RD), and sustainable food systems professional. I’ve reached millions of readers over the last 10 years through creating written nutrition and healthcare content for outlets like Real Simple, Well+Good, Better Home and Gardens, Taste of Home, Vitamix, Nutrition Business Journal, Traditional Medicinals, and more. During this time I’ve also worked as a clinician in a variety of settings from the intensive care unit to universities. Check out the About Me page for more info on my less-than-conventional dietetics career!
Back to how to S+N started…
I recently wrote a story for Well+Good (that isn’t yet published, but I will link it when it is!) about the controversial Washington Post article highlighting the problematic relationships between influencer dietitians and Big Food organizations like American Beverage. These partnerships resulted in misleading social media posts promoting aspartame-sweetened products like diet soda despite the World Health Organization’s warnings about this manufactured ingredient. Definitely read the story for more details on this exposé, but the reason I bring this up is that it sparked a meaningful dialogue (both internally and in the article) about the ethics surrounding healthcare professionals (like RDs) engaging in brand deals that would result in financial gain.
Can brand deals between these two parties be done in an honest way?
Are dietitians compromising their credibility if they recommend a product and receive payment in exchange?
As a group of professionals, RDs all have go-to products that they happily share with clients. So it only makes sense that business relationships would start to form. In my opinion, an affiliate commission or full-on sponsorship of an RD is a more-than-reasonable financial exchange for that professional’s opinion, nutritional analysis, and endorsement of a product.
But this dynamic then places the responsibility on the RD to uphold ethical standards, as I personally know many less-than-healthy food brands that are happy to offer financial compensation to whatever RD will take the bait. And while this moral compass should be built-in given that dietitians agree to follow a Code of Ethics upon accreditation, the Washington Post article shows us that this isn’t always the case. The story highlighted a select (though small) number of dietitians who were not appropriately disclosing their financial relationships with these food companies.
When done ethically, appropriately, and bolstered by evidence, brand deals between dietitians and food companies can actually help to propel our food supply forward towards a healthier landscape. This is why I launched Sustain + Nourish.
When I graduated with my Master’s degree in environmental studies focused on sustainable food systems after over eight years of working as an RD and freelance writer, I was left perplexed on how I would meld my worlds.
Then I realized…
The most frequently asked question I get from clients, patients, and readers is “Which food or product brand should I buy?”
Here’s where the idea of a blog focused on highlighting brands and products doing the good work from both a nutrition and sustainability perspective came to life. I could lead the charge on what I wanted to write about, the practices I’d “preach,” and the products that would help people to do just that.
Back to transparency and disclosure, many of the brands I’ll be highlighting on this page will likely have affiliate links tied to them. But that in no way detracts from the evidence-based nature of my recommendations. Affiliate marketing, if you will, is also different from paid partnerships or sponsorships. I’m offering you the information on these products, my experience with them, and ways I enjoy using them. If you happen to decide to purchase them, only then would I see any financial gain. I know that many may not make that choice, and that is beyond okay. This professional financial exchange is just one avenue that I’ve chosen to help pay for the time required to create content like this for whoever would like to take advantage of it.
Through this blog, my hope is not to continue to feed the capitalistic machine, but rather champion brands who are using their products to help nurture the planet and the people that call it home, while helping to change these deeply rooted systems that are serving only the extremely wealthy.
These brands will practice commitment to sustainability through either reduced emissions, ethical ingredient sourcing, or helping purchasers consume less “stuff” in general — all while prioritizing human health. My third core value of using a holistic approach is so important here because no product or brand is going to be perfect in every single way from both a nutrition or sustainability perspective. As long as we’re hitting the mark on most things, I deem that a win.
So, I hope you’ll join me on this adventure where we take a deep dive into what it means to be “sustainable” and “nourished,” helping us make the best choices for ourselves, our loved ones, and our precious Mother Earth.
