After completing the requirements to become a Registered Dietitian, McKenzie, alongside her best friend and business partner Lisa Dixon, launched NourishRDs, a nutrition communications and counseling company. Their food philosophy formed by a lifetime celebrating treasured relationships in the kitchen and around the kitchen table aspires to make wholesome, sustainable living accessible, achievable and affordable for everyone. Challenging conventional, ill-considered diet plans, their focus is instead on inspiring people to eat real food, love their bodies and laugh a lot.
McKenzie resides in the greater Los Angeles area where she operates a successful private practice focused on real foods nutrition. She provides nutrition counseling for individuals, families, and groups and provides her clients with the tools they need to feel their very best. As a recognized expert on body image and nutrition, McKenzie has been a featured lecturer at seminars and conferences and has been called a charismatic, compassionate, and persuasive speaker on the subjects. McKenzie currently hosts a series of workshops in Santa Clarita, California through FIT Life, an integrated wellness program designed to help people unleash their true potential by achieving their personal health or fitness goals. She can be seen every month on Santa Clarita's local morning show, SCV Today, where she addresses the most current nutrition topics and trends. McKenzie, with her business partner, Lisa, provides consulting and spokesperson work for like-minded organizations and fellow Registered Dietitian Nutritionists that support real food and a (non)diet approach to health.
In addition, McKenzie is a contributing editor for the award winning publication, Environmental Nutrition. Her numerous other articles focused on real food as the foundation for lifetime health and wellness have appeared in publications such as Today's Dietitian, The Chicago Tribune and in her monthly column for The Santa Clarita Valley's Signal Health & Family Guide. A list of McKenzie's most recent publications can be accessed here.
Prior to becoming an RD, McKenzie has coordinated community-wide health and wellness programs and body image campaigns in numerous Los Angeles and Central California communities. The COC Health & Wellness Fair, The Campaign for Real Beauty, The Be Comfortable in Your Genes Campaign, The Love Your Body Days are just some of the healthcare strategies McKenzie has helped direct that continue to gain momentum.
McKenzie graduated manga cum laude from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo with a degree in Food Science and Nutrition and completed her Dietetic Internship at Bastyr University. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Californian Dietetic Association. She is also a member of the Nutrition Entrepreneurs & Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN) dietetic practice groups.
In addition to following her own (non)diet advice, McKenzie loves being active outdoors while soaking up the Southern California sunshine, snowboarding in her native home in Alberta, Canada, and sampling the local food at her favorite farmer’s markets.
an interview with McKenzie
Why I chose to be a RD...
I love people and I love food. Combining my love for both always seemed like the perfect fit. My love affair and fascination with food started when I would visit my amazing, incredibly spunky grandmother in Delburne, Alberta (current population: 765). During the summer months, I would help Grandma pick fresh peas and peel fresh carrots from her garden. No afternoon was complete at Grandma’s house without enjoying her toasted homemade buns topped with her super-sweet raspberry jam.
Fast forward to the year I moved to California for my “one year” adventure. One year has turned into ten. Shortly after moving to California, I embarked on the journey to become a dietitian when I became involved in programs targeting the effects of poor body image, disordered eating, and the media’s unrealistic ideals of beauty. I’m on the personal mission to promote positive body image, healthy eating behaviors, and overall wellness to others in a fun, achievable, and completely non-intimidating way.
Favorite Food...
Lisa’s homemade pizza, anything Greek, and carrot cake -- but it has to have cream cheese frosting on it or I’m just not interested. My favorite carrot cake recipe is here.
Favorite Place...
Any place sunny and by the water. I not only have a love affair with food, I also have one with sunshine. I absolutely loved living in San Luis Obispo -- you’ll understand why if you watch this. Some of my fondest memories have been at the Shuswaps in British Columbia and Lake Louise in Alberta. Of all the places I’ve traveled overseas, Austria completely stole my heart.
No one would guess this, but...
I was on the girl’s rugby team in high school for a year. After games and practices, I would change into my ballet clothes and head off to dance class.
If I wasn’t an RD, I would want to be...
A dancer on Broadway or an astronaut.
Something I’m terrible at...
Singing. I’m completely tone deaf. Secretly, I’ve always wanted to be the lead singer or drummer for a rock band. Although I’m destined to be a terrible singer forever, I’m still planning on taking drum lessons someday.
Something I’m great at...
I’ve been told I have a good laugh. And I can bust some killer moves on the dance floor.
People would describe my cooking style as...
Simple, easy, approachable, and made with love.
What I love about Nourish...
My job is to eat good food, talk about good food, talk about the effects of good food, meet new people, and travel. And I get to do it all with my best friend. What’s not to love?
Hi McKenzie! I was just reading up on your blog and had a quick question. Could you please email me when you get the chance? - Emily
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