Yasi Ansari, RDN, CSSD
Many dietetic interns are interested in working in the media. CSUSB intern Lydia Wei was fortunate to be able to interview Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson, Yasi Ansari, RDN, CSSD. Learn more about Yasi in this short, but informative Q & A.
Getting to Know….
Yasi Ansari, MS, RDN, CSSD
National Media Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Lydia Wei: A 2019 article published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN), "Prevalence of Eating Disorders over the 2000–2018 Period: A Systematic Literature Review" has reported a rise in eating disorders worldwide. What do you think some of the factors may be related to this increase?
Yasi Ansari: Social media can bombard people with various diets and messaging about fitness- we have more people with big followings who are not RDNs recommending diets that are not safe. It's essential for people who take in messages from social media to explore if there is research to support these recommendations and to understand what kind of credentials those sharing these messages have obtained. Being surrounded by unrealistic images of people on social media can cause a desire to change one's body or impact how someone may think about themself. While the article in this prompt was published in 2019, it is unsurprising that eating disorders rose during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. A few potential reasons for this included: spending more time at home, feeling like people didn't have control over what was happening in the real world, and focusing more mental energy on food and exercise. Another reason was the fear of not having access to food (remember when grocery stores were emptied out?), which may have also caused disordered eating patterns.
LW: What are 3 recommendations you give to parents so they can develop healthy eating habits and body image?
YA:
I encourage parents to explore their relationships with food. Are they avoiding certain foods because they were taught to at a young age? What does their relationship with their body look like? Speaking with a mental health professional and dietitian about best practices / supportive messages to say to kids could also be helpful.
For those who have kids, it is essential to know that many internalize their parents' food choices and relationships with exercise. What is the culture like at home, and how can we encourage the importance of including all food groups and not feeling like food is deserved only when we are active or have exercised?
Take note of the conversations with friends and family around the food table. Are people making comments about each other's bodies? If so, be a catalyst for change. While it may be difficult at first, focus on encouraging conversations that have nothing to do with physical appearance - talk about personality, goals, memories, recent experiences, share fun stories, etc.
LW: Please share one of your favorite success stories where you improved your client's eating pattern or positively affected their eating habits/lifestyle.
YA: I am grateful for every client I have been able to support. It is nice to get to learn from each person and to learn how I can further my work as a practitioner. It is always inspiring to see how clients feel after incorporating specific nutrition practices (eating more, nutrient timing, recovery, etc.) that they later share with me has been helping their game.
LW: There are so many nutrition myths such as "All fat is bad for you", Carbs make you fat" or "All processed food is unhealthy". What is the biggest myth you would like to go away once and for all?
YA:
Diets that eliminate food groups are hard to sustain. Our bodies need a variety of foods for different functions within the body, to help prevent deficiencies, and for overall health.
Suppose someone must eliminate a food group because of a medical condition. In that case, I always recommend working with a dietitian and one's physician so that the client is regularly monitored, and the dietitian can help prevent any nutrient deficiencies.
Fats, especially foods that contain essential mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids (for example, foods that contain omega 3s), can help support brain function and development, and both mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids can help decrease inflammation. Fats also help provide energy and increase the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (ADEK).
Carbs like bread, pasta, fruits, and veggies offer fiber. Carbohydrates provide efficient and easy-to-use energy for the body and many vitamins and minerals.
Restricting these food groups can impact our energy and overall health.
LW: Congratulations on being a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Many members of the Academy would dream of such an opportunity. Can you share some tips or steps a registered dietitian might take if this is a long-term goal?
YA: Thank you, that's very kind of you. Combining my love for nutrition and journalism has always been my dream. I'm grateful that I can share nutrition information with the media. A few tips I recommend include:
Don't be afraid to put yourself out there- I continue working on this daily.
If someone has a writing opportunity for you, consider exploring it to gain practice finding your voice when commenting about nutrition in the media.
Start a blog. A blog is a great way to pick fun nutrition topics to write about, and something I found helpful was doing my research before each post and citing resources in my posts. It taught me early on how important it is to ensure your recommendations are supported by science.
Keep your eyes out for opening spots in the spokesperson program. You can build your experience/resume today.
LW: What's your favorite snack?
YA: Great question. It is tough for me to pinpoint one snack. I have worked on being mindful of what my body needs when it needs it! Some of my favorite snack combinations include nut butter with fruit or layered on a baked good or cheese with crackers and nuts. I turn to those types of snacks the most!
Learn more about Yasi here.