WELCOME!
I'm Erin, AKA the "Good Enough RD".
My mission is to educate those who are overwhelmed with food and nutrition information so that they have the knowledge to make the best choices to support their own health and wellness goals.
I believe that health is subjective, and that you do not need to have a perfect diet to be healthy.
I envision a world where individuals can feel confident in their food decisions, without any judgment.
Hi there! Thanks for visiting my blog.
As you now know, I am Erin, and I have a passion for nutrition education.
Specifically, I have found that I really enjoy writing (hence, the blog). I am a naturally introverted person, so writing allows me to educate significantly more people than I could if I were working with everyone one-on-one.
I am married to a super supportive guy and have two spoiled bulldogs: Lottie and Chester. I enjoy spending my time running, going to breweries, and enjoying the North Carolina weather!
My Story
Like all good things, it started one beautiful night in Raleigh over pizza and a beer. My husband, Joe, our friend, Matt, and I were discussing how we could make money without having to work (don’t worry; this blog was not our million dollar idea. Stay tuned.)
Somehow the conversation turned to Matt’s eating habits. His 24-hour recall included pop-tarts, a Philly cheesesteak, and the calzone he was about to eat.
I was confused.
Joe and Matt are both engineers. As far as I was concerned, engineers were all type-A, numbers people. Nutrition and fitness are full of numbers. Have they ever looked at a food label or used a Garmin? They should be healthy, despite their sedentary careers.
I was wrong.
I learned that, as cool as data can be, they want things to get done as easily as possible. They do the bare minimum needed to accomplish their goal*. As a recovering perfectionist and notorious planner, this blew my mind. They do not need or want to meal prep every Sunday. They don’t care about getting 100% of their daily values every day. They don’t want to order salads and steamed vegetables at restaurants.
They don’t need to be perfectly healthy; they just want to be healthy enough. And they can’t be the only ones.
Everyday I see family, friends, and patients trying to make sense of this nutrition “science”. Given that it is a science, it is subject to change. We learn more every day. This sounds like it sets the stage for confusion. My goal is to keep it as simple as possible.
Yes, a side salad is good enough, it provides nutrients and antioxidants, and it is not a waste of calories.
No, you should never feel guilty for eating chocolate cake (unless you stole it from someone).
Eating food does not make you a good or bad person.
And a person’s weight is not a sole determinant of health.
If this approach resonates with you, head on over and join my mailing list or read the blog!
*Note: This may not be representative of all engineers. There are many types of people out there, including engineers. I am basing my generalizations on a sample size of 2 and I recognize the limitations in doing so.
Professional Background
Erin is a full-time dietitian at a primary care office in Raleigh and specializes in diabetes and sports nutrition.
She provides nutrition counseling and diabetes self-management education to patients of all ages.
Her passion lies in writing and educating. She also does some freelance writing and has provided nutrition talks and Q&As to local running groups in the Raleigh, NC area.
What is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist?
A registered dietitian/nutritionist (“RD”, “RDN”) is a nutrition professional who has done the following:
• Received at least a Bachelor’s degree in a related nutrition field from an accredited university (many dietitians also have master’s degrees)
• Completed 1200 hours of supervised practice
• Passed a nationally recognized exam
• Maintains continuing education on an ongoing basis
What is the Difference Between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist?
All dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are dietitians!
What does that mean? Well, a registered dietitian is a legally protected title. One can only call themselves a registered dietitian if they complete the steps outline above.
The title “nutritionist”, however, is not regulated. This means that anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. They may or may not have the educational background to justify the title. So, in essence, “buyer beware”. Many dietitians will use the title nutritionist in addition to their registered dietitian title to help the public better understand what they do.
What is a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist?
A diabetes care and education specialist (“CDCES”), formerly known as a Certified Diabetes Educator (“CDE”), is a health professional with specialized practice and study in diabetes care. They have met the following qualifications:
• Been in their practice at least 2 years
• Completed at least 1000 hours of diabetes education
• Passed a nationally recognized exam
• Completed at least 15 hours of diabetes-related continuing education each year