Yaya Shankin, RD
Food is Medicine
Hi I’m Yaya. I’m a Registered Dietitian and I love to eat!
I will show you that great food, that’s good for you can be satisfying.
It’s possible to feed yourself, your partner, or your family healthy, hearty meals, without feeling like you’re “on a diet”
Do you ever feel like you’re always in a rush? I do! I’ve got a kid in elementary school and another in middle school. They’re always eating and and they rarely sit still for long. Restaurants and food companies have a lot of options for busy people to get full, fast. Cooking “healthy” feels like a time-consuming chore, sometimes with no payoff.
It doesn’t have to be this way! I can show you how to prepare meals at home that are not only delicious, filling, and easy to make, but also are nutritionally balanced to help you and your family avoid many of the most common diet-related health conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or weight gain.
Diet should be sustainable, enjoyable! Growing up in Japan, I was always exposed to all healthy diet habits, never had a restriction of diet. I can show you how to cook healthy, sustainable menu for you to enjoy your life without worrying about chronic disease. My recipes are mainly plant-based recipes that treat meat as a condiment, not the main event.
About Yaya
Yaya has a deep passion for healthy eating, conscious nutrition and the connection between mind and body. She works hard to educate clients, children, and communities how their food choices affect not only their physical health, but also their moods and cognitive function. As a former global market research analyst, she has experience to offer varied and individualized solutions that produce strong impact in people’s health and wellness. She lives in Highland ranch with her husband and two children, and has a degree in Dietetics from the University of Northern Colorado.
Shokuiku (食育)
In Japanese, the term shoku-iku (食育) means food education. Until recently, shoku-iku specifically referred to what children learned about nutrition in Japanese schools. Today, in Japan, as well as the United States, food education is recognized as essential for healthy populations. In a sense, growing up in Japan first exposed me to the concept of nutrition intervention. A combination of experiences later in life, like parenting and the loss of a loved one to cancer, have driven my passion for understanding nutrition science.
Becoming an RD
The tipping point came in 2016 when my father passed away less than a year after he was diagnosed with cancer. After he got sick, I spent months in hospital and devoted myself helping my father to evaluate his treatment options. I became familiar with the Doctor’s recommended treatment options, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy. I felt that nutrition intervention was overlooked. Treatment options for late-stage cancer patients are limited. I understand, though, that nutrition interventions can improve a patient’s quality of life. Not knowing enough about nutrition to help my father find comfort sparked my interest in nutrition interventions for the sick. My interest in nutrition interventions grew when I took the Medical Nutrition Intervention course in the DPD program. During the study, I learned that Medical Nutrition Therapy can be used to help cancer patients keep a healthy body weight, maintain strength, and manage side effects both during and after treatment. In many cases, when developing a cancer treatment plan, the benefits of both nutrition therapy and medical treatment should be considered. Going forward, my dream is to teach cancer patients about nutrition interventions they can use to improve their quality of life or even beat cancer.
Having Trouble Finding a Nutritous Balance?
You’re Not Alone. And I’m Here to Help!
When you’re having difficulty with your health, it’s sometimes hard to think about eating right, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help give your body the basic building blocks it needs to heal and rebuild. Medical nutrition offers comprehensive support for the whole family. It provides patients and caregivers alike the education and support needed to feel like new possibilities are available.
Medical Nutrition Therapy
Evidence Based Nutritional Support to maintain well being and quaility of life for people afflicted with cancer and other diseases.
Evidence Based, Medical Nutrition for Healthy Children and Families
Proper nutrition is essential for the health and well being of people of all ages. Healthy foods and and balanced habits support the body, mind, and emotions in functioning optimally.
Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food“. These words are as true today as they ever were. I’m committed to supporting you in making the best decisions possible with your health and healing.
Contact Me
Please feel free to reach out to let me know how I can be of service using this form or by emailing me at:
yayaueda [at] gmail [dot] com