Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyra Hungerford.
Hi Kyra, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Iowa and have been an athlete since I was little. Being in the athletic community all my life pushed me to live a healthy lifestyle. However, in, high school I developed an eating disorder which followed me to college. I was recruited to play basketball at the University of Missouri-St. Louis where I played for four years. I also struggle with my mental health and flashback to the 2020 summer quarantine, I created an Instagram account, “kyrasgoodeats’ to help those who also have struggled with an ED and mental health, spread scientific-based nutrition, and create simple recipes! I was motivated to become a dietitian to help others and prevent them from going through what I did, but also know they are not alone in this. I am now graduated, finishing up my internship in the Sports Dietetic department at SLU and pursuing an MS in Dietetics this next fall.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nope, being a college athlete is tough enough, but also, on top of that, battling your body and mind takes a significant toll on your overall health. As a college athlete, your job is your sport and you’re training 3-4 hours a day, watching film, team meetings, and on top of that, you have to get good grades in your classes so it’s a full-time job! I struggled through my eating disorder, and it was very hard for me to come to peace with my body and food, especially when I tried so hard for so long to make it seem like everything was “okay.”
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a student (RD to be), intern at SLU in the sports dietetic department; I am also a food blogger/mental health advocate/influencer on Instagram. (I also work at Mission Taco lol) I have my BSC in exercise science and I am wanting to specialize in sports nutrition.
I am most proud of how far I have come in life, I am proud I overcame many adversities like recovering from my ED and battling mental health. I am also proud that I played basketball at the D2 level for four years while making the Deans list in (above 3.2 GPA) every semester. My work ethic and energy sets me apart from others.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I definitely view myself as a risk-taker. You can’t grow or find yourself if you stay in your comfort zone. I have taken risks like moving away from college, not knowing anyone, and playing basketball at college. I took risks like admitting I need help and in turn, using my experiences to help others; it’s not easy to stand up and talk about your mental health struggles in a society that often keeps all that under wraps or is considered taboo.
Contact Info:
- Email: hungekyr@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyrasgoodeats/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kyrasgoodeats?lang=en
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kyrahungerford?lang=en
