Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Hayden.
Hi Lauren, I am so excited to have you on the platform. Before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story, and how did you get to where you are today?
I’m Lauren! I’m a 29-year-old dietetic clinical intern and nutritionist in St. Louis. My journey started like many people’s. It began by feeling lost and unsure of what I wanted for myself and my future. I didn’t immediately go to college because I wasn’t sure what my passion was when I was younger. I knew I only had the financial means to invest in higher education if I knew exactly what I wanted to become and had a worthwhile degree. So, instead of going off to college like my friends did, I worked a full-time job I needed to be more passionate about while figuring it out.
Serving others brings me the most fulfillment in my life. I’ve witnessed family members suffer from metabolic disease, diabetes, cancer, PTSD, and eating disorders. I often wondered if there was something they could’ve been doing to prevent their ailments, and it sparked my interest in disease prevention. I expressed to academic advisors that I was interested in nutrition within a medical setting. They simply recommended a basic nutrition certification and said I could work in a gym or work as a health teacher; although those are respectable professions, I craved something more. I was under the impression that if I wanted to be in healthcare, I needed to become a doctor or a nurse. Disappointed with my options, I decided that maybe my dream job wasn’t there.
Lost and unsure of my future, I took a corporate banking job, thinking that making money would make me feel fulfilled like it did the men in my family. But I quickly learned I was not fulfilled, and my passions were burning hotter than ever. That passion grew daily to the point that I often cried on the way to my corporate job because I was so unhappy and lost. This was one of my lowest points in my life, and I remember praying daily, asking God to show me a sign of what I should become. At this point, I only knew I wanted to help people live better and healthier lives. And let me tell you, when you put your desires out there and tell God what you want, He works in your life at the right time. I prayed a lot during this time. One day, I prayed very specifically about how I wanted to work in nutrition within the medical field, but I had no idea what kind of job that would be considered. Days, months, and years went by, and nothing changed. I continued to pray and believed that God had a path for me. One morning, I woke up, and I kid you not, I’d never heard this word until that morning, and I thought, “I want to be a dietitian.” When I read about the dietitian career, I knew this was IT. A dietitian is an expert in identifying and treating disease-related malnutrition, diseases, weight management, disorders, and chronic illness by conducting medical nutrition therapy and food behavioral counseling. I quit my corporate job, got my foot in the door of healthcare by landing a new job as a chiropractic assistant and enrolled in the community college to begin my journey to becoming a registered dietitian. As soon as I knew it, I worked my way up and became a medical assistant for OB/GYN for six years while I completed the difficult journey of being a dietetic student.
Over six years later, I’ve studied health, nutrition, clinical nutrition, and medical nutrition therapy, serving men and women as a qualified nutritionist. I graduated from one of the highest-ranked health and human sciences universities, Kansas State University, with two bachelor’s degrees! I earned a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition. I will begin my nutritional sciences masters program and dietetic clinical rotations this January 2024. I will work on that for the next 2 years, preparing to sit for the National RD board exam. Due to my experience as a medical assistant for an OB/GYN, I am well versed in nutrition relating to women’s health, reproductive, lifecycle nutrition, and hormones. I stopped working as a medical assistant over two years ago to pursue being an online nutritionist. I have had the honor of working with over 140 clients, helping them succeed in achieving and sustaining their health and weight goals.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Most dietetics programs range from 6-8 years, with a master’s requirement and a 1,200-hour clinical internship, followed by the national RD exam for your registration and licensure to become a practicing dietitian. Students who go into this field are usually earnest about it because it’s a time-wise and financially committed commitment. Because of the niche challenges and high-grade standards, dietetics programs are a competitive field for students. At the time, I lived in St. Charles, MO, and didn’t want to commute downtown daily for school. After attending community college, I decided to finish my bachelor’s degree at Lindenwood University, closer to home. The academic advisor at LU told me they would get a master’s program in dietetics within two years, so I decided to start a major in exercise science and a minor in nutrition with plans to complete LU’s master’s program in dietetics. I thought, “Wow, perfect timing. Sign me up!” They said it wouldn’t be ready to go for two years, but that’ll give me enough time to finish my major and minor in good faith. I took their word for it. Every semester, I followed up with my advisor and inquired if they would still get into the dietetics master program, and the answer was always “Yes.” After about two years at Lindenwood, I asked about the status of the dietetics master program for the last time, only for my advisor to tell me that they would no longer be getting it because they couldn’t afford it anymore. I remember deciding graciously at that time not to register for another semester, leaving her office, and holding it together just long enough until I got into my car, where I began sobbing into my hands. I felt that because I trusted the school in good faith and was let down, I wasted nearly two years of my college career. I understand that financial things with universities fall through, but this was my livelihood, and to promise a program that wasn’t yet available was wrong; I was naive enough to trust their word. This was years worth of college credits that couldn’t be transferred to another dietetics program. So, I was back to square one, starting over after two years of hard work. I was lost and unsure of what my future held.
So what do I do? Giving up was not an option for me. I’ve come this far, right? Knowing most of my credits wouldn’t transfer to Fontbonne, and that I also wanted to avoid commuting to SLU, I began searching for online dietetic bachelor programs. I always told myself that I needed to be physically in the classroom to be a successful student until COVID lockdowns happened, and I learned that I was a successful student in person and online. I knew professional courses would be increasingly difficult online, but that was my only option. During COVID lockdowns, when classrooms were shut down anyway, I found Kansas State University’s Dietetics Bachelor Global Program. I was able to transfer all of my community college credits and some of my LU credits, including all of my advanced science and lab courses! Kansas State was the biggest blessing that could have happened in my dietetics career. I learned and grew so much as a nutrition professional. I am so grateful for the experience and the honor of graduating from one of the country’s top-ranked health and human sciences universities with not one but two bachelor of science degrees in Dietetics and Human Nutrition. Although what happened at Lindenwood was a letdown and a disappointment, I didn’t quit, and it was far from a setback. Everything happens exactly how it’s supposed to at the right time. Your dreams are tangible; if you experience a setback, doubts will creep in, but don’t let the automatic negative thoughts and fears prevent you from listening to what you can’t stop thinking about and dreaming about every day. Your dreams are tangible, and the opportunities are there if you seek them! If you can’t stop thinking about a dream or a goal, you’re meant to achieve it. Negative thoughts and setbacks will happen; the journey is never linear, but at least you can tell how you rode the waves! What is my plan after graduating? I am moving to New Hampshire this January 2024 to begin my nutritional sciences masters program and dietetic clinical internship and rotations! Next stop, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist!
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Find Your Balance, Find Food Freedom! A Balanced Approach That Prioritizes Your Well-Being I provide my clients with 100% online & convenient nutritionist services to help them achieve and sustain their health and weight management goals without logging a single calorie. There are no unsustainable crash diets here! I specialize in healing relationships with food, weight management, metabolic & hormone health, women’s health, and GI dysfunction with an anti-inflammatory focus, and more! I’m compassionate by nature and will support you every step in your journey where appropriate nutrition education, progress, and well-being are her main priority, rather than perfection or harsh dietary restrictions. I teach my clients how to optimize their health by providing personalized health/nutrition education and setting realistic & achievable goals. I also help my clients sustain their goals by teaching them to cook balanced, delicious meals that fit their grocery budgets! Even my clients’ pickiest eaters in their household have loved and frequently requested the family-friendly meals I provide! Finding balance in your life to achieve and sustain your health & weight goals is possible with the right support. I offer 1:1 nutritionist services, meal plans to achieve goals, and lab ordering services. I am currently accepting online clients!
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Empathy! The most important quality I learned while working 1:1 with patients at the OB/GYN was that people just want to be heard people just want to be not alone and are supported. They want to feel validated. How many times has a healthcare professional brushed off you or your symptoms? It doesn’t feel good. You know your body better than anyone else; why wouldn’t I, as a professional, not take that seriously? Hearing what a patient says means nothing if you can’t actively listen, relate to, or connect with them more meaningfully. If you want to run a successful practice, this is a quality you must have. It’s about the impact you can make on a client or patient that will elicit change through your teachings. If you can connect with your patient or client, you can make a lasting impact on them through empathy and relatability. The genuine relationships you build with them allow your patient to trust and open up to you. That’s what makes a successful practice to me. I want to be the nutritionist so that my clients and patients feel excited to share their successes with me but also feel safe expressing their barriers and come back to me throughout their lifecycles when they require more nutrition support for their needs and goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.bebalancedbylauren.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misslaurenhayden/?hl=en
