In Focus | Tristaca Curley of Fueling With Food

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
Tristaca Curley

What do you always find yourself saying?
“I never ask my clients to do anything I wouldn’t do.”

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
As cliché as it is, it would be my husband. Spending an entire day with him, without kids, would be a treat!

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
Hmm, I don’t know of any awards they hand out to nutritionists. Maybe one for Most Sensible Nutritionist?

Who inspires you?
My children. They see the world through such unfiltered eyes. I love how they make you think about things in a new way.

What are three things on your bucket list?
Travel to Japan; Go rock climbing with my sons (when they’re older), Participate in an Iron-man triathlon

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
Quinoa. In honour of my two year old son named his first teddy bear Quinoa. It was one of the first words he learned. I guess you know you’re the son of a dietitian when…

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
The day I become a grandmother.

What are you passionate about?
All things food. Growing, preparing, and eating good food. And wine.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
Well I think I have to say it’s a three-way tie between my wedding day, the birth of my first son, and the birth of my second.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Creating the first ever university chapter of Slow Food at Acadia University, which is a movement based on appreciating high quality, sustainably-sourced food. It was a way of bringing the joy of eating back to the nutrition students I was teaching. So often we become disconnected from food, by focusing too narrowly on the health aspects of what we eat. While that is vital, I do also think it’s essential that we enjoy food – both preparing and eating it. My favourite parts of my day are when I get to cook with my 2 year old son.

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
Mabui Sushi. I love sushi, and their sushi is the best around.

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
Fat Cat Children’s Festival (I have two young kids, so anything that entertains them is a favourite of mine.)

What is the name of your business/organization?
Fueling With Food

What does your business/organization do?
Fueling with Food offers nutrition counselling from a Registered Dietitian to individuals in Kelowna and the greater Okanagan who want to improve their nutrition and overall health. We specialize in sports nutrition, disordered eating, digestive health, family meal planning, and weight management. We provide services such as grocery store tours, pantry makeovers and corporate nutrition presentations. We also work extensively with the media, and have been featured in a variety of print, radio and television outlets including Chatelaine, Flare, Canadian Running, Today’s Parent, CBC, CTV and Breakfast Television.

Where can people find you or your business online?
www.fuelingwithfood.com

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
Fueling with Food

What is your Twitter account?
@fuelingwithfood

What is your mission?
To help individuals in the Okanagan achieve their fullest diet and health potential.

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
To eradicate nutrition misinformation! Everyday I come across nutrition information in the media that is WRONG! The end result is a lot of confused individuals who end up in my office overwhelmed and disheartened because they feel they’ve tried everything and it hasn’t worked. That is one reason I work so closely with the media, to ensure that I am a voice that is informing, rather than misinforming, the public.

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
In five years, I’d love to grow our genetic testing services. Dietitians are exclusive providers of a series of genetic tests developed by the University of Toronto. Since genetic variation determines how we metabolize and use the nutrients we eat, these tests allow us to develop personalized plans based on our genetic profile. For example, we test for gluten intolerance, caffeine metabolism, and omega-3 absorption to name a few.

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
Michael Pollan

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Credibility – There are a lot of unqualified people in the nutrition field unfortunately. As of now in BC, literally anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, because the term isn’t protected. As a Registered Dietitian with over eight years of education, I am bound to the same health and ethics standards that doctors and nurses are.
Individualized Approach – I work closely with clients to develop diet and exercise plans that are based on their specific needs and goals. I personalize every meal plan I provide, which is key to the success of long-term changes. Research shows that 95% of commercial diets don’t work in the long-term. That’s because they often take a one-size-fits-all approach to eating.
Solutions-Focussed – I translate the latest research on nutrition into practical, attainable goals. Step-by-step, clients are able to transform their eating and exercise habits.

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
I love them! I regularly have students from UBC-O come and help me with some of the behind the scenes work. For example, scouring the grocery store for the latest and greatest products to share with my clients, or helping me deliver presentations around town. I couldn’t manage without them.

How does your business/organization impact the community?
Apart from presentations for corporate wellness and local sports teams, such as the Kelowna Rockets, Fueling With Food impacts the community through media and public nutrition education sessions. These opportunities give me the chance to connect with the public and give them a piece of nutrition information that may motivate them to change. Many people think dietitians only work in hospitals, or will simply meet with someone on a one-time basis to provide a meal plan, but there is so much more to what I do. I have the best job in the entire world. I get to work with individuals who have almost given up, and guide them on their journey to reach health goals they never thought possible. What more could I ask for?

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
I’m never in the elevator, I take the stairs.

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
Improve the efficiency and completeness of our bike lanes

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
Kelowna is a beautiful, vibrant city. I’ve lived all over Canada, and moved back here because nothing beats it. The weather, the mountains, the lakes - we are afforded endless recreational opportunities year-round. It is a great place to raise a family. Okanagan residents are also very forward thinking when it comes managing their health. There’s a reason why Kelowna was recently named the third healthiest place to live in the world!

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Teresa Knight, RMT at Okanagan Health and Performance

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!