Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sally Kuzemchak. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sally, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I first became interested in nutrition after gaining the fabled Freshman 15 in college and consulting with a registered dietitian, who taught me that my steady diet of bagels, pizza, and vanilla soft-serve was, well, not exactly the road to good health.
After working as an editorial assistant in Self magazine’s nutrition department after graduation, I embarked on a career as a freelance writer and returned to school to become a dietitian, eventually earning my Master’s degree as well.
When I had kids, I figured they should be the world’s best eaters since I had all these new, fancy initials after my name. Not exactly. I struggled with breastfeeding, agonized over toddler dinner strikes, and begged my kid to take just. one. bite. I kept thinking: Why didn’t anyone tell me how hard this was?!
So I began a hobby blog in 2009 to pull back the curtain and reassure fellow moms that it’s okay to not have all the answers–and have kids who prefer mac-n-cheese to mushroom risotto. I wanted to keep it real. I had read too much online that made feeding kids sound easy.
I called my blog Real Mom Nutrition because I’m grounded in reality. I wasn’t going to gloss over the hard stuff or pretend that it’s all simple and fun. I’m a real mom living a real life with a budget. Even though I’m a dietitian, I still have a wicked sweet tooth and kids who don’t always eat their vegetables. And sometimes, I still feel conflicted and confused about what to do.
I started hearing from moms who felt like they were failing because their kid didn’t eat any green veggies, who felt demoralized at the dinner table by picky eaters, and who felt pressure to do things “perfectly” like everyone on Pinterest. When these moms started telling me that my posts made them feel better, allowed them to relax a little bit at the table, and lessened the mom-guilt when it came to food, I knew I had found my purpose.
Over the years, my blog has grown as my kids have phased out of diapers and tantrums. Now I write about feeding teenagers and college meal planning too. But my goal has stayed the same: to share my triumphs (and tragedies) when it comes to feeding my kids and myself, to share what works for me (and what doesn’t), to admit my mistakes (and usually laugh about them)–and above all, to create a space where moms (and a few dads) can feel understood and never judged.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a registered dietitian, author, and mom of two boys. My blog is a no-judgements zone about feeding a family, where I share simple and healthy recipes, advice for feeding kids from toddler to teenager, and science-backed answers to parents’ biggest questions about nutrition.
I spent years as a freelance writer and reporter, covering nutrition for women’s and parenting magazines. I’m the author of two books, Cooking Light Dinnertime Survival Guide and The 101 Healthiest Foods For Kids. I’m also currently a contributor to WebMD, where I cover topics around nutrition and digestive health.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Be dependable: Meet your deadlines, respond to emails, be on time. Those sound simple enough, but I’ve learned over the years that reliability isn’t a given.
Be willing to learn: Accept that you don’t know everything and expect to grow in your profession. Learn from those around you, especially those who came before you. When a magazine story draft came back covered in red editing marks, I was disappointed–but always tried to improve from it. When a reader criticizes a recipe or post, I try to stay open-minded about it.
Be authentic: Don’t discount what you bring to the table or try to imitate someone else’s work. You have a perspective that’s entirely unique–and chances are there are people out there waiting for it.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I’m a master list-maker, and sometimes simply putting everything down in writing can make me feel more in control. I sometimes divide my lists into categories–like work, personal, home, school–or by project, breaking tasks down into the tiniest of steps and then crossing off those steps as they’re completed. I also remind myself that every tiny step I make is a step forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.realmomnutrition.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmomnutrition/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmomnutrition
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallykuzemchak/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/realmomnutrition /
Image Credits
Photo with child and dog by Michelle Daniel Photography
