Riley Larson, MS, RDN, LD – Financial Director on the MAND Board of Directors
I work with individuals via phone to help them maximize their health and wellbeing. We start by identifying their health vision vs where they feel they are currently, then work together to make a plan of small steps they can take one at a time to reach their health and wellness vision. These steps focus on how they can use their daily health habits related to sleep, nutrition, emotional wellness, and movement to improve their bodies and minds, reduce medication use or reliance, and overall take back ownership of their lives!
What do you love about what you do? I love being able to meet people where they are at and support them in their journey towards THEIR ideal health and wellness. So many people don’t make changes due to guilt, shame, and pressure, and with my coaching approach, I get to remove all those barriers and let them drive the bus, while I can sit in the passenger seat and help them navigate to where they want to go, their way, their pace. Seeing previously hopeless or nervous people grow to be empowered advocates is just the best!
What are the challenges? Listening is one of the hardest skills to master, and I get to learn and practice and improve this skill every day! It’s challenging not to follow the “righting reflex”, but allowing the participant the space to help themselves.
How has your MAND membership benefited you? It’s nice to connect with other RDs who work in more traditional settings to remind me of different things from my original training. It’s also a great way to stay involved in the RD community now that I work from home at a remote telehealth company.
What do you think is the future of nutrition and dietetics? Active listening!
What are your favorite activities/hobbies? I love anything active and new, but I especially love to dance! This includes ballroom as well as aerial/ circus style training. Over quarantine, I’ve been training handstands and learning a lot about growing house plants- only killed one so far! I am also rekindling my love of reading, baking, and cooking!
What is your favorite restaurant in Minnesota? Probably India Palace or any Indian restaurant!
About MAND
Minnesota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MAND) is an affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. We are the largest professional organization of nutrition health professionals in Minnesota, dedicated to optimizing Minnesotans' health through food and nutrition.