We are pleased to introduce you to EDRDpro member Jamie Magdic, RDN! Connect with Jamie on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or at www.sidebysidenutrition.com

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If you didn’t do what you do professionally, what other job or field would you have pursued, and why?

Something creative and artistic – dancer, singer, painter, artist, an interior designer, musician!! Being creative brings me a ton of joy, makes me feel like myself, and brings me peace. 

Just for fun, tell us something most people don’t know about you!

I am pretty much an open book, and there is not much that people do not know. A couple of go-to answers I always have for this one is that my first profession was teaching. I taught junior high, grade school, and kindergarten. I am also a twin who is one of my favorite people in the world. 

Where do you work?

I work at am the founder of Side By Side Nutrition, a group of fiercely passionate HAES, weight-inclusive, registered dietitians. We are passionate about providing accessible, expert, quality care to help people fully recover from eating disorders/disordered eating and to learn body trust and acceptance!

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Gosh, this is a hard one. I enjoy so much about the work I do. I guess overall I would say that I feel super grateful to be able to walk alongside these amazing warriors on their journey. They are so strong, they work so hard, and they deserve nothing more than full recovery. I love being in the passenger seat along their journey to full freedom from disordered eating and body image distress. There is nothing better than celebrating the small and large victories with these amazing humans. 

Why eating disorders treatment? What drives you?

When I started as a dietitian, eating disorder work was not on my radar, and today, I can’t see myself doing anything else. The relationships you are able to have long-term with clients, the complexity and passion that goes into this work, the ability to help people find freedom and empowerment in their life, the ways in which I can grow as a practitioner, all that my clients teach me, and so much more…I do not believe I would be able to do that anywhere else as a dietitian. Those things all drive me to be better and do better. In addition, my own journey with my relationship with an eating disorder turned into disordered eating gives me additional insight and drive to help empower people to build a relationship with their body and food that starts with the foundation of trust and compassion. Having an eating disorder in a disordered world is so confusing…I want to continue to do my part in helping to bring clarity to this area. 

Who are your favorite social media influencers in the non-diet, recovery, body liberation space?

Oh goodness, just to name a few… Ashlee Bennett, Janean Anderson, Marci Evans, Anna Sweeney, Caroline Dooner, and Laura Thomas!

What are your favorite books that have made a difference in the way you work?

I am sure what comes to mind for everyone doing this work is Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size. These are stables. However, others the I use quite often would be Sick Enough by Dr. Gaudiani and How to Nourish your Child through an Eating Disorder by Casey Crosbie and Wendy Sterling. These are just a handful of many that I would recommend. I have compiled a large list of books and resources I highly recommend. 

What is one non-diet, Intuitive Eating, or Health at Every Size® pearl of wisdom you’d like to share?

No one knows your body better than you do. No one can tell you what is best for you. You can have a beautiful relationship with your body that you may never have dreamt to be possible and to get there, you just need to continue to have that grit and perseverance. 

Experience is your greatest teacher. Your body deserves it.