Meet EDRD Pro member Whitney Trotter, MS, RDN / LDN, RN, RYT! Whitney is a registered dietitian, nurse, and yoga teacher whose mission is to “create a world where every individual has equal representation and access to culturally competent and informed care.”

Connect with Whitney on Instagram @whitneytrotter.rd or at www.whitneytrotter.com

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What’s your favorite meal?

Sushi or pizza.

What’s saving your life right now?

Church!!!! And some yoga haha

If you could choose anyone as a mentor, who would it be, and why?

Michelle Obama. The way she responds to adversity, hate, and racial tension/trauma is a characteristic I hope to learn.

What’s something you’ve learned recently?

The value of rest.

What would you say is one of the most valuable skills you’ve developed in your career?

Working with people who have different lived experiences and traumas different than my own.

What words of encouragement or advice would you tell your younger self?

Be patient, be kind, but do not tolerate anyone’s sh*t (can I cuss?). Activism is a commitment that is often overlooked and undervalued; keep pressing on anyways.

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

I actually wanted to be an FBI agent working in human trafficking and crimes against children! I applied but unfortunately didn’t make it past the second round.

What’s something that most people don’t know about you?

That I wanted to be an FBI agent hahah

Where do you work?

I own my own private practice, Bluff City Health. I created a practice to bridge the gap between eating disorders, equity, and social justice.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I love connecting with people. The integration of food, body, and culture is very important to me. I enjoy getting to bring my experiences into session and help clients. The healing of trauma, food, and racism is deeply personal to me.

Why eating disorders treatment? What drives you?

Communities of color do not receive culturally competent screening for trauma or eating disorders. The cycle of poverty often makes it harder for clients to access and receive care.

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

Jessica Wilson, Intersectional Recovery, Austin Channing Brown, Sonya Renee Taylor, Mammy is Dead, @fatmarquisele, @yourdietitianbff, Laura Iu, Black Nutritionist, Your Latina Nutritionist, Eathority

What books or resources have made a difference in the way you work?

Hood Feminism, Fearing the Black Body, The Souls of Black Folks, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

How did you find the non-diet, Intuitive Eating, and Health at Every Size® approaches, and what inspired you to adopt these frameworks?

I actually don’t adopt these frameworks haha. I adore Evelyn Tribole; in another life, she is the aunt that I would beg my parents to go stay with on summer breaks! I think Intuitive Eating is a framework that was created by two inspiring RDs, but it’s not a framework that is accessible for everyone. There is a privilege that exists in the ability of fullness, and often under-resourced communities and communities of color don’t have that privilege. Health at Every Size is a framework that exists because of anti-blackness and fatphobia. All three are good frameworks; however, to quote my friend Clara: “the problem and solution can’t both come from white folks.”

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

You don’t have to rely on frameworks but your body liberation.

What projects, products, or services do you offer that you want to share with our audience?

• I offer 1:1 nutritional counseling sessions for clients suffering with disorder eating and eating disorders.
• I also offer supervision and case consultation for professionals wanting to learn more about the integration of anti-racism, trauma, and eating disorders.
• I provide training on eating disorders and human trafficking for communities and professionals.