Audrey Williams, MS, RD, LD, recieved her Master’s degree and Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Missouri State University. Audrey wholeheartedly believes food and nutrition knowledge should be readily available and accessible to the public and felt Hy-Vee was the perfect fit. We recently caught up with Audrey to learn more about her role as a Hy-Vee Dietitian.

Q: What made you want to become a dietitian?

A: When I was a young girl, I always loved to help in the kitchen. My mom was a stay-at-home mom who always made sure I was in the kitchen helping her prep. She gifted me the tools and knowledge to create delicious meals from scratch. Once I went to college, I realized not many people knew how to cook or eat nutritiously. This love for cooking as well as my love for science and empowering others with knowledge fused together into becoming a dietitian. For my bachelor’s degree, I went to Missouri State University! While completing my degree, I worked at Hy-Vee as the dietitian assistant; working in retail dietetics grew my love for the profession even more. I realized that Hy-Vee was my dream job, and I am so fortunate to wake up everyday excited to go to work to a place where I feel like I make a difference.

Q: What approach do you take with customers as a dietitian?

A: Sometimes dietitians can be perceived as the food police. As a dietitian focused around health at every size (HAES), I want to break down this stigma so my customers feel as comfortable as possible. I am a dietitian focused on internal numbers and energy levels instead of solely focusing on weight. This helps my customers feel like they are more than just a number… because they are! Nutrition is complex, and sometimes my customers and I need to work together to find a solution best fit for them.

Q: As a Hy-Vee dietitian, what do you do?

A: First, many people don’t know that Hy-Vee has dietitians! When you think about it though, it makes sense there’s dietitians in the grocery store. There are about 50 dietitians across 8 states at Hy-Vee, and this number is growing. At Hy-Vee, I do SO much! My services include 1:1 nutrition counseling, grocery store tours, meal planning programs, cooking classes, nutrition presentations, biometric screenings, weight management and blood sugar programs, and so much more. Every day is truly different at my job, which makes days fly by.

Q: What’s your favorite part about being a Hy-Vee Dietitian?

A: My favorite part about being a Hy-Vee Dietitian is making realistic changes that are tangible. I am able to take challenges and barriers (such as allergies or a new diagnosis of a chronic disease) and give food recommendations and substitutions. Then, I am able to take customers out in the aisles and physically place my recommendations in their hands. I have had so many customers tell me it’s like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders. I try to actively listen to customers’ concerns and give individualized care as much as possible. Food choices can seem hard and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. That’s where I come in to help!

Q: What’s one nutrition myth you want to bust?

A: The biggest nutrition myth I want to bust is that you have to cut out all your favorite foods to reach your health goals. We can still enjoy the pleasures of our favorite foods while learning how to increase the nutrition in our meals. Another myth I want to bust is that dietitians eat perfectly. We don’t! Some of my favorite foods include ramen, ice cream, and pizza. However, with these foods, I am adding nutrition to them. In my ramen I make my own sauce and add hard boiled eggs for protein, I watch my portion size for ice cream, and I eat a salad along with my pizza. Small changes can still make a big difference, and this allows you to still enjoy your favorites… just with a small twist.

Q: What’s your go-to snack?

A: I have a couple! My favorite go-to snacks include Fairlife Core Power shakes as well as snacking cheese with fruit/Triscuits. No matter what the snack is, try to have a protein food and carbohydrate food together. This will help you stay fuller for longer.

Q: I heard you work closely with the alpha-gal community. Tell us more about this.

A: When I started back at Hy-Vee as a dietitian, I heard so many customers talking about alpha gal. This is the allergy to mammalian meat and by-products due to a tick bite. At the time, there was not much public education on what to eat for those with alpha gal (there are so many products that may have mammalian by-products in them!). I took this allergy under my wing and decided to do something about it. Now at Hy-Vee, there are alpha-gal friendly product tags on the shelves; these products have been researched by me to make sure they are safe to consume. The other Hy-Vee dietitian and I will have alpha-gal classes from time to time where we demo and try new alpha-gal friendly products. You can find these classes on Eventbrite or on our local Hy-Vee Facebook pages!

Q: Is there a difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?

A: Yes, there is a HUGE difference. In order to become a dietitian, I had to go through an accredited bachelor’s program, complete a 1,200-hour internship shadowing dietitians in different areas of expertise, complete a master’s program, and pass a federally-accredited exam. To hold the title of nutritionist, none of the above has to be completed. With dietitians needing a minimum of 6-years of education post-high school, you can think of us as food doctors, and we have the knowledge and education to back this.

Q: How can someone book an appointment with you?

A: You can come find me in-person at the West Battlefield Road Hy-Vee, on hy-vee.com/health, or by giving me a call or email. I offer free, 30-minute discovery sessions where we can talk about what’s going on, how I can help, and which program/appointment would be best suited for you.