Spotlight on:
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Michael Manderville, RD, BScAHN, BKin, Pn1
Michael works primarily in private practice in Halifax and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, as well as virtually across the province. He specializes in health-focused weight management, chronic disease prevention and management, and exercise and sport nutrition. With a previous degree in kinesiology, Michael knows the importance of a health approach emphasizing both physical activity and nutrition. He is currently pursuing his Master of Applied Human Nutrition along with building his website and business, Habitrition (The Habit of Nutrition); www.habitrition.ca.
Through his education, Michael became fascinated with the science of behaviour change and how it relates to what and why we eat. This fascination bloomed from reading books like The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg and The Hungry Brain by Dr. Stephan Guyenet. He believes that dietitians are uniquely positioned to directly impact the health and wellness of all Nova Scotians.
When not working, Michael is either reading about philosophy, writing, or walking the trails of Point Pleasant Park with his wife Malia, and his Nova Scotia Duck Toller, Betty.
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If you weren’t a dietitian, what would you be?
Some kind of writer or journalist, maybe a psychologist. I love writing and I’m interested in people. I’m fascinated to find out why people do things and what influences them to believe the things they believe.
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Who are your heroes in real life?
People who exude passion and ambition. Doesn’t matter the topic. People who talk about what’s possible, not just what’s typical. People who dream out loud in conversation.
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One tip to live by:
Good enough now is better than perfect later.
Aiming for “good enough” helps take away some of the perfectionism we put on ourselves. When something is good enough, we can then move on to the next thing. You’ll see more and more things get completed more quickly with less pressure.
If you’ve ever labelled yourself a perfectionist (been there), I’ll leave you with this quote from Rick Rubin:
“Any framework, method, or label you impose on yourself is just as likely to be a limitation as an opening.”
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There’s no such thing as perfect, no sense in striving for it.​