Spotlight on:

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Rachel Hiltz, RD

Private Practice Dietitian – Rachel Hilts Nutrition Counselling

 

Rachel is a Registered Dietitian living in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was born and raised in Surrey, BC, and moved to Nova Scotia after completing her Bachelor of Arts at Mount Allison University. Once moving to NS, Rachel realized it was time for a change, and went back to school to pursue her Dietetics degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in Bedford, which she completed with the integrated internship in 2019.

 

Rachel realized early on in her education that she wanted to work in the realm of pregnancy nutrition, and after becoming a licensed dietitian she quickly started working in a private multidisciplinary clinic focused on women’s health. She also took additional training in nutrition therapy for fertility and pregnancy, breastfeeding management, and eating disorders.

 

Unfortunately, the clinic Rachel started working at closed during the initial wave of the pandemic, so after only a few months Rachel was left looking for other options. It was at this time she decided to take the leap and open her own business, Rachel Hilts Nutrition Counselling, which is now nearly 2 years old! Rachel has tailored her practice to focus on fertility and pregnancy nutrition, along with concerns like PCOS, Endometriosis, and general period and cycle health and education. She practices from a weight-neutral and non-diet approach, integrating aspects of Intuitive Eating into her counselling with many of her patients – helping them to recover from disordered eating habits while also improving fertility outcomes.

 

Rachel now sees patients virtually, and in person at a multidisciplinary clinic in Bedford, NS.

 

"I feel happiest when..."

When I’m by the water! Whether swimming, at the beach, on a boat, or just looking out at a lake or ocean – those are the easiest places for me to centre myself and find calm and happiness.

 

If you weren't a dietitian, what would you be?

My first degree was in Art History and Geography, and I originally wanted to be an Architect or a Curator! But that interest faded, and when I originally went back to school I actually planned on studying marine biology… but then I took 1 class in nutrition and was sold. I still think it would be pretty cool to be a marine biologist though.

 

Where would you most like to live?

I lived in New Zealand briefly when I was young and loved it, I think this would be a great place to live. Realistically though, if I were to move anywhere it would be back to BC so I can be closer to my family again (and the mountains!).