Meet our New Dietitian in the iLiveWell Nutrition Office!

We are very excited that Libby Hill will be joining us at iLiveWell Nutrition here in Austin Texas.

We asked her a bunch of questions so you could get to know here more, check them out below!

• What is a Registered Dietitian?
  • A Registered Dietitian is a highly trained nutrition professional that can provide nutritional counseling and science-based recommendations to promote physical and mental health.

• What should I expect during my initial visit with you?
  • An initial visit is all about gathering information, breaking the ice, and making sure the client and dietitian are a good fit. In our first session, we will review your history, discuss your motivations for seeking nutritional counseling, and set expectations for our future time together. Counseling is a process that can take weeks or months, but this first visit is an important foundation for building mutual understanding and trust. 

• What type of schooling have you had? What schools did you attend?  Years of schooling? Credentials?
  • I am a Registered Dietitian licensed in Texas, and a certified personal trainer. I have a BS in Human Biology and a BS in Nutrition from The University of Texas at Austin and completed my dietetic internship through the University of Texas at Austin Coordinated Program in Dietetics.

• Are there good and bad foods?
  • Absolutely not! Foods hold no moral value. The idea that a certain food is “good” or “bad” is an opinion influenced by society, culture, and personal preference. I believe that every food, from broccoli to brownies, serves a healthy function. Restricting “bad” foods contributes to the binge-restrict cycle, but removing the fear from those foods is the first step in finding the balance between physical and mental health. 

• If you had a super power what would it be?
  • I would love to be able to communicate with animals!

• If you were on a desert island and could only take three foods and one book, what would they be?
  • My foods would be tacos, Greek salad, and wine (if wine counts), and my book would be “How to Build a Surfboard on a Desert Island,” so I could spend the rest of my time in the water doing one of my favorite activities! 

• As a registered dietitian, what do you wish everyone knew?
  • There isn’t a single food rule that applies to all people. We all have unique needs, so the only “right” way to eat is the way that works best for your lifestyle, genetics, and preferences. 

• What types of nutritional issues do you find yourself drawn to working with?
  • My true passion is the intersection between eating disorders and athletics. As a lifelong vegetarian and avid cook, I am also drawn to cases where I can help others with food allergies or medical/dietary restrictions find more variety and quality of life in the kitchen. 

• What is your greatest strength (work or personal)?
  • I like to think my greatest strength is my compassion for others, which plays into my personal and professional life as a counselor and coach. 

• If I have a physical illness such as diabetes or gastro problems, how can a RD be helpful to me?
  • An RD can help people manage or stop the symptoms of nutrition related-diseases through diet and lifestyle changes. RDs work with patients to identify what foods are causing issues and teach patients how to alter their diets without sacrificing quality of life. 

• What is your greatest accomplishment (work or personal)?
  • I was Miss Earth USA 2019 and used my title to plan coastal restoration events across the country and teach others about sustainable living. 

• What have you learned the most from your work experience?
  • Before my career as a dietitian, I worked as a tutor, personal trainer, and clinical trial research coordinator. My favorite part of every job was working directly with people and helping them find the tools and confidence to make positive changes. I’ve been called a work-a-holic, so the type of work I do has the potential to really enrich or negatively impact my life. Pursuing a career in dietetics that focuses on the parts of work that make me happiest, is one of the greatest things I’ve ever done for myself.

• Tell us a little about yourself… Where were you born? Do you have pets? Favorite vacation? Favorite food? 
  • I’m a Texan born and raised in Houston, but I’ve lived in Austin for ten years. I grew up dancing and was on the rowing team in college. About two years ago, I adopted a junkyard cat named Tubbs, who has the biggest personality and loves to snuggle! In my spare time I do environmental restoration work for the coast line in Galveston and volunteer with a non-profit veteran surf therapy camp. I love to cook and do barre!

Learn more about Libby here.