Hello!

My name is Monica Tu-Uyen

I am a Registered Dietitian with the College of Dietitians of Ontario.

MY JOURNEY WITH FOOD

Growing up as a Vietnamese Canadian I was surrounded by delicious traditional Vietnamese food like bun rieu, banh xeo, and com tam. Food was not described as bad or good food, only delicious food that was part of our culture. My school lunches consisted of rice dishes, noodles, and soups. It was a piece of home for me, but to others it was foreign, it looked weird, or smelled weird. I soon became self conscious of the foods I ate, requesting more western foods for lunch such as sandwiches, mac and cheese, or pizza. But now as an adult and a RD, I have grown to appreciate and be proud of the foods from my culture. I am not afraid to eat snails or cook with fish sauce. I like to eat congee with chicken liver and hearts. Everyone has their own preferences and cultural foods, these are things one should celebrate and not be ashamed of.

My journey with food was not easy, as a previous full time student for 10 years, working multiple part time jobs, and being a competitive Dragonboat athlete, I struggled to find the time to eat or find cheap healthy food options that did not include McDonalds or food from a food truck. I spent most of my dinners eating by myself at the Union Station food court, waiting for the GO train to take a 2 hour commute home. By the time I got home I was tired and did not have the energy to cook or prepare my food for the next day. I would go hours without eating because I was always on the go, volunteering, going to school, training, and studying. It took a lot of time, thought, and planning to figure out how I could spend 12 hour days in downtown Toronto while having enough food for the entire day without breaking the bank.

My mental health also took a toll during my school years. It affected my mood and appetite, I barely had the energy to do anything. Food became a chore more than an area of enjoyment. This is a struggle that I and many people face when it comes to eating. Eating is not easy. Our mood and appetite can change every day, and navigating that can be overwhelming.

MY VIEW ON NUTRITION

When it comes to nutrition, I take a holistic approach. I not only help you look at the foods you eat and when, but also take into consideration your cultural practices, emotional and social influences, access to food, your personal schedule, day to day stresses, work life balance, and food preparation skills. Food is not the only factor in the equation.

My job is not to judge you on your nutrition knowledge or food skills, but to explore the barriers that prevent you from succeeding in your health and wellness. By identifying the root cause of the problem and all the influencing factors, we can identify strategies and develop a plan that will address your concerns.

We are not looking for a quick fix or band-aid solution.

It could take one or many sessions for you to reach your goal, but it is a process that differs for everyone. I am here to guide and support you on your journey to understand what food means for you.

I focus on working one-on-one with each client to create a personalized plan that fits your needs. These plans are not set in stone, but will change as you grow and develop new knowledge and skills around food.

FUN FACTS ABOUT ME

I was a competitive dragonboat athlete for 6 years in university, competing on a national level, winning gold and silver as U24 Women Champions in 2019 and 2023, respectively.

I also enjoy other sports like swimming, snowboarding, biking, and dancing. My favourite meal to cook is brunch, particularly eggs benedict with a creamy cheese sauce.

In my spare time I like to do art projects with watercolours, polymer clay, embroidery, digital art, and filiming TikTok videos.

I have a cat named Mocha, a chinchilla named Tippy, and a budgie named Bluey.