Business Echo - The Intuition Team

Business Echo is an interview series celebrating the incredible individuals shaping the Okanagan’s business landscape. Through candid conversations, we’ll dive into their journeys, challenges, and triumphs—offering inspiration and insights along the way.

This week, we have the privilege of learning from the incredible team at Intuition Dietitian Corp.—a group of passionate women dietitians dedicated to supporting clients with a wide range of nutrition concerns. Each team member brings unique expertise, but what truly sets them apart is their weight-neutral approach, focusing on sustainable health behavioural changes rather than body size or weight.

Joelle Davidson, Alessandra Dimattia, Sara Friedrich, Toni Vandenbrink and Sandra Thies are the women behind Intuition Dietitian Corp. who will be sharing their insights and expertise in this in-depth interview. Let’s dive in!

OE: What is your business all about and what inspired you to start this business?

Joelle: Intuition Dietitian Corp. is a group of registered dietitians in Kelowna, BC. We offer personalized nutrition counselling with a focus on health rather than weight. We work with clients looking for nutrition counselling for a variety of reasons. Our services include intuitive eating guidance, support for eating disorders and disordered eating, sports nutrition, personalized cooking classes, and medical nutrition therapy for conditions such as diabetes and high cholesterol. One unique thing about our clinic is our approach. We work with clients to add foods into their diet and move away from quick fixes and fad diets to make sustainable changes to their eating.

My inspiration for this business began when I was working as a solo dietitian in private practice. I was working for a local clinic in town. I had discovered intuitive eating and found this approach to be truly beneficial for my clients. I decided to venture out on my own and create my own business using the intuitive eating model. After a few months, I had the opportunity to expand and bring on an additional dietitian. As the business continued to be successful, I continued to grow the team and hire dietitians who shared a similar mindset—one that is weight-neutral and weight-inclusive.

Building a team has allowed us to provide a wider range of services and support so many more clients. Each dietitian brings their own expertise and passions, which means we can meet people where they are and provide care that is truly personalized. It’s been incredibly rewarding to create a clinic where clients feel supported and empowered in their health journey.

OE: What's one nutrition myth you’d love to debunk?

Alessandra: One of the most pervasive nutrition myths is that sugar is inherently "bad" for you. I hear this all the time when folks are talking about healthy eating - but the key thing to remember is that sugar is the most basic form of energy for your body and most importantly your brain! While it's true that excessive intake of added sugars can contribute to health concerns, labelling all sugar as "bad" creates unnecessary guilt around eating. Foods that we may deem as "sugary" often provide enjoyment and can be a meaningful part of celebrations, traditions, and everyday life. Try removing the moral labels from food and you're less likely to feel out of control around sweets! Focusing on listening to our body's cues and cultivating a flexible, balanced relationship with all foods is what we encourage at Intuition Dietitian Co.

OE: What’s one piece of nutrition advice you find yourself giving over and over again?

Sandra: The nutrition by addition mindset: rather than constantly focusing on what you “shouldn’t” eat and what to “cut out”, shift your perspective and consider what you may not be getting enough of (fiber, protein, omega 3 fats, iron rich foods, veggies…) and how you can ADD more of those things on to your plate.

OE: What’s one common struggle clients face that people don’t talk about enough?

Toni: Not eating enough during the day—without realizing it. So many people are busy with work, skipping meals, or just grabbing coffee and a snack, then wondering why they feel out of control with food at night. Your body isn’t failing you when you binge or overeat—it’s responding to a lack of nourishment. Prioritizing regular meals (even if they’re simple!) is a game-changer for reducing cravings and overeating later.

OE: What's the most rewarding part about working as a team of dietitians?

Sara: The most rewarding part of working as a team of dietitians is the opportunity to learn from one another. Working in a collaborative environment provides a strong sense of support, where we can rely on each other for advice, encouragement, and brainstorming. Additionally, it allows us to help a wide variety of unique clients, since each of us has different skills, previous experience, and areas of expertise. This ensures that our clients receive comprehensive and personalized care tailored to their needs.

OE: If you had unlimited funds for one day, what’s the first thing you’d do for the business?

Joelle: The realist in me would first prepay essential expenses—like our client software and rent—to ensure financial stability and flexibility. The dreamer and entrepreneur in me would invest in renting a dedicated space with a teaching kitchen and event area, allowing us to expand our services, host community workshops and group sessions, and create a more engaging, hands-on experience for our clients.

OE: What’s your go-to meal when you need something quick, easy, and nutritious?

Joelle: I call it a picnic style meal – also known as adult lunchables! When I haven’t planned lunch or don’t have leftovers, I put together some crackers, cheese, vegetables I have available (peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers), handful of nuts, and a dip (hummus or tzatziki) to make a quick and easy balanced meal.

Alessandra: In the colder months, my favourite quick meal is a hearty soup. It's one of those dishes that checks all my boxes - it's comforting, flavourful, and comes together in no time with the random ingredients in my kitchen. The basics of soup are simple: start by dicing up some onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté this in your soup pot with a glug of neutral oil such as canola or grapeseed oil. Then add in your spices - this is where it gets really fun! I like to experiment with different dried spice combinations. Finally add in the bulk of the soup such as canned tomato, broth, cooked/canned beans for protein, frozen vegetables, spinach, and even pasta. Search online for "Tomato Tortellini Soup" for one of my favourite combinations.

Sandra: Taco bowl for sure, they are fairly simple, super tasty, and packed with nutrient dense foods! Mine is as follows: salsa quinoa base, greens, ground turkey, black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, and fresh basil and shredded cheese on top.

Sara: My go-to meal when looking for an easy and nutritious meal is a stir fry! It is a great way to enjoy a variety of different vegetables, whether fresh or frozen. My favorite combination is sliced carrots, peppers, snap peas and broccoli with edamame and crispy tofu for protein along with a teriyaki sauce and rice.

Toni: Avocado toast! I always make sure to have ripe avocados on hand because they are so delicious and nutritious.

OE: What’s one underrated food you think more people should be eating and why?

Joelle: Beans! All kinds – black, navy, white, kidney, chickpeas. All beans are nutritional powerhouses, and they are also incredibly versatile in meals. They can be added to your favorite meat dishes for some additional plant protein and fibre or can be the star of the show. Plus, they’re budget-friendly and easy to keep stocked in your pantry, making them a convenient and nutritious staple for any kitchen.

Alessandra: Herbs and spices! They can elevate any food. Stuck making boring roasted potatoes and vegetables? Try adding za'atar or garam masala before cooking and you'll open up a whole new world of flavour.

Sandra: This is hard but my mind comes back to quinoa or chia seeds. Both are versatile and easy to add to a wide variety of dishes. Quinoa because it’s high in protein and in fiber, easy to use in place of rice, or mix it with rice; and chia seeds because they are high in fiber and omega 3 fats, and easy to sprinkle on yogurt bowls or toast!

Sara: Tofu! This neutral tasting vegetarian protein source comes in a variety of textures from firm to silken and can be added to many recipes whether you are vegetarian or a ‘meat-eater’. From a culinary perspective, I love that it takes on the flavor of the dish you add it to and can be a sneaky way to add a boost of plant based protein to a meal. From a nutrition standpoint, tofu is rich in protein, calcium, iron, and isoflavones. It also is rich in the amino acid leucine, which is known to support muscle retention and building. Research suggests that it might provide cardiovascular benefits, including supporting cholesterol reduction. A great way to start experimenting with tofu is to crumble it and add it to a soup!

Toni: Potatoes! They’ve been unfairly demonized by diet culture, but they’re actually packed with fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. Plus, they’re super satisfying and versatile—roasted, mashed, air-fried, or even in a breakfast scramble. The key is how you prepare and pair them, not avoiding them altogether.

OE: What’s your favorite Okanagan spot to relax or find inspiration?

Joelle: One of my favorite places to relax is a little spot in the upper mission off Gillard Forest Services Road. We bring camping chairs, some snacks and drinks, and take time to soak in the amazing view of Kelowna and Okanagan Lake.

Alessandra: There’s no better place for food inspiration than sitting downtown at the Lakehouse Café, watching the chefs prep for their cooking classes. It’s inspiring to see their creativity in action, and the coffee is pretty delicious too!

Sandra: This is a big tie between bright Jenny, black rabbit, and craft 42 - as you can tell, I appreciate a good coffee and love to sit down and relax with one while getting some work done or chatting with a friend!

Sara: I am new to the beautiful Okanagan but currently my favorite place to relax and find inspiration is within the trails of Knox Mountain.

Toni: Kal park in Vernon, BC! I love going there throughout all seasons, spending time in nature and soaking in the beauty!