About

ALISON ELLIS, RD, MSc.
Email: alison@kaizenmind.ca
Education
- BA Geography
- MSc. Kinesiology
- BSc. Food, Nutrition and Health majoring in Dietetics (graduated with honours)
- Completed dietetics internship with Island Health
- Completed sport nutrition internship with UBC Thunderbirds
- Member of Dietitians of Canada and the Sport Nutrition Network
- Co-author on over 10 peer-reviewed articles and two book chapters
Hello, & Welcome!
My name is Ali, and I am a registered dietitian who is passionate about all things sport. Physical activity and competitive sports have always been an integral part of my life. Throughout my time competing, I was always intrigued by the different factors that impact performance. This curiosity led me to pursue a Master’s degree in Kinesiology focusing on mental performance followed by a career in behaviour change research for over ten years. As my interest in this area continued to grow, I returned to school for a Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition and Health specializing in dietetics, with the goal of combining these areas to work in sport nutrition.
Having competed in a variety of sports, I often reflect on my own nutrition habits and wish I had better understood the connection between food and athletic performance. I often struggled with recovery and fatigue, not connecting the huge role nutrition played. During my time as a university golfer, I didn’t understand just how important nutrition was in order to meet the unique demands of a 4-5 hour round of golf, often leading to a loss of focus in the middle of a round. These experiences have all contributed to my desire to explore, to learn, and to continue to reflect on how nutrition can make a difference.
I’ve also experienced what it is like to go from being a competitive athlete in a structured environment, to no longer competing and feeling lost, especially with regards to nutrition. Transitioning from competitive sport can be a very challenging time, and ensuring athletes are eating to support their health and new goals, is an area in which I am passionate about helping others.
I believe nutrition goes beyond just sport. The importance of cultivating a positive relationship with food is paramount, and one’s health should always be at the forefront.
My core beliefs as a dietitian supporting your athletic goals include:
- An athlete’s health is at the forefront of every nutrition intervention
- Every athlete is unique and has unique fueling needs
- The importance of taking a holistic approach that encompasses all factors that contribute to one’s health and specific nutrition goals
- The importance of ongoing education and staying up-to-date with sport nutrition research
- Empowering athletes to find nutrition strategies that best support them
To help you achieve your optimal nutrition, I will:
- Explore with you your personal health, and work with the science of nutrition combined with your own inner wisdom to determine a plan that works best with your body
- Explore your athletic goals and empower you to develop strategies that support your goals
- Explore with you your psychology – your own challenges and thought processes that may be holding you back. We will challenge these and create changes by shifting your mindset
- Work with evidenced-based behaviour change strategies. Identify goals, and how to break those down into manageable daily actions that create sustainable long-term habits