MSc in Creativity and Education, University of Gastronomic Sciences (Italy)
BSc in Nutrition, Wayne State University
Associate of Arts, Culinary Arts, St. Clair College
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic
The College of Dietitians of Ontario
Dietitians of Canada
Mindful Eating for medical providers, UC San Diego; Certified Yoga Instructor, Yoga Six (Hot Yoga 200hrs); Certified Yoga Instructor, Yoga One (Multidisciplinary alignment, 200hrs); Certified Restorative Yoga teacher (40hrs); Certificate, Harvard Medical School and Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives; Certificate, Harvard Medical and the Culinary Institute of America Healthy Kitchens Program.
Niina’s interest in food first started in the kitchen as a chef. Her passion and curiosity for nutrition grew at a time when several family members and clients were asking for recipe advice because of celiac disease, diabetes, and other health conditions that were affected by food. Niina’s desire to help others and learn more guided her back to school in order to become a Registered Dietitian.
A Registered Dietitian with more than 13 years of experience in nutrition and public health, Niina has had the opportunity to deliver education, guidance, and support to a diverse client population. She has also worked with several professional healthcare teams to provide support, manage diet-related conditions, and improve the eating habits of her clients.
In addition to being committed to offering client-centred care, Niina is also dedicated to personal growth and development. She truly believes that food is medicine and can provide healing for all of us. From how we share food to the foods that we choose to eat, it can restore us and aid in our recovery. Along with my Registered Dietitian designation, Niina has a Master’s degree in Gastronomy and Creative Food Education from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy; and an associate degree in the culinary arts.
In 2020, a friend of Niina’s was in a motor vehicle accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury. Through his difficult and continuing rehabilitation, it became clear that food and nutrition played an essential role in his recovery. Witnessing this recovery inspired Niina to want to help others in their rehabilitation journeys through food and nutrition.
Niina believes that her clients deserve to have support from experts in the field to help them make proper choices when it comes to their essential nutrition, and choices that are personalized for their bodies, lifestyles, and beliefs.
Food is such an integral part of our daily lives and culture. Niina takes pride in working with her clients to collaboratively make meaningful changes to how they eat and experience food that improves their well-being.
Niina is also well-versed in understanding the cultural and social aspects of your dietary choices, and being able to modify recipes and approaches to cooking to support her patient’s health goals, family food rituals, and practices. It’s a passion of Niina’s to share what she has learned from patients while working collaboratively with them to achieve health, dietary, and wellness targets.
Niina chose Nutritional Rehabilitation as the next step in her career because of its diverse client population. Nutrition Rehabilitation as a company has substantial value for continued education, which is essential. She also appreciates the opportunity to create care plans that empower clients to make meaningful changes to the way that they eat, and the flexibility to meet clients where they are in their recovery by meeting in-person, virtually, or by teaching cooking classes. It gives Niina a work day filled with both varied and meaningful experiences.
When she’s not assisting her clients and diversifying her education and experience, Niina takes time to experience her love of the outdoors and nature through hiking, camping, or by practicing yoga. She also thoroughly enjoys cooking and creating food experiences that deliver optimal nourishment, but also inspire connections, curiosity, joy, and healing.
