Meet Jessica Stamm: Registered Dietitian & Mom of 2

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Stamm and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, what makes you happy? Why?
In a world where so many things are left out of your control – for example, the entirety of year 2020 – I do believe that it is still a personal, daily choice for you to be happy. I have had many days where happiness was hard to find, but I have quite a few things which always seem to bring me joy when I feel down. What makes me happiest is seeing my family together doing something where everyone is engaged and having a good time. Over the holidays we had fun together cooking new meals, baking cookies and our new favorite at home activity is making mud in the yard and then just going to town playing with it – maybe making a bug home or two 🙂 Sometimes the most happiness is found in the simplest ways! My happiness cup fills up from good conversations with people as well. This one has been much tougher over the last year, but having phone conversations with clients and friends or seeing them via Zoom has actually not been too bad when you can stay in sweats and cozy up by the fire during a chat.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am both a stay at home mom and a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. I am the founder and Registered Dietitian for Healthy Medium Nutrition. I love to help people find ways to find peace with food. I became interested in nutrition at an early age when I struggled with binge eating disorder at the end of high school and into college. I had never realized how much of an impact psychology has on our eating. I went to school to study nutrition and psychology and ended up working in different jobs within the health field including a nutrition consulting business, The Biggest Loser Resort, Whole Foods and Public Health Foundation – WIC. It was challenging to find my niche and the challenge became tougher when I went on to complete my dietetic internship and got pregnant 1/3 of the way through while interning at hospitals, food service buildings and nursing care facilities. Taking it day by day I was able to work through the nausea and fatigue with the end goal to be able to have my own nutrition counseling business where I could help other people reach their goals in practical and healthy ways. I love helping people via Zoom, email and phone now to find ways to eat mindfully and divorce from the scale. I also love helping with kids nutrition programs and nutrition publications.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, best friends visiting from out of town is something of the past right now, am I right? But I am going to fantasize about a visit outside of the time of COVID… For a week long visit, I would make sure to jam-pack our days with big visits to fun places that were conveniently close to great food spots. We could start the week with a visit to Descanso Gardens which always has beautiful flowers in bloom and outside art displays, we could stay for the nighttime concerts in their grassy knoll and have a picnic with wine and snacks amongst Mother Nature. Next up on the itinerary could be a trip to the LA Zoo to check out their awesome Rainforest exhibit and reptile room, after getting a fun work out going up and down the hills looking at animals from far and wide we could rest easy five minutes away at Golden Road Brewery. Golden Road is so nice because it is kid and dog friendly and has a yummy selection of food and drink. We would for sure have to hit up one of my favorite shopping spots, The Americana in Glendale. There we could browse the artsy and fun Anthropologie, visit my old high school workplace of Nordstroms and end at my fave food spot, Bacari. Bacari has the freshest food options and always hits high points on my taste buds, not to mention the A-plus cocktail menu! We could also spend a day with a simple drive up Angeles Crest Highway to play in the new snowfall and build some snowmen and sled. Lastly, a visit to me would not be complete without a visit to downtown Montrose. I love walking around Honolulu Blvd, it is so reminiscent of something straight out of Gilmore Girls and Joselitos has the best fish tacos and jalepeno margaritas around!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people who have come in and out of my life who have helped shape me and that I love – but today I want to give a special shoutout of thanks to those who without them I don’t think I would be a successful Dietitian or mother! I want to give a shoutout to Joyce Ruygrok and Jill Brook, the ladies behind Diet for Health. This is where I first saw how much a Nutrition Counselor could do for someone; I was a client, intern and then started my first job as a Nutritionist there. Joyce and Jill were both so knowledgeable but also had such a knack for making people comfortable and really looking into the psychology of eating . Thank you so much gals! I also need to give a shoutout to my family! I have the greatest role models of love and support in my parents, married for 37 years this month! I have a wonderful example of strength and courageousness in my grandmother, who is a nonstop fighter with a zero complaints attitude. I have an awesome example of dedication and work ethic from my Aunt, who is now the founder of SideHusl.com. I have amazing siblings who have always been my cheerleaders and best friends and I have the most excellent husband a girl could ask for! THANK YOU FAM, without you I don’t know where I would be!

Website: www.healthymediumnutrition.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthy.medium.nutrition/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-stamm-86032325/

Image Credits
Family Portrait by Kacie Elias-Calhoun