The Full Story with Allie!
Introducing Allie Howard with The Tasty Balance!
Allie is one of my first “friends in the field,” as we were graduate assistants at Saint Louis University together during my first year officially being an RD. She has so much care and compassion for this field and has dedicated lots of energy to research, experience, and being an incredibly knowledgeable provider. She has a lovely energy that she brings to this work, and her clients are lucky to have her rooting for their recovery. If you'd like to work with Allie, she’s licensed in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and Colorado. You can find her contact information here.
What is your name & who are you?
Hello! I’m Allie (she/her), and I’m a dietitian currently working with eating disorders in a private practice. Before my current role, I was a dietitian in the NICU at St. Louis Children’s and then a dietitian for adolescents and adults with eating disorders at various levels of care. I went to Saint Louis University for my undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as my dietetic internship. In my free time, I dance, play with my dog (Tato), mow my lawn, read on my Kindle (currently trying to get more into reading), and I play a bit of pickleball!
What is an amazing meal you've enjoyed recently?
As a Saint Louisan, Katie’s Pizza is an obvious go-to for absolutely mouthwatering food. I recently had the Fiori Arrabiatta, and it was truly incredible. If you live in the area (or are visiting!) and haven’t been, put in on your list.
How would you describe your relationship with food? How has it changed over time?
My relationship with food has changed significantly since high school, and I still find it sometimes changes on a day-to-day basis. Growing up in the dance world, the mirrors and intense fluorescent lighting made my body image a bit rocky. It was common to feel up or down regularly. This impacted my relationship with food when I was in high school, around the time that I started to understand the correlation between food intake and my body.
Luckily, I had the support I needed to get through some difficult times, and those tough times fueled my passion for nutrition once I started college. Now, my relationship with food is one of flexibility. I don't have any "off-limits" foods, nor do I wait to eat if I'm hungry. That's not to say that every day I feel good about my body - body image is ever-changing, for every human. Not every day is perfect - there might be some shame that tries to creep up every now and then, but I have the tools to gently fact-check myself and get through!
What's in your pantry that you're excited about right now?
I am always excited when I have one of my favorite cereals in my pantry (cereal + milk will forever be my favorite evening snack). Currently, I have Frosted Shredded Mini-Wheats, PB Blasts, and Apple Jacks in my pantry. The Apple Jacks are so nostalgic—I haven’t bought them since I was a kid—so it's been very fun having them again!
What are your signs that you are living life "fully"?
When I am living life "fully", I am:
Laughing on the daily
Getting outside to move my body
Feeling like I have adequate time for getting my life tasks done & relaxing
Getting together with friends
Staying in the present moment (not being stuck in my own head)
What are your favorite ways to celebrate big or small wins?
I love to celebrate anything with family and friends - specifically going for food and a drink on a patio or having a backyard hang with the dogs, yummy food, and drinks.
For some me time, for sure getting a massage...the ultimate relaxation!
What would you go back to tell younger you when they struggled with their body, movement, or food?
I wish I had understood that being small wasn't my identity. I had the nickname "Little Allie" at dance (because I was the youngest + the shortest), but it became somewhat of an identity for me, which impacted my relationship with my body and food. I also wish I could've told myself that just because people were making New Year's Resolutions about eating healthy and losing weight, it didn't mean that I had to. I got swept into diet culture because it infiltrated so many aspects of my life. I wish I could go back and give younger me a hug, letting her know that her mind, passions, and emotions were the coolest things about her.
How do you show up for yourself?
I show up for myself by setting boundaries (or trying to). As a lifelong people pleaser, I definitely get myself too busy and overwhelmed by saying 'yes' to everything and trying to fill up any moment of free time on my calendar. It takes a lot of effort to practice having free time without trying to distract myself. Sitting with oneself can be hard
!
What's something that you really love about your life right now?
I am really loving having a flexible work schedule where I can work from home often and stay with my dog, Tato, whose full name is Sweet Potato—and no I didn't name her that, she was just clearly meant to be a dietitian's dog)!
What's your personal definition of "The Full Life"?
Life without restriction.
A life of doing and being the things you want, having friends and family that support and encourage you, going to places that make you feel like the most 'you'. I also picture a large table for a gathering, with food and drink, and the people who make you feel warm/light/peaceful inside, and there are sounds of laughter all over
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What else, if anything, would you like to share with the readers of The Full Life?
Be kind to yourself. After all, your relationship with yourself is the most vital relationship you'll ever have.
Thank you so much, Allie! You’re the best, and I feel so lucky to be able to share a bit of your practice and wisdom here. If you are needing a dietitian in the Saint Louis area, Allie works with kids, adolescents and adults! She is also able to see clients virtually in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and Colorado!
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Katie’s is the best! I also resonate with the difficulty of moving on from being small being your identity.