RDN Spotlight: Laura Iu, RD, CDN, CNSC, RYT

What is your ethnicity/race? Did your family have any customs related to food? Please describe.

I am Chinese American. I have few but vivid memories of my parents as they both passed when I was young. I remember going for dim sum with my parents and my siblings. It was a central component to family celebrations, whenever we had visitors and Chinese holidays. Food is just one of the most powerful ways to foster connection and a sense of belonging. Because I was raised by various guardians thereafter that did not necessarily celebrate cultural foods, it took a long time for me to cultivate a strong sense of self and pride in being Asian.

Where/when did you go to undergrad/dietetic internship/grad school?

I received my Bachelor's of Science at New York University and completed my dietetic internship at New York-Presbyterian Hospital at Weill-Cornell and Columbia Medical Center.

Why did you decide to choose nutrition and dietetics as a career?

I was on a completely different path. I was 3 years into my pre-med courses when I decided to add a minor in nutrition. In my first nutrition course, I learned how being malnourished affects our mental health and the science behind cardiovascular disease. This really resonated with me since I lost each of my parents to both of these things. That's the moment I realized I could combine my love of science and passion for food, and to that, there are so many more ways to help people!

What do you do now as an RDN and what does a typical day/week look like for you?

I'm the owner of Laura Iu Nutrition, a private practice in NYC where I help people learn how to eat intuitively & live life with more balance and ease. My week is a mixture of wearing many hats! When I'm not working 1:1 with patients or providing meal support, I'm balancing administrative work or conducting media/press interviews. In between all of that, I love spending time with my pup Cannoli who makes frequent appearances in my sessions (don't worry he is HIPAA compliant) and he is particularly great at helping patients get through meal support!

What is/was the biggest challenge for you in becoming a dietitian and how did you overcome that challenge? This can be related to being an RD of color or not just any challenge?

One of the biggest challenges I faced in becoming a dietitian was figuring out how I would pay for the dietetic internship, and my rent and food for that whole year of unpaid work. One of the DI programs, NYP, had a later start date so I specifically applied to that program and luckily got in. I used the entire year prior as an opportunity to work 3 jobs, saved up enough money to pay tuition and rent. To pay for food during the DI, I worked on the weekends at Warby Parker and nannied. Still, I had many privileges. Financial barriers are just one of the many challenges RD2Be's face in becoming a dietitian.

Have you had any mentors in your career if yes how have those mentors affected your career/life?

This is a tough question. I've had humans in my life who I've admired and learned from but unfortunately not anyone who directly mentored me. This is a huge reason why I am so appreciative that Diversify Dietetics exists!

Why do you think diversifying this field is important?

OOOOf, where to start, and does this text box have a max character limit? We need diverse representation in our field and this would benefit everyone. Period. Students need to see themselves represented in their field and in various positions! Patients need providers who can understand their background and cultural identity. More diverse clinicians mean that we can continue to challenge the status quo in the nutrition field, challenge the white ideals of health and nutrition, and hopefully pass that knowledge to the next generation of RDs. We don't need to feel ashamed of our diverse cultural values and foods, rather we need to embrace it.

What is a piece of advice you would give a student of color interested in entering the field of dietetics?

Keep going. During your training (be it the weight-centric curriculum, professors, or clinicians) know that it's OK to pull the values that resonate with you and leave what doesn't. There will be a time when you will become your own RD. Breathe. You've got this!!!