Tell Me All About It: Q&A with Nicole Cormier

Meet Nicole. She's a Registered Dietitian and local food enthusiast here on Cape Cod, and like many of the women who I interview for this column, she's also a total boss lady.

Not only does Nicole own a business called Delicious Living Nutrition + co-own a cold-pressed juice company called The Local Juice, she's also authored 5 books, she hosts a radio show called Radio Brunch, and she runs a health food store + CSA called Farm Fare Market. 

Currently, Nicole is writing her sixth book, Nutrition from the Ground Up: an intuitive guide to cultivating a healthy food practice, which will be available this summer, and she is in the process of creating and releasing a documentary about organic farms called Organic Farms Are Everywhere.

PHEW! I'm exhausted just typing all of that out! But you know what I love about Nicole's projects, businesses, + endeavors? They each align *perfectly* with her passion for local food and nutrition. She is a woman living out her passions in every way possible, and that is really inspiring. 

So, obviously, I wanted to learn more about Nicole, and I thought that you might be interested in learning more about how she does it, as well.

Read on to learn more about the incredible Nicole Cormier + all of her nutrition-related endeavors...

What's the story of your biz? What made you strike out on your own?
When I started out, I was only working with nutritional counseling clients one day a week...and now, eight years later, I am really proud that the business has grown in directions I never imagined it would. While I knew I wanted to help people adopt a healthier lifestyle through nutrition, it didn’t occur to me that I could actually help them grow it. Now, in addition to being a Registered Dietitian, I’m an author, blogger, local food enthusiast, and a farmer-in-training (among other things)!

So, in building Delicious Living Nutrition, I’ve set out to live my passion. Underlying everything I do is the concept of sustainability. It shows up very literally in how I work with clients to help them discover new foods and ways of cooking that put them on a path to health. It shows up in how I’ve structured my business so that all the different aspects support each other. It’s also personal. I’ve designed a holistic life where work doesn’t feel like work--everything sustains everything else. Connecting people directly with farmers and helping them understand their food sources is a huge part of what I love to do.

Why do you do what you do (work-wise)?
I am passionate about teaching people how to play an active role in improving their whole health by developing new relationships with food. And, I believe in the power of connecting farmers and consumers to create a more educated community.

Whether for my clients, the community, or the broader public, I’m focused on sharing knowledge because it really is power. By arming people with information, I can make a more lasting impact--and I know from seeing it with my clients that knowledge creates empowerment, which is the only thing that motivates change.

If you could study under anyone for a year, who would it be? 
Jane Goodall. Although I was first introduced to Jane’s work through her research with Chimpanzees, I fell in love with her lifestyle and philosophy while listening to her book on CD, Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating. Another is Alice Waters, who is a revolutionary in the movement toward organic, sustainable food and “edible education.”

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” - Jane Goodall

What's your favorite dish, meal, or item to make?
Practicing intuitive nutrition is the process of learning to listen to your body by cultivating awareness of its needs, creating a sustainable relationship with food, and making mindful choices that support your optimal health. So really, my favorite dish is the one that is balanced (protein plus fiber), makes sense based on what my body needs and what is available --both at home and in the store or at the farm. 

Making intuitive meals is my most exciting kitchen experience. My first step is to find available local produce, then add a protein and potato or grain. My favorite proteins include haddock, tuna, squid, scallops, beans and tempeh. I always top my favorite dishes with cilantro or pea greens with a slice of avocado.

What's your creative process like?
Practicing mindfulness is essential for stimulating my creative process. I’ve found the most success when setting myself in nature with my dog, Tanka. I’m able to clear my mind through walking meditation. It helps me to be intuitive with designing programs, recipes and projects.

What's your biggest dream for the rest of 2015?
I am really excited to bring my latest book project, Nutrition From the Ground Up: An intuitive guide to cultivating a healthy food practice, to fruition.

What inspires you?
First, inspiring people to let go of their past relationships with food and create new, more powerful ways of thinking about the foods they choose. Second, connecting people with their local farmers and helping them discover the benefits of eating locally and seasonally. Finally, educating both my community and the public about how they can be more confident consumers.

How do you stay balanced? How do you unwind?
I love my outdoor scene, from gardening, kayaking, fishing to sitting outside on my deck with a cup of Turmeric, Lemon & Ginger Tea. My yoga practice has provided me with mindfulness tools that I use throughout the day, such as practicing breathing techniques while driving in my car and taking several breaks to stretch while working.

What's one item that you cannot live without? 
My journal. Journals are a way to keep track of my successes, take on life’s challenges, set goals, understand my own eating patterns, practice mindfulness, and lay out to-do lists. It’s an essential tool for finding balance.

Wonderfully inspiring, right? I love what she say's about her underlying focus on sustainability in both nutrition + business...GENIUS!!!

If you want to learn more about Nicole, you can find her in the following places: 

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter 
• Pinterest
• Instagram
• The Local Juice

 
Thanks for taking the time to tell me all about it, Nicole!