Jason Crum, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Education 
– Nutrition and Dietetics, BS Northern Illinois University
– Dietetic Internship, Northern Illinois University
– Licensed Registered Dietitian
– Commission on Dietetic Registration

Specializations
– Disease prevention & management
– Grocery shopping & product labels
– Plant-based & vegan diets
– Restaurant & dining out
– Heart health & Diabetes
– Culinary nutrition
– Sports nutrition
– Food safety

Do you have any type of nutrition and exercise philosophy?

Food directly impacts your health and physiology, activity, longevity, and exercise performance. You know this.  But the type of food and nutrition also directly relates to your health and fitness. If you bought a sports car, you put quality fuel into it.  If you put less quality fuel in the tank, it tends to underperform, and parts begin to degrade quicker.  Now, think of your body and physiology as the car.  Time for the quality fuel, right?

If you could give one piece of nutrition advice, what would it be? 

Try to limit believing in social media nutrition.  Your biochemistry and nutrient needs, let alone health, are quite different from another person.  You may be doing more harm than good.

What populations do you have experience working with? 

My clinical experience is with Heart Disease, Diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, and malnutrition. I also have experience in functional nutrition and health foods, supplements, weight management, cookery and culinary nutrition, sport and exercise, and vegan and plant-based diets. I enjoy working with individuals and groups of all ages, demographics, and health goals.  I also enjoy teaching classes on nutrition involving the science, applications, and monitoring of your individual nutrition.

How do you motivate your clients?    

Nutrition is not just being told what to do.  It is a joint effort in healthcare between you and I.  You will be listened to, chatted with, and helped to see ways you and I can help manage your health, and reach your goals and beyond.  We will work to empower you to take charge of your health.  You will learn about your health, and be able to make adjustments and set attainable goals.  We do this together.  Best of all, you will learn new ways of making your dishes at home taste better, and help you enjoy foods.  Who wants to eat just chicken and steamed vegetables anyway?

If you could debunk a nutrition myth, which one would it be?   

Myth: Losing weight quickly is safe. Truth: That is usually not the case.  This may mean you are malnourished, missing vitamins and minerals, or a serious health condition is present. If you have unexplained or rapid weight loss or gain, you should notify your physician.

Why do you feel somebody should start working with a registered dietitian? 

Food and nutrition are vital to managing and preventing health conditions, reaching wellness goals, and for longevity in life.  We can work with you to help prevent diseases and manage chronic conditions.  A dietitian also knows how to help you create tasty dishes at home.  We are required to stay constant on current research, latest evidence-based practice, and we apply this all to you