Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tasia Allen, Founder of New Dish Nutrition, located in Victoria, BC, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

New Dish Nutrition is a nutrition practice located in Victoria, BC. I specialize in sustainable weight loss that is practical and customized to suit the lifestyle of my clients. I strive to promote eating in a way that is approachable and enjoyable, working on teaching people that fad diets and quick fixes are hard on our bodies, difficult to maintain over time, and do not produce long-term weight loss results. Instead, I focus on sustainable diet changes that are enjoyable and easy to integrate into our lives, making it easier to follow them long term. Small changes and adjustments to our diet can be implemented gradually over time, increasing our likelihood of long-term success while also developing lifelong healthy behaviors.

Tell us about yourself

I discovered my passion for health and nutrition early in life, as I grew up with a background in competitive gymnastics and other sports. I knew I wanted to use my love of nutrition to help support and empower others. I graduated in 2020 from Pacific Rim College, where I completed the most comprehensive Holistic Nutrition program in Canada. Here, I studied the principles of Western and Eastern medicine, allowing for a diverse approach when supporting my client’s nutritional needs. In my practice, I assess medical history, specific symptoms, eating habits, and personal preferences. This helps me to provide nutritional recommendations that are individually tailored to my client, as no two people are the same. I believe in a sustainable and practical approach to wellness, emphasizing the power of small changes to diet and lifestyle.

This journey through school was not easy for me. I took a break with only a few classes left to graduate due to my own personal health struggles. My struggle with alcohol addiction had started to become too big for me, and I was no longer able to be high functioning in my day-to-day (school and work included). It would be easy for me to omit this part from my story, but it would also no longer be authentic. Going through and overcoming that experience shaped me into who I am today. I also want to normalize the talk of addiction and work to end the stigma surrounding it. Even someone who holds health and wellness in high regard can be fighting a battle you wouldn’t expect. While in recovery, I ended up leaning on my knowledge and love for food and nutrition, and it was an instrumental part in helping me recover and nourish my body. I have now been sober for over four years, and I hope to use my knowledge and experience with nutrition in addiction recovery to help support others in the future.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am proud of all I have learned and how I have grown as a person after starting this business. I never pictured myself as a business owner, and I found it to be quite an intimidating and overwhelming idea. I have grown so much as a person; I have become more confident and more independent than I ever thought possible. Having this business allows me to continue to challenge myself and learn new things every day.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

As a perfectionist, I found it hard to accept the fact that when starting a business, there is a lot of trial and error involved, and you have to try a lot of different things before you find success. It is not something you will likely feel satisfied with on the first try. This goes for so many aspects of a business, from finding your niche to starting your social media to expanding your business. I am still working on this! I have found there are always new things to learn, and your business has to be flexible to ebb and flow with the way you grow as a business owner.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Find a mentor. Finding someone with experience who has already walked the path you are looking to travel can be very helpful. A mentor can provide guidance, support, and motivation. It can be helpful to have this extra knowledge and clarity when you are starting a business.
  2. Be sure to practice self-care and surround yourself with a good support system.
  3. Believe in yourself! Remind yourself that you are capable of anything and be proud of what you have already achieved where you are in the moment.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://new-dish-nutrition.business.site/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/New-Dish-Nutrition-106202904689470/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newdishnutrition/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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