Interview with Certified Nutrition Consultant Madia Jamgochian from My Healing Habits
Questions and photos by Angela Aurelio Photography
Tell me a little bit about My Healing Habits and your role as a Certified Nutrition Consultant.
The name My Healing Habits was chosen to emphasize the fact that it is not always the foods we eat, but the habits we form around eating: where we choose to shop, how we prepare a meal, the ingredients we use, our state of mind, the location, and the time we take.
In college I thought I knew a lot about food and nutrition, but after getting my certificate from Bauman, I realized that just about everyone could benefit from nutritional guidance, myself included.
After receiving your degree from UCSB in Environmental Science, and Exercise Sports Studies, what inspired you to become a Certified Nutrition Consultant?
It was actually illness, and the lack of answers from Western Medicine that led me to do my own research. It was later that I discovered my passion for teaching the subject of nutrition to others. I minored in Exercise Sports Studies at UCSB, so that turned out to be a good foundation for Holistic Nutrition.
Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur in the health industry?
No. I never thought I would be doing this if you asked me five years ago. I was terrified of public speaking!
What challenges have you faced in starting your own nutrition consulting business?
Santa Cruz is a great place to have a nutrition-oriented practice because the general population is very open to the idea. The hard part of this being that a lot of people think they can figure it out on their own. Looking back on my own health experience, I wish I would have sought nutritional advice from someone when I was in college.
How do you meet most of your clients and what can a new client expect from working with you?
I meet many of my clients through the cooking classes I teach, and others online though my webpage and social media. If they live in the same town, we meet in person. Otherwise, I conduct my sessions over the phone or with Skype.
Have you had any clients inspire you through their struggles and triumphs?
Definitely. It is always nice to recommend something to a client and see the effects right away- sometimes it is that simple.
I think it is safe to say that we both love food. What are some of your favorite ingredients to cook with?
Oooh, this is a tough one, but going into summer, I am really into the basil right now, and watermelon radishes- I planted a few rows in my garden this year!
Not only are you an amazing nutrition consultant, but you are also a very talented artist. Has your nutrition work influenced your art or vice versa?
I have enjoyed making art since I was a little girl, but have fine-tuned my drawings since then, and mostly work with colored pencil. I started offering a watercolor class once a month as a way for people to un
wind at the end of the week, which has turned out to be a lot of fun. I like to illustrate my handouts with pictures of fruits, vegetables, and even anatomical drawings. I love learning about the human body!
Where do you see My Healing Habits in 5 years?
I think I would like to see more of a following, and to become a figure for nutrition within the community. I am having a great time with what I am working with now, so I am excited to see how My Healing Habits grows in the future!
More info at: https://myhealinghabits.com/
