By Sky Pinkett
Features Editor
As students, eating can be one of our favorite pastimes while also being one of our biggest challenges. Some good news for those of us at the College is that we have Natalie Tannehill, our newest dietitian, to guide us into cultivating healthy relationships with food.
“I think being able to help people navigate what health looks like to them and meeting individualized goals and also helping to kind of break down some irrational beliefs around food and health and dieting [is what I love],” Tannehill said. “I mean, we live in such a diet-consuming culture that what might be good for one person really isn't good for the general population.”
Helping students be their healthiest selves, especially in a campus ecosystem, is what Tannehill does best.
“Allergens, events, and one-on-one counseling are my primary focus. One-on-one counseling for sure is really where my heart is,” Tannehill said. “Specifically for campus dietetics, the work is really focused on health and wellness.”
Tannehill’s specialization in dietetics, specifically for college students, covers a wide scope.
“I do a lot of work with students who have allergens to make sure that they are accommodated and that all of their dining needs are met. I’m also available for nutrition counseling, whether it be for healthy eating, any kind of medical nutrition therapy needs, sports nutrition, eating disorders, weight management, whatever that may be,” Tannehill said.
“Specifically in the campus setting, everything is more so geared towards how we can accommodate [for students] and meet it with our dining program,” she added.
Tannehill’s range as a dietitian speaks to her passion to help. And yet, there was almost a reality where she would’ve been Chef Tannehill: pastry professional.
“I wanted to be a pastry chef in high school and was looking at different schools to become one,” Tannehill said. “And I got totally, totally freaked out by the average age of students enrolled and felt like most of them were in their 20s or 30s or 40s and went back to school for a second degree.”
She continued, “At that point I ended up in Rutgers and started actually as a communications major. In spring semester of my freshman year, [I took] a nutrition one-on-one course to satisfy my science requirement and at that point I was like, wait, no, this is totally it.”
From there, Tannehill added nutrition as a second major and came into a job where meeting students where they’re at is crucial.
“I also work very closely with the Accessibility Resource Center for students who either need a modification or accommodation to their meal plan to meet medical or allergy needs,” Tannehill said. “And then I'm the person that they go to from the dining point of view to be able to actually execute their accommodation.”
Tannehill is truly for the students, in large part because she remembers what it was like to be one herself.
“I struggled with an eating disorder throughout high school and had gone to a couple of different dietitians that really didn't give what I actually needed. [I was] a 15-year-old who wanted nothing to do with what they said,” Tannehill said candidly.
“So another kind of side of that too was I actually love this. I can take what I'm getting from here and go be the type of dietitian that I feel like I did not have when I was in high school,” Tannehill continued. “I was able to kind of adapt what I feel like those times specifically needed based on my own experience and be able to give back in that way.”
Not only was Tannehill decisive in wanting to help future students in this way, but she was also decisive in where she wanted to go to do it.
“This actually was my first choice of school when I was in high school. I ended up not going here when I was looking at prospective majors,” Tannehill said. “But when I was only 17 years old, this was the most beautiful campus that just felt like home, so I always was kind of drawn to TCNJ for that reason. But it also just has such a great sense of community and belonging.”
Now Tannehill is contributing to that sense of belonging by making sure she is available and meeting student needs.
“[Students] can stop by anytime in the atrium at Eickhoff where I'll be sitting behind the 31 North Deli. They can email me or there are also QR codes all over campus on the napkin holders or on different signs where you can scan the code and book an appointment that way,” she said.
Tannehill encourages students to reach out for help, and to especially keep an open mind about what campus dining has to offer.
“I think a misconception is that there are no healthy foods on campus or there's nothing good for [students] at Eickhoff,” Tannehill said. “But really looking around at the different stations, seeing what we have from day to day, utilizing our online menus and our online apps to see our different options for the atrium at Eickhoff as well as in the 1855 room, where all calories and nutritional information is also available online…can be extremely helpful.”
For students who find eating on campus difficult, scheduling a meeting with Tannehill may be just the solution to become informed on their options.
“When I do have students who are having a hard time navigating different options that may be considered to be healthier, there usually are a lot of different areas or resources in the dining hall that they're not aware of,” Tannehill said.
As the semester continues to kickoff, Tannehill encourages students to start the season off right with a balanced view of food and eating.
“Know that all foods can stay in moderation,” Tannehill said. “Don’t restrict or limit yourself from anything that you might deem to be unhealthy because anything taken too far is not healthy long-term. So eating in moderation, actually letting yourself enjoy food, being adventurous and asking for help if you have any questions or concerns at all is my advice.”
For more information about booking an appointment with Tannehill or about campus dining, check out the College’s website.
