Hi! I’m Shana Hopkins, and I’d love for you to think of me as your nutritionist.
My Personal Story — So, you may ask, just what led me into the field of nutrition? Well, I came to know what proper nutrition was early on in my youth. You see, my father held his PhD in human nutrition from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He was a researcher and worked with many colleagues from the world-over; his shop-talk was nutrition. As children of the family, we were required to eat high quality proteins, drink milk, and consume fresh fruits and vegetables every day. And yes, even liver on occasion! I know, you are saying “yuck”, but I have to give my parents a nod, because liver is actually one of the most nutrient dense foods you can eat. (Don’t worry, I won’t make you eat it). After several years, my father left the research world to be a rancher in Western Colorado. My teenage years were spent learning about where food comes from first hand. We had a huge garden, raised chickens, goats, and beef and procured our own food. We even bought raw Jersey cow’s milk from a local rancher, and it was a regular staple in our kitchen. It was during these years that I fell in love with food and cooking. I also raised my own livestock, and even took first place in the county fair for my 4H steer! His name was Carlos. I am thoroughly proud to say that my love of food and nutrition really stems from my childhood, and the lessons my parents taught me.
It was during my teenage years that I was involved in a serious car accident. I am actually lucky to be alive, and very thankful to the powers that be to see me to where I am today. I spent six weeks in the hospital recovering from a broken pelvis and back, six weeks in a body cast, and several months recuperating. As awful as it was though, I can say that it was during this time that I fell in love with the miraculous capability of the body to heal. I knew from that moment on that I wanted to go into a professional field that helped people heal.
After obtaining my bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, I found myself at a cross-road. I was applying to Physician Assistant programs around the country, and although I got several interviews, and on wait-lists, I wasn’t getting any acceptance letters. I underwent some deep introspection, and asked myself “What do I really love?” The answer was easy – food and nutrition! I applied and was accepted to Bastyr University, which was the only accredited school that had a whole foods based approach to nutrition. I received my Masters of Science degree in Nutrition from Bastyr University in 1998. It was perfect for me, because this degree has enabled me to use food and nutrition, my personal joys since childhood, to help people heal. After all, it was Hippocrates that said, “Let food be thy medicine”.
Upon graduation I opened my private nutrition consulting practice in Seattle, Washington. I have maintained my private practice now for twenty years! In 1999, I was hired as the nutritionist at the Washington Athletic Club in downtown Seattle, where I served as their lead nutritionist for sixteen years. Today, a large portion of my practice is virtual, meaning I work with clients via Skype or telephone. I specialize in working with mid-life adults to balance their blood sugars, renew their energy levels, lose weight but most importantly support them in the process of reinvesting in their health, so they can be their best selves for the next half of their lives. My core belief is that food and diet is the foundation for health, and I really enjoy guiding individuals to find the foods that work best for their bodies. I thoroughly love my work. I love not only teaching and implementing nutritional programs that can transform a client’s health, but also inspiring them to make fundamental changes that make big impacts on their lives.
Professional Profile Shana Hopkins is a certified nutritionist in the state of Washington and has maintained a private nutrition practice for twenty years. She counsels clients in the greater Seattle area as well as providing distance counseling services to those outside the area. She received her master’s degree in nutrition from Bastyr University in 1998, where she was a presidential scholarship recipient. The research for her degree was completed through work at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Women’s Health Initiative. It has been published in The Journal of Nutrition Education. Shana was the nutritionist for the Washington Athletic Club in downtown Seattle from 1999 – 2015.