Today, we’d like to introduce you to Dalia Kinsey.
Hi Dalia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Becoming a Registered Dietitian set the foundation for my career. This rigorous process began with completing a degree in dietetics, where I gained essential knowledge of nutrition, health, and well-being.
Following my degree, the next critical step was undertaking a Dietetic Internship in a public health setting. This choice was intentional, driven by my passion for addressing health disparities and advocating for wellness in underserved communities. My time in public health was transformative, exposing me to the broader issues that now empower me to tailor my counseling in a way that honors the lived experience of my clients.
Earning my Registered Dietitian credential after completing the Dietetic Internship and passing the national examination was pivotal. However, I viewed it not as the culmination of my journey but as a launching point for a broader mission. Launching Kinsey Wellness & Communications was a high point from a synthesis of academic achievement, practical experience, and a personal commitment to inclusive health care.
In 2022, I published my book “Decolonizing Wellness,” which was a monumental milestone for me. It helped to significantly expand my reach, making my work accessible to people worldwide whom I may never have the opportunity to meet in person.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In my mid-twenties, I became severely ill. Fighting through the process of getting to the root of what was causing my hair to fall out in clumps, excessive sweating, hand tremors so severe that I couldn’t hold a pen, and fatigue that made me fall asleep behind the wheel after 10+ hours of sleep, taught me unforgettable lessons about how deeply inadequate health care can be when it comes to supporting folks of color in a health crisis.
Visit after visit, physicians blamed my steadily increasing weight for my symptoms, repeatedly failing to offer me individualized treatment, and getting stuck on my skin color and body size. After years of effort, I was eventually diagnosed with Grave’s Disease, a chronic autoimmune condition. While my weight had nothing to do with my symptoms, weight bias and racist assumptions about my ability to care for myself almost cost me my life.
The parting advice I received from the diagnosing physician once I entered remission was to “avoid stress” so that I could stay in remission. When George Floyd was murdered, and I found myself simultaneously living through the second wave of the civil rights movement and a global pandemic, I was overwhelmed by anxiety and heartbreak.
I looked everywhere for information to help me navigate dealing with chronic stress that never ends. Every resource I found only addressed temporary stressful events, like a move, a job change, or the end of a relationship – events anyone can experience. I couldn’t find a single resource that addressed how to manage the relentless stress that Black, AFAB (assigned female at birth), and queer folks like myself experience because of racism, homophobia, and misogyny.
The process of developing my framework for protective self-care has led Kinsey Wellness to where it is today. We welcome everyone at Kinsey Wellness but center on the most vulnerable because people with marginalized identities deserve care tailored to their unique lived experiences and powerful enough to support their healing.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Kinsey Wellness & Communications (KWC), we’re all about transforming lives through nutrition education and corporate wellness initiatives led by expert dietitians. We’re dedicated to making health and happiness accessible to everyone, especially folx in marginalized communities. We specialize in medical nutrition therapy, intuitive and body-led eating, and creating inclusive, body-positive spaces.
What sets us apart is our commitment to simplified approaches to wellness that reduce stress and empower clients to make permanent dietary changes that fit their lives. We’re most proud of our mission to close the health outcome and life expectancy gap between marginalized groups and the broader population.
Our offerings include 1:1 nutrition therapy, public speaking events, courses, and corporate wellness workshops. At KWC, we believe that everyone deserves a chance to live the healthiest and happiest version of their life.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I find Alok Vaid-Menon wise and inspiring. I followed their reading list on GoodReads and read every book they wrote.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.daliakinsey.com
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/daliakinsey
