Wow, I am so excited to be here introducing myself! I love everything about this blog, the Nutshell/Real-Life RD community, and Robyn’s mission as a whole. So of course, I’m thrilled to be joining this amazing community.
If you watched Robyn’s recent video post on how Nutshell is changing, you’ve heard about me. Yes, I’m the RD who randomly reached out to Robyn and said I’d be happy to help her if she ever decided to expand her team. I had just turned down a job opportunity in the Emory Hospital system here in Atlanta when I reached out to her. Despite it being a great opportunity, I just knew the hospital wasn’t the right fit for me. I was searching for opportunities that allowed my passions to be fed. I had been doing nutrition counseling and felt it was the type of environment I could thrive in. I love relationships and taking the time to get to know people. I was confident Robyn and I had a lot in common and simply thought I’d be letting myself down if I did not reach out to her. So I did! And because she’s amazing, she responded. We became fast friends and a few months later, I have the joy of working with her and her clients. God works in unexpected ways.
breakfast//is usually a Vega smoothie (1 scoop Vega One + frozen banana + a few frozen cherries + almond milk + nutbutter + frozen spinach)
On Saturday it was banana flaxseed oat pancakes topped with cashew butter and frozen raspberries that I melted in the microwave
Looking back, I had written to Robyn, “I simply want to encourage others to live healthy, passionate lives.” In a nutshell (ha), that’s my philosophy. Like Robyn, I believe in food freedom, balance, and authenticity. Like many of you, before I met Robyn, I felt like she was my friend and that I could easily reach out to her. Therefore as a Nutshell Nutrition RD, I want all of my current and future clients to know I’m here, walking right alongside them. I am the world’s least intimidating person, or at least that’s what my friends say 🙂
Like I said, I love relationships. I find that if we do a little digging, we can all relate to each other in some form or fashion. I love doing just that! I believe in the power of relationships and vulnerability and I really love getting to know people through hearing their stories. Personally, I love being known and understood — it’s the ultimate comfort! I feel so at peace when my husband or my best friend make me think to myself, “they totally get me.” At the heart of the matter, I believe we all have a degree of that desire for connection within us. We all just want to be known in this big, unknown world. I love getting to know people, no matter what their situation, and simply meeting them right where they’re are in that moment. There’s a place that settles within us when we’re connected, supported and understood.
(disclaimer: this is ½ of my salad) lunch// kale salad with tempeh, cucumbers, craisins, and carrots with TJ’s goddess dressing + not pictured hummus for the carrots [This picture was taken halfway through lunch]
spoonful (or 2) of ice cream after lunch
I also love food. Cooking and gathering around a table was very much a part of my childhood. Community is so rich around a table and I truly felt that as a child. My love of food fostered my love for nutrition and also my love of human sciences. Although I am not Type-A, I am a detail-oriented person. My mind is curious and discovering the intricate details that make up our bodies and ultimately make up who we are and how we function fire me up.
I believe our bodies are created by God, therefore they are good and are meant for good. How can they be good if we don’t take care of them? In our diet-obsessed, technologically driven culture, it is all too easy to become trapped, to be rude to our bodies and to ultimately learn to hate ourselves. I love helping others find freedom, but especially food freedom. I love food and I believe it is meant to be a delight, to be celebrated and to be shared with others. I also believe food is just food. It is not to be idolized the way the world we live in so often teaches us to do. There is goodness waiting to be poured out from you onto those around you and that can’t happen when we can’t walk free.
snacks// sweet potato tortilla chips with guacamole
TJ’s inner peas with hummus
vegan pumpkin banana blueberry white chocolate muffin
The same goes for exercise. I absolutely love to get a good sweat in and there is nothing like the peace, joy, and stress-relief I feel when going on a long run or attending an awesome Barre3 class. But, the last thing I want is for exercise to get in the way of my friendships or for it to become my ultimate lifeline. In other words, I never want to feel imprisoned by my exercise regimen or it to be where I find safety and security. We should move because it feels good, not because we think we have to.
dinner// TJ’s black bean pasta + roasted butternut squash and broccoli+ sautéed mushrooms, onions, grape tomatoes, and spinach + ½ avocado)
anddd more ice cream of course with a chocolate covered frozen banana bite
As for my educational background, I was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee where I later attended the University of Tennessee, earning my Bachelors Degree in Nutrition. After getting married in June of 2014, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia where I completed my Dietetic Internship at Emory Hospitals. Today, my husband and I still live in Atlanta and have learned to love this crazy city.
All in all, thank you for this opportunity and I so look forward to what’s ahead. Wishing you guys the best this week!
Hilary says
Such an awesome outlook! I just recently relocated to the Atlanta area 6 months ago, if you ever want to have a little blogger meet up let me know 🙂
Robyn says
heyyyy ATL! love atlanta so now I have an excuse to visit more 🙂
Cody Jenkins says
Yay! Love Atlanta! 🙂
Wendy says
Yay Cody! In a totally non-creepy way, I feel like you just wrote my life story (grew up in Knoxville, moved to GA for school, live in Atlanta with my husband). It’s such a small world, isn’t it? Glad you’ll be a regular contributor!
Cody Jenkins says
Definitely not creepy! This world is so tiny and it is only getting smaller! I hope the move has been a fun one for you!
Clare @ fitting it all in says
SO great to “meet’ you — Robyn is SO wonderful and I can tell you two align so well. Excited to see what you have in store!! xoxo
Robyn says
hope you are so well!! I’m pumped to have additions 🙂
xo
Cody Jenkins says
Thank you! I agree, Robyn is a rockstar. I’m really so excited to be working for Nutshell!
Catherine says
Nice to “meet” you, Cody!
Sounds like Nutshell is a perfect fit, and I love your philosophy.
It’s great to see Bluebell in your photos, as well (I’m also southern – it’s the best!).
Cody Jenkins says
Isn’t it just the greatest?! Cookies and cream is my jam!
Katie Hanzlicek says
Nice to “meet” you! I love your outlook towards food and loving the bodies that God created…and I am excited to see what you have in store for Nutshell!
Cody Jenkins says
Thank you so much!
Aubrey says
Looks like a great, healthy day of eats!
I wanted to buy those peas at trader joe’s but they had canola oil in them 🙁
Robyn says
a little canola oil never hurt — it’s all about the big picture so be free to enjoy them 🙂
Sarah @ BucketListTummy says
You seem like the perfect addition to Nutshell! I love seeing other RD’s who believe food is just food – yes, it can nourish us (and yes, it is amazinggg), but at the end of the day, there’s no need to freak out over it. Looking forward to reading more from you! Welcome!
Cody Jenkins says
Yay! I couldn’t agree more. I’m excited for what’s ahead!
kelly says
SHUT UP!!1 CODY!!! OMG I can’t believe you’re the new RD! I just started reading Robyn’s blog about 3 weeks ago and when I saw Cody, I thought surely not my Cody from undergrad! Hooray the world is SO infinitely small and I’m so glad you have come on board! Can not wait to read and catch up with you! I’m currently 3 months shy of finishing the DI at UT, so yay! Hope to hear from you soon friend! 🙂
Robyn says
AHHHHH love how God works in crazy ways 🙂
you have an exciting career ahead!
xo
Cody Jenkins says
Kelly!! hi!! YAY!! You’ll be an RD in no time!! I hope everything is going well in Knoxville. Let’s catch up soon!
Alyssa says
You seem like the PERFECT fit for for nutshell!! So excited for you and nutshell! I absolutely love your philosophy too. Great getting to know more about you, Cody!
Cody Jenkins says
Thank you! Thank you!
Fran says
So great to meet you!! You seem like such a great addition already and I can’t wait to read Robyn’s and your posts. I just started blogging as well b/c I was always inspired but what Robyn has passed along. Good luck! Was in ATL this past monday – tuesday for work!
Cody Jenkins says
You’re too sweet! Hope ATL was good to you!
Courtney says
Congrats Cody! You did it! And got your dream job! Yay for dietitians that strive to balance work and health!
Cody Jenkins says
Yes yes! Thank you- I’m ALL about that balance!
Caroline says
It’s so exciting that you’re adding another RD to your team! Welcome Cody! It’s so encouraging for me to see you truly qualified and gifted women spread the message about the wonder of our bodies and the need to properly nourish them. Robyn, you have been such an inspiration to me, to treat my body and love it for what God made it to be. I’m excited to see all of Cody’s thoughts, and it’s wonderful because I think you both will be bringing glory to the Lord through your work! xoxo
Cody Jenkins says
Thank you! I’m so grateful to be joining Nutshell Nutrition!
Ashley V says
Nice to meet you, Cody! I’m glad Robyn found someone who seems to be such a perfect fit with her philosophy about health and wellness! Do you have any intentions to become a blogger? I’m always looking for healthy bloggers to follow! 🙂
kristen @ kristenmcdiarmid.com says
Welcome Cody! And congrats on your partnership with Robyn.
The two of you are living my dream…but I’m working hard every day to make mine come true as well. Perhaps a partnership is just what I need as well. Hmph 🙂
I look forward to seeing more from you in upcoming posts.
Jane says
Cody – any chance your family used to vacation in Hilton Head? I think I used to play with you at the pool!
Cody Jenkins says
ahhh yes! We absolutely did! I miss Hilton Head so much! SUCH a small world.
Calla says
Cody, SO exciting to hear that you are joining with Robyn! I have worked with Robyn for a while now, and what a small world to then see you on here. 🙂 Hope to see you at Barre3-AtlSB soon and congratulations on this new path! You will be great!