Business Story: Sofia Kalamaris, Registered Dietitian
by Dawid Furman
What’s your business and who are your customers?
I run my own private practice offering both in-person and virtual appointments. My customers are individuals and families looking to improve their lifestyle or help with a condition or disease through diet and lifestyle modifications.
Explain your experience and how you use it to help clients.
I have been in this field for over 15 years in various settings. I have worked with clients in these various settings to help them improve their overall health. One thing I have learned over the years is that you have to take a holistic approach to improve your health, you can’t just put a band-aid on one area and expect to get better. Your health is a combination of your body and mind. I help my clients improve their nutrition as well as help fit activity into their daily lives and work on some mental aspects as well (such as emotional eating and intuitive eating)
What areas do you practice in?
Allergies and Intolerance, Diabetes and Blood Sugar Concerns, PCOS, Weight Loss, Other.
Tell us about yourself. For example, what first got you started working on your business, and what motivates you each day to do what you do?
I have had an interest in health and wellness all my life. When I first got to see a glimpse of what a dietitian does I fell in love with this profession and never turned back. I love helping anyone improve their lifestyle and their relationship with food. I enjoy a challenge and find it drives me to learn more and expand my knowledge in the health and wellness field. I am motivated each day by knowing that I have the power to motivate and help others on this journey to improve their health and their overall lives.
What’s your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment was taking the first step in starting my own practice. Leaving a comfortable position where my patients were filtered to me and moving into a position where I have to find my own business/ customers.
What’s one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest thing about having your own practice is all the business aspects that go along with owning your own business. When you work for someone else you just go to work and do what you love. When you have to find your own customers and take care of all the financial aspects, it makes doing what you love more difficult. But knowing that at the end of the day you helped someone achieve their goal makes it all worth it.
What are the top 3 tips you’d give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
1. Do what you love. If you love what you do you will put all your effort into it.
2. Never give up. There will always be hard times but if you keep going you will get there.
3. Don’t forget to take some mental health breaks. By giving your mind a bit of a break so you can get back to work refreshed and more productive
Sofia Kalamaris, Registered Dietitian
Location: Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
Email: Sofia.the.dietitian@gmail.com
