About Lisa Podlecki, Registered Dietitian in Vancouver
You may feel overwhelmed by food, your body, or the expectations about how you're supposed to eat. Perhaps eating feels stressful or confusing, body image concerns take up more space than you'd like, or you're unsure how to nourish yourself in a way that actually feels aligned with your body and life.
If you're an athlete, you might also feel flooded by nutrition information - unsure what applies to you, how to fuel around training, or whether you're meeting your body's needs. My work is to help make sense of this by offering thoughtful, individualized nutrition support in a space where you feel listened to, understood, and supported.
If this resonates, you are in the right place.
My work is rooted in compassion, curiosity, and the belief that food can nourish and bring joy.
As a Registered Dietitian in Vancouver, BC, I provide evidence-based nutrition care that helps clients heal their relationship with food and fuel confidently.
Credentials, Experience & Expertise
I'm Lisa Podlecki, a Registered Dietitian based in Vancouver, BC, with over a decade of experience helping individuals heal their relationship with their body, food, recover from eating disorders, and perform at their best in endurance sports.
My approach blends science with compassion and a whole-person view of health, drawing on my International Olympic Committee Diploma in Sports Nutrition, specialized training in eating disorder care, and experience in clinical, outpatient, private practice, and residential treatment settings. I also bring the perspective of an endurance runner and yoga teacher, combining lived experience with professional training to help clients navigate real-world challenges - like fueling for performance, managing energy, and finding balance beyond what's written in a textbook.
Throughout my career, I've worked with clients across British Columbia, Alberta, and beyond, helping them move from exhaustion and confusion to a sense of balance, energy, and confidence in their bodies. I collaborate closely with physicians, therapists, and coaches to ensure each client receives compassionate, team-based care that honours both physical health and emotional well-being.
At Oak Tree Nutrition, my goal is simple: to help you feel seen, supported, and empowered. Whether you're recovering from an eating disorder, navigating RED-S, or learning how to fuel your next race.
Education & Credentials
International Olympic Committee Diploma in Sports Nutrition
Specialized Education Intensive Sports Nutrition Course
Eating Disorder Education for Registered Dietitians
B.Sc. Nutrition & Food Science. Nutrition Major, Physical Activity Minor
Experience
Over 10 years of experience helping individuals reach their sport performance goals and supporting clients with eating disorders.
Presented to elite athletic teams, such as AAA ringette teams and competitive figure skaing organizations.
Guest Speaker at the Running Room and Basketball Camps
Worked with Basketball Teams
Presented to the Paralympic Swim Team & their Coaches
Interned at the Canadian Sports Institute Calgary
Volunteered with the University of Alberta Golden Bears Football Team
Have Provided Nutrition Commentary for
CBC Radio
Running Room Magazine
YEG Fitness Magazine
My Story
Where it Began
Out of high school, I was not sure what I wanted to do, but because of my love of biology and my passion for helping people, I decided to explore a career in medicine. In university, I started in general sciences with the goal of becoming a pediatrician, exploring a path where I could make a difference.
A Pivot to My Passion
After some reflection and guidance from mentors, I realized medicine wasn't the right fit. Unsure of my next step, I considered nursing as a career that aligned with my values. As fate would have it, I missed the application deadline by a week and took a nutrition course for transfer credits. I was hooked from the very first class. Nutrition spoke to me in a way nothing had before: it allows me to help clients address the underlying factors that impact their health, prevent health issues and support long-term well-being.
Continuing to Discover
I decided to pursue dietetics and added a minor in physical activity, combining my passion for nutrition with a holistic approach to health. During this time, my own running and training sparked curiosity about sports nutrition - how to recover better, improve energy, and support overall health. Running was a joyful escape from studying in the library and a chance to immerse myself in nature, often exploring the trails and forests around the city. I began racing half and full marathons, using these experiences to learn firsthand how to help future clients navigate fueling, recovery, and performance.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
After graduation, finding a job in dietetics wasn't easy, and I spent time exploring other interests while feeling uncertain about my next steps. While I had been practicing yoga for years, it was around this time that I discovered a teacher I really connected with. A few months later, I joined her in Thailand and completed my yoga teacher training. This immersive experience taught me to tune into my own body and inner wisdom, and to practice techniques for regulating the nervous system - lessons I now integrate into my practice alongside mindfulness and somatically informed approaches.
Building a Practice with Heart
I've always been drawn to both sports nutrition and eating disorder care, and while still in university, I knew I wanted to build my own private practice one day. During my dietetic internship, I had the opportunity to train at the Canadian Sport Institute, an experience that deepened my understanding of high-performance nutrition and reinforced my passion for working with athletes. I also completed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Diploma in Sports Nutrition and have pursued extensive continuing education in eating disorders, RED-S, and endurance sport nutrition to ensure my work is both current and clinically grounded.
With the support of friends and mentors, I launched my practice after returning from my yoga teacher training in Thailand. From the very beginning, I've had the privilege of working with a wide range of athletes and individuals with eating disorders, supporting them in rebuilding trust with food, fueling their bodies effectively, and feeling genuinely supported throughout their care. Over time, and through this work, it became clear that to stay aligned with my values and create the impact I envisioned, I wanted to focus my practice more intentionally on these two areas. Alongside my private practice, I have worked across a variety of clinical settings and continue to work in a residential eating disorder program, collaborating closely with therapists, physicians, coaches, and physical therapists. Across all settings, my work is rooted in individualized, compassionate care that meets people where they are and supports both physical and mental health in a sustainable, long-term way.
Why I Do This Work
I know what it's like to feel uncertain about your body, nutrition, or performance. As a long-distance runner and someone who's navigated my own challenges, I can relate to the struggles my clients face. My goal is to provide a safe space where you feel seen, heard, and empowered - a place to share your goals, challenges, and triumphs without judgment.
The Fun Stuff
#1 I absolutely love being outdoors - it's one of the main reasons I moved to Vancouver. Trail running and road or gravel cycling are two of my favourite ways to explore and recharge.
#2 I'm a summer girl at heart and happiest when I can spend long, sunny days outside.
#3 I feel deeply connected to the ocean and make a point of visiting it every day.
#4 My favourite food is (and always will be!) chocolate chip cookies. There's almost always a batch in my freezer.
#5 Yoga teacher training was one of my most transformative experiences. It was a time of self-discovery, learning, and growth.
#6 My ideal day starts slow, with a cup of matcha or coffee on my sunlit balcony. I'd head out for a long bike ride with a friend, then unwind by the ocean with a good book. The evening would end with a picnic at sunset... or, on a rainy day, a trail run or ski with my group, followed by a sauna and a cozy night in with a book.
Why Oak Tree Nutrition?
The name Oak Tree Nutrition reflects my love of the outdoors, trail running, and the grounded perspective nature brings. The oak tree symbolizes courage, strength, health and healing - qualities I believe each person possesses, whether they are an athlete or someone rebuilding their relationship with food and their body.
I view nutrition much like the growth of an oak tree. A strong foundation comes from evidence-based nutrition knowledge and appropriate support. With consistent nourishment and care, the body is able to adapt, heal, and grow.
Growth is not linear or perfect. Like the branches of an oak tree, each person's path looks different, shaped by past experiences, current needs, and future goals. My role is to provide guidance and support along the way - helping clients build resilience, confidence, and long-term health in a way that respects their individuality.
Ready to take the next step in your journey?
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