Nutrition for Healthy Lifestyles: Student Profiles
Proper nutrition is central to a positive and healthy lifestyle. Graduates of SAIT's Nutrition for Healthy Lifestyles program are knowledgeable and skilled educators in nutritional health promotion.

Select students are profiled below, and are actively seeking opportunities to work as nutrition educators in corporate or community health and wellness programs, fitness centres, schools, weight management clinics, or to contract their services as a nutrition consultant.

To contact these students regarding nutritionist opportunities within your organization, please e-mail or call the School of Health and Public Safety at 403.284.8500. 

Lain Al Halabi
Lain Al Halabi will receive her Nutrition for Healthy Lifestyles Certificate in June 2010, and will then continue her education to become a Registered Dietitian in Canada.  Lain is passionate about a healthy world; knowing that she can help people in positive ways and improve their lives was her motivation for a career in Nutrition. With this career, she can work closely with people to help them be healthy and motivated all the time.  Lain’s life philosophy is: being positive and motivated encourages us to understand and enjoy the life we live in.

Miriam Bankey
Miriam Bankey moved to Calgary in 1998 to attended The Alberta College of Art and Design, and graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in painting. Since then, she has travelled the world, working everywhere from The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Melbourne, AU, to teaching various age groups in Kaoshung, Taiwan. Miriam has spent over 15 years working with the public. She realized several years ago that she was fortunate enough to have two major passions in life: art and food. Her main focus in the area of nutrition is the psychology of eating and drinking: looking into the visual cues and environments around us that cause us to overeat, and trying to mediate this information to make healthier choices. Miriam brings this passion and enthusiasm for beauty, health and vitality into all clients and projects.

Ashley Barcelo
Would you believe I would rather shop for groceries than a new pair of shoes? I've always had such a passion for food and creating dishes with fresh ingredients (can't get enough of Farmers Markets!) and when I learned of the Nutrition for Healthy Lifestyles Program I knew I had to take it. From cooking healthy meals to working out, I believe it's so important to take an active interest in your own personal health and well-being. In today's society, food and nutrition are more relevant than ever and this course has only reinforced my passion for both. I hope to have the opportunity to educate and inspire others about the importance healthy eating for healthy living.

Catherine Behman
Cat Behman was born and raised in Alberta. She found a passion for healthy eating after spending eight months working in a health food store and using what she learned there to help nourish her body properly for a three-month backpacking trip across Europe. She noticed big differences in her mood, her energy and her motivation. It is something she wants to help others discover and explore for themselves! After completing the Nutrition for Healthy Lifestyles program at SAIT, Cat hopes to find a career in corporate wellness, and/or one-on-one support for those who are seeking a lifestyle change.

Lindsay Coghlan
I am very passionate about nutrition and the impact it has in our day-to-day lives. Specifically, I am interested in helping kids, teens and adults achieve their health goals - whether that be weight loss, eating healthier, cooking for themselves, etc. I love to see people succeed and have the knowledge and experience to help people realize and achieve their highest potentials. I have a very athletic and competitive background and have been playing college hockey for four years. I fully understand the impact that diet has on athletic performance and school performance. In addition to Nutrition, I also hold a diploma in Business Administration - Marketing.

Jie (Amy) Cui
Seven years ago, I was a Junior High School teacher. At that time, my health situation was poor, and I experienced excessive coughing and dizzy spells. The doctors I visited could not find anything wrong. At the same time, my daughter began experiencing lung problems, and spent almost six months in hospital. A friend introduced us to nutrition supplements, and our health situation started to improve. I then focused my attention on nutrition study and opened a health center with my sister to help people who are lacking nutrients. My experience in nutrition counselling allows me to achieve my dream of helping people live better lives.

Kylie Fitzpatrick
I am very excited to begin working as a Nutritionist in Calgary!  I am very interested in two branches of Nutrition Counselling: Corporate Wellness and Family Health.  I feel my strengths are in my public speaking abilities and effective presentation skills to any size group.  I am also confident in my abilities to help individuals and/or families with meal and diet modification for personal or medical reasons.  As an Education Student three years shy of my Teaching degree, I am excited to teach clients of all ages and am well-equipped to explain nutrition knowledge to an array of audiences.

Lundie Graham
My name is Lundie Graham and I was born and raised in Stettler, Alberta. I moved to Calgary when I was seventeen to take the Nutrition for Healthy Lifestyles program at SAIT. I grew up playing sports and have always been interested in nutrition. Being enrolled in the nutrition program at SAIT has taught me many different aspects of nutrition that I would have never thought of, such as health promotion or disease prevention. This class was very eye-opening and tons of fun!

Aurora Wen
Aurora has a Bachelor Degree of Engineering in Food Science and Technology and Certification in Food Safety and Sanitation. She participated in a number of research projects and her experience with microbiology and food science led her to publish two papers on nutrition and medicine in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Her volunteer experience includes Type Two Diabetes Prevention and Collaborative Breast Health Initiatives at the Calgary Immigrant Womens' Association. As a student in the Nutrition for Healthy Lifestyles program at SAIT, she believes that optimal health stems from a well-balanced lifestyle, including healthy eating and active living.