Hi! I’m Jill.
Functional Nutritionist. Health detective. Outdoorsy woman. And someone who knows what it's like not to feel your best each day.
I'm the founder of Down to Earth Wellness, where I help outdoorsy women beat burnout, mend their hormones, and get back to feeling like themselves again.
And this work is personal for me.
I've struggled with burnout, low energy and hormone issues for years, and I also have stage IV endometriosis. My own health journey has taught me that there is rarely just one thing going on.
Your body is connected.
Your hormones don't exist in a vacuum. Neither does your digestion, energy, sleep, stress or nutrition. Sometimes you have to step back and look at the whole picture to understand what's really happening.
My Journey
I've been studying nutrition and natural health for nearly two decades.
I started with nutrition and healthy lifestyle studies in 2006 and later completed a two-year diploma in Natural Nutrition through the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition.
Over the years, my education has continued to evolve, from culinary nutrition and functional nutrition coaching to advanced training in hormones, adrenal and thyroid health, gastrointestinal healing and hormone testing.
But education is only part of the story.
I've also experienced many of these challenges myself. And I’ve had two major surgeries for endo along the way!
Learning about natural health, functional nutrition, and the science behind the body has helped me make significant changes in my own health and has shaped the way I work with clients today.
I don't believe you have to choose between science and natural health.
I use both.
I'm a bit of a health detective.
I don't believe in simply chasing symptoms and using a band-aid approach. If you're exhausted, I don't want to stop at “you're tired.”
I want to know why.
What's happening upstream?
How are your hormones, digestion, blood sugar, stress, sleep, nutrition and lifestyle interacting?
What clues are your symptoms giving us?
And what pieces of the puzzle might we be missing?
I listen closely to what you tell me because your symptoms and experiences are important information.
When appropriate, I can also use functional testing and blood work review to gather more information and help us investigate what's going on.
We're not here to guess. We're here to connect the dots and investigate further.
My Philosophy
Look at the whole person. Get curious about the why. Keep it practical.
Your body isn't a collection of separate systems.
Healthcare can sometimes become divided into individual symptoms and systems. I take a different approach.
We look at the bigger picture.
Your gut can influence how you feel. Stress can affect your hormones. Sleep can affect your energy and appetite. Nutrition can influence all of it.
Everything is connected. Your body speaks through the language of symptoms.
You don't need to be perfect.
I'm not interested in handing you a list of 37 foods you can never eat again.
Healthy eating should work in your actual life.
That means room for restaurant dinners, travel, celebrations, busy weeks and yes, even chocolate.
Start with the basics.
Sometimes the answer is complicated.
Sometimes it isn't.
Before we start chasing every possible root cause, I like to make sure we're paying attention to the fundamentals: nourishing food, adequate protein, sleep, movement, stress, hydration and the habits that support your body every day.
Common sense still counts.
More information isn't always better.
Functional testing can be incredibly useful when it's appropriate.
But I don't believe in testing everything just because we can.
The goal is to ask better questions, gather useful information and use it to make better decisions.
The test isn't the treatment. It's one piece of the puzzle.
My approach is integrative.
I combine functional nutrition, natural health, and science to create an approach that is practical, personalized and grounded in the bigger picture.
Depending on your needs, we may look at:
Nutrition and dietary patterns
Hormones
Energy and burnout
Digestion and gut health
Stress and lifestyle
Sleep
Blood work
Functional testing
Supplements and other supportive strategies
Not because you need to do everything.
Because we want to figure out what matters for you.
Education & Training
I've been learning about nutrition, health and the human body for nearly 20 years, with ongoing education in functional and women's hormone health. Here’s some of my street cred.
IONC
Member in Good Standing
DUTCH Test Advanced Training
Decode the DUTCH Test Training with Dr. Carrie Jones & Jenn Pike | 2021
Institute of Restorative Health
Mastering the Art of Gastrointestinal Healing | 2021
Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN)
Advanced training in sex hormones, adrenal health & thyroid health | 2020–2021
Functional Nutrition Certification (FNC)
Certified Functional Nutrition Coach | 2017–2019
Certified Culinary Nutrition Expert
2017
Canadian School of Natural Nutrition (CSNN)
Two-Year Diploma in Natural Nutrition | 2012–2014
SAIT
Nutrition & Healthy Lifestyles | 2006–2007
A Little More About Me
I grew up on an elk farm in the Yukon, so being outdoors and around animals has always been a big part of my life.
I love walking my dog, travelling, exploring new places, good food and having an active life. I'm happiest when I'm outside — preferably somewhere with mountains, fresh air, and a decent trail.
I'm also endlessly curious. I love learning about health and figuring out how the pieces fit together. I also like creative projects such as yard work and renovating my house and repainting the whole thing :)
And while I take my work seriously, I don't take myself too seriously.
Life is too short to spend it obsessing over whether you ate the “perfect” breakfast.
Why Down to Earth Wellness?
Because I want health to feel practical, realistic, understandable and achievable.
No fear-mongering.
No one-size-fits-all, band-aid approach.
No perfectionism.
No complicated wellness rules for the sake of complicated wellness rules.
Just a thoughtful, whole-body approach to helping you understand your body, support your hormones and energy, and feel better in your everyday life.
Let's get down to earth.