Eat for wellbeing and enjoyment after a heart event.
The doors to the Sweet Spot Kitchen are closed until September, as we focus on our founding member group, but you're welcome to join the waiting list by subscribing to my weekly(ish) newsletter here.
Doors open until
June 08 at midnight
You missed out!
The medical profession refers to it as a "cardiac event," but you know it as the day your life changed, including, it turns out, your relationship with food.
But often even after open heart surgery, people get just a booklet, a class, or maybe a meeting with a dietitian, and then they're sent on their way.
The problem...
If you've survived a heart event and are now frustrated by:
... you're not alone.
Once you get past the initial fear and anxiety, it seems like adopting a heart-healthier diet should be straightforward, but many people continue to struggle.
The vision...
Back in 2005 when I started working as a dietitian in cardiac rehab, we offered seven nutrition classes!
Participation was optional, so most people who turned out were engaged and keen to learn. The classes had interactive activities, so people started chatting. Once they started, we could barely get them to stop!
"You had a 90% blockage? Mine was 99%! Can you imagine? I'm lucky to be alive."
"No one else at my house likes fish either."
"I've never taken so much as a single pill. Now I have ten different prescriptions!"
Those regulars felt less alone, made a few friends, came to know and trust us dietitians, and started to master a new way of eating.
But it was too short! Just 12 weeks. And now, thanks to the pandemic, people typically get some written material and maybe one virtual class or session with the dietitian.
It's just not the same. Enough for some, but most find that knowing what to eat isn't enough. It turns out that the real challenge is doing it consistently, week after week. Life slowly returns to normal(ish) and old habits fight their way back.
I had all of this in mind in 2020 when I created a 10-week online course to help people who were isolated after a heart event during the pandemic. Our newfound comfort with remote meeting technology suddenly made more intensive group support more accessible. Yay!
Most participants thrived, but for some, life got in the way during our ten weeks together, and then after ten weeks, everyone was back on their own.
After three groups went through the course, I tried to figure out how I could help people be even more successful with it.
Introducing... The Sweet Spot Kitchen
The idea I've landed on is shifting to an ongoing program. People can join for just a month or two if they just want the foundation, but I'm hoping most will find the support and community beneficial and stay longer.
We'll also using be a new platform that I'm hoping will facilitate even more connection between participants.
Here’s What You’ll Get When You Sign Up
The Sweet Spot Kitchen is still under construction, so I'm looking for founding members who are willing to help shape the experience, sharing feedback and ideas along the way.
The community space, which is somewhat like a Facebook group, but on a private platform away from Facebook, is already open. We'll connect there for support and accountability, and as we go, I'll add lessons and resources.
After that, the plan is as follows:
June: Cardiac nutrition fundamentals
...so we're all starting on the same page with respect to what, when, and how much to eat.
July: Meal planning
...to help you establish a simple system for collecting meal ideas and a regular routine for planning, shopping, prep, and cooking.
August and beyond: Growing your repertoire
...meal by meal, with one focus area every month, from breakfast to beans to fish and more.
Each week I'll offer either a short live workshop, cooking demo, set of recipes, activity, or live problem-solving session to help you establish heart-healthy habits that work for you.
My plan is to walk you through my step-by-step approach to heart-healthy eating, in small weekly bites, so you really get a chance to practice and internalize each principle.
Think of it like a gym membership, but instead of fitness classes, equipment, and personal trainers, you'll have access to nutrition and cooking classes, recipes, and a 17-year veteran of cardiac nutrition to support and guide you in systematically developing a heart-healthy eating routine in your kitchen.
Plus you'll be part of a community of people who've been through this too — People with similar challenges and goals to support you.
Click here to see the detailed schedule for June and July.
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of The Sweet Spot Kitchen
About Cheryl
Cheryl Strachan is a Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist, cardiac specialist, and author of the best-selling 30-Minute Heart Healthy Cookbook. She has worked on and off since 2005 with Calgary's cardiac rehabilitation program, and she founded Sweet Spot Nutrition in 2014.
Cheryl is on a mission to help people eat for wellbeing and enjoyment after a heart event.
colleague recommendations
Julia Heos, RD
Registered Dietitian, Ontario, Canada
"If you're looking for a dietitian to help you improve your heart health, Cheryl is the best choice! Her approach is practical, realistic and weight-inclusive."
Todd Anderson, MD
Professor of Medicine, Department Head, Cardiac Sciences, University of Calgary
"I have had the pleasure of working with Cheryl in the past for educational activities related to the Libin Cardiovascular Institute. She is a RD with great knowledge and passion about nutrition and cardiovascular health. She is able to convey the importance of nutrition and healthy lifestyle to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar as part of preventative strategies. Both her scientific knowledge and practical advice are well received by the public. She is a delight to work with. I can highly recommend her expertise."
Andrea Hardy, RD
Registered Dietitian, Founder of Ignite Nutrition, and Host of the Let's Gut Real podcast
"Cheryl is a leader in Calgary on all things heart health! I love her new cookbook on heart healthy eating - it’s so practical and nutritious - I can’t wait to share with my patients!"
What makes Sweet Spot unique?
In case you don't know me yet:
If this sounds right for you, we've saved you a (sweet) spot!
the practical stuff:
The ten-week course was priced at $297, and an hour with me is $100, so I hope you'll agree that this introductory price is a good value. My goal is to make long-term dietitian and group support accessible to more people.
Evidence suggests that it takes at least six hours of working with a Registered Dietitian to improve cardiovascular risk factors, but that isn't available in many health systems. Privately, it would cost $600, at least in my practice.
If you're ready to really start eating in your Sweet Spot, and you'd like to do it with a group rather than continue to struggle alone, we'd love to have you join us.
100% Satisfaction-Guarantee.
If for any reason you find that this program isn't for you, just get in touch with my friendly support team within 7 days of a payment and we'll get you a swift refund of the current month's fee.
faq
I would never want you to be unhappy! If you decide it isn't a good fit for any reason, contact me within 7 days for a refund of that month's fee. You can cancel anytime by emailing support@sweetspotnutrition.ca.
Of course! You'll have a different perspective, but the guidance and meal planning tools can help you avoid future heart health challenges.
If you have a question, likely others do too. Ask away! We'll have at least one live call a month, and you can also post questions in the community. You can also ask a question privately by email: cheryl@sweetspotnutrition.ca. Note, however, that this program is for information and education, and support. I can't provide medical nutrition therapy in this forum, nor is this meant to replace the guidance of your healthcare team.
I'm aiming for less than an hour a week during the first two months, while we're covering the foundational material, and then 15-30 minutes a week thereafter. The goal is bite-sized content to help keep you on track.
No, but I will refer to recipes in the book, so if you have it, you'll get more value out of it by joining us. It's available anywhere books are sold. If you're in Calgary, I have a small stash as well, if you'd like a signed copy.
I unconditionally respect, welcome and support all people and bodies in my practice. I follow Health at Every Size ® principles and strive to support your wellbeing, regardless of what happens with your weight.
Our focus will be on better health, but I can't in good conscience guarantee weight loss - every body is unique. I can, however, commit to sharing tools and insights that will help you eat to reduce your risk of future heart events and enjoy the food while you're at it!
If you suspect that you have an eating disorder, you'd be better served by an eating disorder program or counsellor. If you aren't sure, you can use this screening tool or talk to your doctor.
If you're thinking "I just need a meal plan to follow," this program will disappoint. Our mission is to tune into the wisdom within you, and develop eating habits that work for your unique situation. There's no one-size-fits-all sweet spot.
And if you have another medical condition, such as chronic kidney disease, for which dietary recommendations conflict with heart disease guidance, individual help from a dietitian will be more appropriate. (Our approach to type 2 diabetes however, will be quite similar, so no worries if you have that.)
Absolutely! This course is for information, education, and support. It doesn't provide medical nutrition therapy nor is it meant to replace the guidance of your healthcare team.
I plan to release new material every Thursday, since many people have more time on the weekends. Based on feedback from our Facebook group, the most popular time seems to be around 5pm Mountain (7pm Eastern). I'll start with that, but I'm open to feedback from the group. Everything will be recorded for those who can't make it live.
Eat for wellbeing and enjoyment. You've got this.
Let's do this
Whether you'd like to eat more veggies, address cravings, practice with heart-healthier proteins, expand your repertoire, or let go of perfectionism and learn to trust your inner wisdom with respect to food, I'm here to support you.
