ABOUT

ME

Erin Benner, RDN

Oncology Dietitian

I am passionate about how we nourish our body. Not just the food we eat but the relationship we have to our food sources, how we acquire, prepare and serve this food. Food can comfort our loved ones, fuel our wellness goals and bring us together. My aim is in supporting healthful relationships with our food.

A cancer diagnosis can change the food relationship. Widespread misinformation can lead to questioning of food choices and fearing what we put in our bodies. Cancer treatments can also change nutritional needs. This can be a vital time to integrate healthy habits to support the body in all of its lifegiving processes.

Qualifications

Bachelors of Science with Honors in Food and Nutrition Sciences. University of Alberta
Dietetic Internship. Calgary, Alberta
Clinical Dietitian with Cancer Control Calgary 2007-2016

I have been supporting people with cancer since 2007. I always knew I wanted to work in oncology so I was fortunate to land my first job in a new position as an outpatient dietitian for the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinic in Calgary. Here I saw the importance of transitioning people from hospital to home while encountering a wide range of nutrition related side effects and complications. My role expanded into the head and neck radiation clinics, breast cancer and nutrition classes, eventually counselling for all different types of cancer both rare and common from brain cancer to prostate cancer.

I later stepped in to another new position specializing in esophageal, stomach, liver, pancreatic, colorectal and palliative cancer while becoming more familiar with lung, gynecological and bone cancers.

Since leaving Cancer Care Calgary to fuel my young family I have continued to stay involved with the population through Wellspring and my virtual counselling practice.

My goal is to help you build confidence in your diet to rebuild your body, refresh your plate and revive your energy so you can live your best life with cance and lower your risk of recurrence.

I am grateful to live and play in Treaty 7 territory. In the spirit of respect, truth and reconciliation I acknowledge the traditions and connection to the lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy: Kainai, Piikani and Siksika as well as the Tsuu T'ina Nation and Stoney Nakoda First Nation. Here, I love swimming, music, adventures with my daughters, dreaming with my husband, wandering through the wilderness with my dog and preparing meals for my family and friends.