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But first, Pivot.

But first, Pivot.

Written by: Danielle Rancourt RD
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 I'm Dani, a registered dietitian, certified sports dietitian and CEO of Pivot Nutrition Coaching. In this podcast, I share my all foods fit approach and real life client success stories to inspire you to pivot away from all the fad diet nonsense and confusion.© 2025 But first, Pivot. Art
Episodes
  • Episode 87: NEW (2026) Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Pros, Cons and Dietitian Thoughts

    Episode 87: NEW (2026) Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Pros, Cons and Dietitian Thoughts
    Jan 16 2026
    The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans are out and I genuinely can’t believe the food pyramid is back 👀 In this deep-dive episode, I’m joined by my fellow registered dietitians Sam and Hannah for an honest, real-life breakdown of the 2026 guidelines. We go page by page through the new 10-page document (link below), separating what actually changed from what just looks different, and what this all means for real people. We talk visuals vs reality, protein targets, fiber gaps, dairy confusion, saturated fat messaging, gut health, grains, added sugars, alcohol guidelines, and the disconnect between what’s written and what the graphic is communicating. In this episode, we cover: What the Dietary Guidelines are and why they matter Food pyramid vs. MyPlate (and why visuals matter) New protein recommendations Animal vs. plant protein Dairy: full-fat vs. low-fat debate Gut health + fermented foods (and what’s missing) Fruits & veggies: servings, frozen/canned options, and access Healthy fats: omega-3s vs. saturated fat confusion Grains, carbs, and why the pyramid sends mixed messages Added sugar guidance vs. real-life eating Alcohol recommendations (or lack thereof) Conflicts of interest worth knowing about Summary of pros & cons plus what we’re changing as RD's Bottom line: We love the big-picture message: eat more whole foods, more fiber, less added sugar and less ultra-processed food—but execution matters. If guidelines are meant to guide the public, they need to be clear, realistic, affordable, and consistent. 📄 Follow along: 10-page DGA document: https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf Scientific Foundation report: https://cdn.realfood.gov/Scientific%20Report%20Appendices_1.8.26.pdf 👟 Bonus: This episode is 1 hour 20 minutes aka ~6,500–8,000 steps if you listen on a walk.
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Episode 86: Building balanced meals: PCC vs PFF

    Episode 86: Building balanced meals: PCC vs PFF
    Nov 21 2025
    In the But First, Pivot podcast, we talk a lot about PCC (Protein–Color–Carb) and PFF (Protein–Fiber–Fat) — two simple frameworks we use to teach clients and athletes how to build balanced, satisfying meals without tracking. In this episode, Dani and Sam break down what these frameworks are, how they’re similar, how they’re different, and when to use each one. You’ll learn: Why both PCC and PFF work Which one is easiest to start with Downfalls of PCC and PFF How to level up from PCC to PFF Breakfast, lunch, and dinner examples for each How these concepts help with energy, fullness, cravings, and performance Connect with us: → Learn more about our coaching programs at the website pivotnutritioncoaching.com (https://pivotnutritioncoaching.com/) → Leave a review and share this episode Host: Danielle Rancourt, MS, RD, CSSD, LD Founder, CEO & Lead Dietitian of Pivot Nutrition Coaching Connect with Dani on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/dani_the_rd/?hl=en) or by visiting her website at pivotnutritioncoaching.com (https://pivotnutritioncoaching.com/) Co-Host: Samantha Ferguson, MS, RD (https://www.instagram.com/dietitian_samferg/)
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    50 mins
  • Episode 85: If I wanted to lose 8 lbs. by Christmas, I would...

    Episode 85: If I wanted to lose 8 lbs. by Christmas, I would...
    Oct 31 2025
    We’ve got about 8 weeks until Christmas, which means losing 8 lbs or about one pound per week is totally realistic! In this episode, fat loss dietitians Dani and Sam share exactly what they’d focus on if they wanted to lose 8 pounds by Christmas without cutting out pumpkin Reese's and Christmas cookies. If your goal is to enjoy the holidays, feel good in your body, and still make progress, this episode gives you a simple roadmap to do it (if you're already doing these and they're not working for you, I hope you'll reach out!) Mentioned in this episode: Episode 81 - Keys to Weight Maintenance https://podcast.pivotnutritioncoaching.com/81 Connect with us: → Learn more about our coaching programs at the website pivotnutritioncoaching.com (https://pivotnutritioncoaching.com/) → Leave a review and share this episode Host: Danielle Rancourt, MS, RD, CSSD, LD Owner & Lead Dietitian of Pivot Nutrition Coaching Connect with Dani on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/dani_the_rd/?hl=en) or by visiting her website at pivotnutritioncoaching.com (https://pivotnutritioncoaching.com/) Co-Host: Samantha Ferguson, MS, RD (https://www.instagram.com/dietitian_samferg/)
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    36 mins
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