Our team

Clinical nutritionist at the St. Justine hospital since 2005, Valerie has had the opportunity to develop expertise in several specialties such as cardiology, diabetes, oncology, metabolic diseases, eating disorders and pediatrics

Over the last 7 years, she has worked more specifically in the Allergy and Gastroenterology department. This opportunity allowed her to acquire a diverse set of experiences, but overall, allowed for a global knowledge of pediatric nutrition.

Now a mother of 3 young girls, she has developed an even better understanding of the challenges associated with offering healthy food to her children while juggling time constraints caused by busy schedules. 

She considers healthy eating to be the pleasure of eating a variety of foods, including those that are perhaps “less nutritious”. She also has a weakness for sweets (Shhh!). 

Having dreamt of becoming a teacher during her school years, she now offers regular trainings and lectures to doctors, colleague dietitians and other health professionals as well as university students. 

Valerie hopes that her professional and personal experiences can help families overcome the struggle of feeding their children, all while maintaining a positive environment, because, as Voltaire said “ I decided to be happy because it is good for my health!”

Valerie Vaillancourt graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in Nutrition at the University of Montreal and is a member of the OPDQ. 

You can meet her in the comfort of your home via video call !

Despite her "keep calm and carry on attitude" and her unsettling humour, Claudia takes her profession very seriously. Her passion? Diabetes - of all types, your relationship with food and your body, as well as pediatric nutrition which she has been practicing for more than 8 years at the St. Justine hospital. 

Funky and very outside the box are words that describe her very well. 

At 14, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. As a teenager, she has often been described as a difficult patient, even a delinquent. After many emotional roller coasters and with a lot of personal experience, she completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology and then another in nutrition.

Her goal? She wanted to be a dietitian, but in her own way! One that focuses on self-help, empowerment and a non-restrictive approach (yes, yes, despite the illness!), all in partnership with her patients/clients. 

She also devotes a large part of her professional life to training future clinicians, at the university level, on the patient care partnership approach. She herself is greatly involved as a patient partner, notably at the University of Montreal, the College of Physicians in Quebec, the Health Standards Organization and Accreditation Canada. 

She is a general and specialized pediatric clinician at the St. Justine hospital and has been practicing in a private clinic since 2015. Truly passionate about life with a chronic disease such as diabetes, she knows how to adapt first and foremost to the person in front of her. 

In keeping with your goals, she aims to teach you to become your own dietitian, so that one day you don’t need her at all. 

Even though I am the expert in nutrition and diet, I acknowledge that you are the expert on yourself and your life. My approach aims to combine our different areas of expertise to find what works for you.

My goal is not to give you a miracle solution that will easily solve all your problems, but rather to provide you with the tools and knowledge to achieve this on your own and in a sustainable way.

Finally, my approach is not the same for everyone, as it constantly adapts to your needs, values, and desires.