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Healthly Institute
Nutrition Continuing Education
Meet the founder, Jessica Coll
A pioneer in baby-led weaning (BLW), Jessica was one of the first registered dietitians to offer workshops on the topic. She created the International Starting Solids Network, a platform dedicated to supporting health professionals. Through comprehensive resources and training, Jessica helps these professionals confidently and empathetically guide families. Her expertise and dedication have earned her international recognition, including invitations to speak at international conferences on BLW. Jessica strongly believes that the introduction of food should be tailored to the unique realities of each family: their culture, dynamics, and existing eating habits. She advocates for an approach that prioritizes the parent-child connection, trust, and respect for the baby’s natural abilities, rather than focusing on the quantity of food consumed.
Passionate about her role as a mentor, Jessica draws inspiration from her personal journey as a mother. It is this experience that has shaped her vision of pediatric nutrition and reinforced her commitment to a respectful and individualized approach. Her goal is to help each family navigate this important stage with confidence, while respecting their values and unique needs.
With a passion for access to fresh, local food, Jessica also connects families to a local farm through a vegetable basket drop-off point she organizes at her home.
As an affiliate member of McGill University, she inspires the next generation of dietitians-nutritionists by teaching students a course on baby-led weaning (BLW).
Jessica values an accessible, flexible, and personalized approach while recognizing the importance of referring to the right experts when necessary. Her goal is to share her knowledge through training, conferences, and collaborations to provide strong, respectful support for families.
Recent Presentations
Baby Led Weaning (BLW): Evidence and Controversy Around the World - International Congress of Nutrition and Dietetics - Toronto - 2024
Infant Nutrition From Theory to Practice: Bridging the Gap - Guest Lecturer for Nutrition Through Life Course - School of Human Nutrition - McGill University - 2024
Baby Led Weaning Around the World - International Congress of Nutrition and Dietetics - Toronto Canada - 2024
Baby Led Weaning (BLW): What WIC Staff Need to Know in 2023 - Texas WIC (Women Infants and Children) Breastfeeding and Nutrition Education Conference in Austin Texas - 2023
Baby Led Weaning: Evidence and Controversy - Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE) in Washington DC - 2018
“I’m really happy to say that I have that comprehensive workshop at my fingertips.”
— Diana K Rice, Registered Dietitian, USA
“I love how the training events are multidisciplinary.”
— Emmanuelle Dumoulin, Registered Dietitian, Canada
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
— Alexandra Turnbull, Registered Dietitian, USA