Kent State Interns

Working in the Center, I have counseled my fair share of clients who have a lot of common issues with eating—especially, dinning out.  Where should they go? What should they eat? What are good options?  Obviously to us, cooking our own foods with a few fresh ingredients is best.  But, of course, not everyone has the time to cook.  Here is a link from the New Zealand Herald that highlights items to avoid based on type of cuisine, http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11118139 -RR

Thanksgiving is a time to spend time with family and give thanks for the things you have in life. I know for my family the main event is the food that we eat. Usually we have turkey, stuffing, collard greens, cornbread, candied yams, macaroni and cheese, green beans and the list goes on with a whole bunch of desserts. As we sit, eat and watch football we do not really pay attention to the amount of food that we eat. An article that I found on abcnews.go.com, How Much You're Really Eating on Thanksgiving, describes that on average Americans eat about 4,500 calories for their Thanksgiving meal. And the thing is that most people do not believe that they are eating that much. I know for me, Thanksgiving comes and some health conscious decisions go out the window because it is only one day and some days of leftovers. But this is also coupled with exercise. The amount of calories that is consumed is amazing! I believe that also making your holiday meals healthier would help with the calo...

This article on RD 411 is a great example of all the resources available on the site, and a good reminder on how to avoid practicing "Cookbook Dietetics" in community, clinical, counseling and all areas of dietetics, even in the face of increased time demands, client quotas, etc.. The article emphasizes patient centered care, and reminds us to take into account each patient's individual circumstances. Here are some of the most helpful tips: Nutrition Prescription - when making this, don't forget to take the patient's level of understanding, and compliance.  There may be many areas to work on, however you don't want to overwhelm the patient.  Remember, by setting small goals, the patient is more likely to be successful and incorporate those positive changes into their lifestyle! Use the Nutrition Care Process! Make sure handouts and educational tools are up to date, and make these specific to the client's needs! If you use EMR's or com...

Community dietitians can greatly benefit from the development of grant writing skills. As we practice writing grants and become more comfortable with it, it is important for us to remember some of the basic principles to submitting a successful application. I found that this web page offers great tips on writing grants and can easily be applied to nutrition programs . It covers common mistakes and some basic tips that can be easily overlooked. Grants are a major source of funding for community dietetics and as dietitians it is important for us to be able to properly advocate the need for nutrition programs. http://www.nonprofitkinect.org/article/3307-grant-writing-tips-for-nonprofits -AA

The City Council of Cleveland passed a Healthy Eating Resolution in late October, right now following the guidelines is optional, but in 18 months it will be mandatory.   The guidelines for a healthy Cleveland will be implemented in the City Hall’s cafeteria, vending machines, partners of the city, such as after school and elderly programs and the Cleveland Food Bank to name a few. The guidelines are based off recommendations of the UDSA.   Increasing whole grains, making half your plate fruits and vegetables, and limiting sodium. I think this initiative is a step in the right direction to providing education and more healthful foods.   As dietetic students/interns, we have lived and breathed the MyPlate recommendations, NSLP guidelines, and the USDA recommendations for the last few years; it is second nature to us.   But to the general public, it is brand new.   Many may have never heard of MyPlate, never been educated on the amounts of sodium in canne...

Here’s a simple tip that we all need to keep in mind and be able to tell our patients to decrease stress.  The tip is actually simple: Do not check your email first thing in the morning.  Checking your email for work only gets you to start stressing.  A better thing to do in the morning is to do something that relaxes you—like yoga, having some tea, or talking to a friend.  Furthermore, it can actually boost productivity and creativity for the day.  So, skip on checking your email until you get to work or school! -RR Source: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/increase-energy-levels

Many factors and new diet trends have majorly impacted dairy consumption in the past several decades in the United States. The per capita consumption has decreased 25% since 1975 and is expected to decrease even more in future years. So what is responsible for this decrease in milk consumption? There are several factors that are contributing to fewer milk drinkers and a decreased amount of milk consumed by people who do drink milk. First, the availability of new beverages on the market has increased competition among products. With so many sugar-sweetened beverages available, many people choose these options over milk. Second, the increased prevalence of a vegan diet has led to the increase in consumption of almond, rice, and soy beverages as alternatives. Third, as people are more health conscious and concerned about where their food originates, there is increased concern over the antibiotics and hormones that people claim are in milk. Even though not proven, this has ...

Being in graduate school to become a Registered Dietitian, it seems I can't go more than a few days without someone asking me a question about the latest fad diet or the newest trend they heard about yesterday on the Dr. Oz show. Recently, I've been asked a lot of questions about the Paleo diet and whether it is beneficial or if it should be avoidid.  Admittedly, I had to do some research to really see what this diet plan was all about in order to give an educational answer to those who had asked. Basically, this diet tries to mimic how our ancestors ate centuries ago based on the idea that our body is better suited to process some foods over others. This diet focuses on a high intake of foods that could have been hunted or gathered in the past which translates to a lot of protein such as beef, chicken, and seafood and no whole grains or dairy.  Although by far not the craziest fad diet I've seen out there, the Paleo plan still has its pros and co...

Keeping on top of consume trends—whether the trends are identified by the consumer or by the industry—is important while considering community nutrition.  Understanding where the food industry is headed will prepare the community dietitian for any inquiries that will develop.  Check the link below for all the details! Top 10 food and beverage trends for 2014 Cutting waste and improving trust in food are the top two of 10 key food and drink industry trends that will dominate 2014, predicts Innova Market Insights. http://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Ingredients/Top-10-food-and-beverage-trends-for-2014 -RR