Kent State Interns

How the Clean Plate Club started: The Clean Plate Club was established in 1917 in response to the world food shortage due to World War I. The goal of this club was to reduce food waste in a time when food supply was low because people did not know if they would have enough food to survive.  How the Clean Plate Club has evolved: Fortunately, we no longer live in that time period and have an abundance of food or can find sources that provide us with food such as food banks. So why is the Clean Plate Club still around? Parents use this idea of joining the Clean Plate Club as a tactic to get children to eat more. Or they’ve said things like “eat all your food so you can have dessert.” Parents think they are helping their children grow big and strong by making them eat more food. But this does more harm than good. Think about it. Did your parents use the Clean Plate Club when you were a child? Has this influenced the way you eat as an adult? Do you feel guilty for wasting food so you fi...

HELP WANTED Have you noticed the increased number of “We’re Hiring” signs in front of restaurants and fast-food places? How about a shortage of menu items or ingredients? Maybe even a limit on plastic straws? If you have noticed all these things know that you’re not going crazy. The truth is we are in a supply shortage AND a worker shortage right now- talk about a double whammy. WHERE'S THE GOODS? I am currently at my Food Service rotation at a hospital so I get to see firsthand how food service managers are impacted by these shortages. There are approximately 100 things on backorder from our primary suppliers and we are constantly trying to find temporary replacements for trays, cups, lids, straws, ingredients, and single serve treats for our patients and café customers. But it’s not just us- its many other hospitals, restaurants, and grocery stores that have been impacted by supply chain disruptions. This doesn't mean you should panic buy- only buy what you need or the su...

  3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies We all know that breakfast is “the most important meal of the day”, but sometimes I get tired of having the same thing over and over. These breakfast cookies are super quick, easy, and delicious. The best part is they can be made in the morning or the night before and taken with you on the go.    The 3 base ingredients are oats, bananas, and chocolate chips. They’re gluten free & vegan. From there you can add anything you’d like!      Ingredients:  1.5 cups oatmeal   2 medium bananas (the riper the better) 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips Instructions:  1.       Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 2.       Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silpat mat or coat with cooking spray. 3.       Using the back of a fork, mash bananas in a medium bowl until they are broken down. Add in oats and gently stir until the oats and ba...

Commuter Nutrition   Growing up I always heard about work commutes. Particularly my Grandpa's hours long commute into the city from when my dad was growing up. But as a kid this didn’t mean a whole lot to me. It sounded hard but I couldn't fully understand it. Now that I am a commuting graduate student and dietetic intern, I know just how precious time is. I finally get it. I understand why people might consider coffee to be their only “breakfast” option when they have such limited morning time and why people choose freezer meals when they’re getting home later.  Regardless of my educational background in nutrition, I have found that it has been very difficult to consume a ‘healthy diet’ while also commuting. On the other hand, since I do have this background, I have been able to navigate the bumps and turns in the road and find ways to make healthy eating more feasible and realistic. Today I want to share some of these tips with you. Even if you don’t commute, we all find ou...

Let's roll through this familiar situation, shall we? You’re a busy individual (a dietetic intern, for example), and you’re looking to streamline your life by preparing things ahead of time such as outfits, your bookbag, your work portfolio. and oh, I don’t know… a healthy meal? So, you look up all the best meal prep ideas and find a few to start off with, you have your finest Tupperware, you’re pumped, right? Meanwhile, you return home from the grocery store or just picked up your grocery delivery with all the prep fix-in’s and then what? There goes time, and meal prep gets swept away with it. *Empathetic frustrated sigh* But is it just time, or are you seeing the mountain of tasks to complete? It’s not out of the question because you might need to: ·        cook the protein, veggie, etc. ·        season said protein, veggie, etc.  ·        Do etc. to etc. and more …Are you overwhelmed yet? G...

With Halloween right around the corner, you may be stocking up on bulk candy bags from your local grocery store or, if you’re like me, have it on your list of things to-do but won’t get to until the 29 th  or maybe even the 30 th ! Regardless of which you are, there’s still time to stock up on some candy alternatives for this year. Now I know what you might be thinking, why on earth would anyone give out anything besides candy on Halloween? Here me out.   With every house passing out candy, why not be the house to provide the ghosts, goblins, and witches in your neighborhood a little extra trick-or-treating fuel with snacks filled with whole grains, fiber, vitamin C, and 100% fruit juice. I promise no one will be mad with these candy alternatives:   Mini Bag of pretzels with peanut butter cups Low-fat pudding cups Mini 100% fruit juice boxes Individual fruit cups in 100% fruit juice Sugar-free gum Cereal bars with real fruit 100% fruit leathers Whole grain crackers Trail ...

 

Fall is one of the most popular seasons, and there’s a good reason for it. Apart from the cozy weather and the turkey and stuffing, fall offers an ever-popular holiday - Halloween! You probably have plenty of favorite spooky traditions to celebrate, and staying in to watch classic movies might be on that list.  It goes without saying that the ideal movie night involves the perfect snack. Popcorn and candy are quick fixes that can do the trick , but why not go for the ultimate treat this season and try a themed dish? Though it may take a little more time and effort, creating a themed recipe can make your movie night extra festive and add plenty of good nutrition to your diet. Here are three menu ideas for three popular Halloween films: 1.) It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown Pumpkin Chili It’s the great pumpkin chili, Charlie Brown! This dish is packed full of hearty ingredients like ground turkey, black beans, and bell peppers. With the addition of pumpkin puree and a delicious b...