Registered Dietitian Day - March 14, 2012
History
The first Registered Dietitian Day was celebrated in 2008. Wednesday, March 14 has been designated Registered Dietitian Day in 2012.What is a Registered Dietitian?
- Registered Dietitians are the food and nutrition experts who can translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living.
- Registered Dietitians have degrees in nutrition, dietetics, public health or a related field from well-respected, accredited colleges and universities, completed an internship and passed an examination.
- Registered Dietitians use their nutrition expertise to help individuals make unique, positive lifestyle changes.
- Registered Dietitians work throughout the community in hospitals, schools, public health clinics, nursing homes, fitness centers, food management, food industry, universities, research and private practice.
- Registered Dietitians are advocates for advancing the nutritional status of Americans and people around the world.
As a Registered Dietitian, I have a passion for increasing health education messages regarding nutrition and fitness. I have received a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics and a Specialization in Health Promotion from Michigan State University. After completing Graduate coursework in Nutrition and obtaining my Registered Dietitian status I was able to dive right into the workforce. Now, I am finishing a Master’s of Science degree in Exercise Physiology and a Graduate Certificate in Holistic Health from Western Michigan University. These additional tools have proven to be invaluable to my current career path.
Throughout my professional career, I have worked in School Food Service K-12 providing Nutrition Education and assistance in developing healthy-budget-friendly meals to a large city school district. I also spent time working at a WIC clinic where I was able to learn the ins and outs of breastfeeding as well as engaging with young mothers and children by encouraging healthy food choices. I worked in a Community Hospital where worked with a fellow RD to implement a Healthy Weight Loss program and provided group and individual Diabetes education in the form of Medical Nutrition Therapy. In-patient care set up my Nutritional science foundation by monitoring patients on tube feedings, providing oral diet guidelines and sending patients home with adequate nutrition education whether they were healing from surgery or had obtained a new chronic illness diagnoses while in the hospital. I spent several years working in Weight-Loss where I counseled hundreds of patients in achieving and maintaining healthy diets for wellness and chronic disease management. Bariatrics was a sub-specialty of mine for several years and continues to be a challenging area as I see patients now who are several years post-op. Currently, I work in the community health setting within a fitness facility and also at a Native American clinic. These unique opportunities allow me to pair my passion for exercise and nutrition to help individuals create healthy lifestyle plans.
If you or someone you know is interested in meeting with a Registered Dietitian, please contact me! Leave a comment on this post and I will be happy to reach out to you.
Looking for expert guidance on nutrition? Find a Registered Dietitian
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