RD Tip of the Day : RDN

Showing posts with label RDN. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

10 Simple Satisfying Salads

I love the idea of entertaining with salads. Especially since May is salad month. It feels like most people are trying to eat healthier. However, my population sample may be bias, since I am a Registered Dietitian (RD) who works primarily in weight management. Salads are a great way to get in a variety of micronutrients, and salads are a super filling meal with all the fiber.

There are several restaurants that have this build-your-own salad idea. You have the freedom to choose what you like. But, my favorite part of these restaurants are the salads that the chefs have suggested. You can do this too when you entertain. Make recipe cards or a chalkboard menu with ideas for assembling the ingredients into different salads. Here are some ideas for simple, satisfying salads:

Southern Italy Salad: Romaine lettuce or spinach, Sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, mushrooms, shallots, Parmesan cheese

Summer Salad: strawberries, blueberries, spinach, pecans or sunflower seeds, feta, fruit vinaigrette

Fiesta Salad: carrots, corn, tomatoes, Romaine lettuce, Mexican cheese, black beans, grilled chicken or steak, avocado and lime juice or light ranch

Caprese Salad: tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, spinach, roasted or grilled chicken, pine nuts, oil and balsamic vinegar

Supreme Salad: Romaine lettuce and spinach, mozzarella, tomatoes, olives, onions, Canadian bacon, light ranch dressing

Caesar Salad: Romaine Lettuce, grilled chicken, Parmesan cheese, Caesar vinaigrette

Peachy Spring Salad: Arugula, spinach, radishes, cucumbers, peaches, and peach vinaigrette

Cobb Salad

Harvest Salad: Green apples, blue cheese, Romaine lettuce, red or purple cabbage, almonds or walnuts, grilled chicken or turkey, vinaigrette

Greek Salad: onions, olives, cucumber, Romaine lettuce or spinach, feta, chicken, oil and vinegar

RDtipoftheday Tips for Salads:
1) Salads are a great way to use leftovers.
You can add whatever protein, beans, cheese, veggies, or fruits you have leftover to salad greens. It is a quick, easy, healthy, and delicious meal. I love salads around the holidays, especially for balancing the heaviness of many holiday dishes. It is a great way to use all the leftovers, so you don't have to eat the same meal for a week. I also love to take salads to work as my lunch. This way, I can eat my leftovers but as a new and different meal.

2) Use what you have.
This tip coincides with tip #1. You don't have to use all the ingredients listed to make the salad. You can omit ingredients you don't have on hand or don't love. And, you can add other ingredients. Use what you love! Enjoy your simple, satisfying salad!

3) Make it your salad a complete, well-balanced meal.
Salads are a great way to get your 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. They can be a well-balanced meal and also include dairy products aka cheese and protein (beans, chicken, poultry, etc.). I like to add baguettes, whole grain crackers, or another whole grain to go along with the meal. I like to have some sort of grain to "bulk up" the meal by adding fiber.

I hope you enjoy the salads and some easy entertaining. I would love to see how you are entertaining, so tag your entertaining pictures with #EasyEntree and #EasyEntertaining. You can also tag your healthy eating choices with #HealthyRD or #RDTODgoals. Remember to tag me @RDtipoftheday, so I can see what you do and maybe even feature you on the blog or Instagram.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

If you liked this post, you may enjoy:

Spring Salad

Let's Celebrate May

6 Easy Entrees

Friday, April 1, 2016

Reader Favorites: March 2016 Edition

Thank you for all of the love this month! March is one of my favorite months; there is so much celebrating. We celebrate birthdays in my family, National Kidney Month, and National Nutrition Month! If you missed any of the posts last month, here are the top favorite posts you visited in the month of March. Enjoy!

How Do I Become a Registered Dietitian? 5 Steps to your RD

Happy National Nutrition Month (NNM) 2016!

How to Find Your Niche: Registered Dietitian Edition

Becoming a Registered Dietitian: Pass the RD Exam

Friday Favorites: March Edition

P.s. Happy National Nutrition Month!

Let me know if there are any nutrition-related topics you would like me to write about. You can comment below.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

If you liked this post, you may enjoy:

February Reader Favorites

January Reader Favorites

2015 Reader Favorites

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists Specializations and Certifications: Finding Your Niche

I recently answered one of the most frequently asked questions that I receive: "How do I become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN)?" Today, we are discussing what happens after you pass the RD exam. Many students and dietetic interns are interested in becoming experts in the field of nutrition. Today, we are discussing "How do I find my nutrition niche?"

After the RD Exam: Specialization

After you become a registered dietitian, you can earn specialization credentials and complete further education. I look at these credentials as continuing your education, growing your knowledge of nutrition, and finding your niche.

Specialization is not necessary to practice in an area, but it does help further your education in the field of nutrition and dietetics. After you practice for approximately 2 years or 2,000 hours, you are eligible to take a specialty nutrition exam. There are five specialty nutrition exams available through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). They are:

Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition or CSG

Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics or CSSD

Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition or CSP

Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition or CSR

Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition or CSO

You can also receive other advance certifications from other accrediting agencies. For example, you can earn

Certified Nutrition Support Clinician or CNSC through ASPEN

Certified Diabetes Educator or CDE through NCBDE

CDR also offers two certifications:

The adult certification for weight management has two parts. There is level I training and level II training. I completed the Certification of Training in Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management, since I am a pediatric dietitian. It was helpful for learning more skills related to weight management. I enjoyed the speakers at the conference. I learned a lot studying the exam review material and at the conference, especially about bariatric surgery options for children <18 years old and reflective listening skills. I encourage you to learn more about this certification if you work with weight management patients.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) also recognizes fellows in nutrition.

Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (FAND)

To apply for this fellowship, a RD must be in good standing with the AND, be a member of the AND for at least 5 years, and have 5 cumulative years of full-time or part-time employment in the field of nutrition and dietetics.

Why should I consider earning a certification or specialization?

Reason #1: Find Your Niche

I know you've completed a lot of school to become a registered dietitian. You earned your undergraduate degree, applied and completed your internship, and completed your Master's degree. You studied for and passed your RD exam. And, now I'm encouraging you to complete more exams. Yes, I am asking you to consider finding your niche. Where do you fit? What are you good at? What area of nutrition do you practice in? What do you want to learn more about? What area of nutrition do you want to become the expert in?

Reason #2: Continuing Education & Licensure

If you are a dietitian, you are required to complete continuing education units (CEUs). To maintain your RD licensure, you must complete 75 CEUs every five years. If you earn a board certification in nutrition (CSP, CSR, CSG, CSSD, or CSO), those certifications provide 75 CEUs.

The LD (licensed dietitian) licensure is the state licensure. It is not required for all practitioners, but most hospital or clinical dietitians are required to have this licensure in every state they practice nutrition. To continue to hold your LD licensure, you have different CEU requirements in each state. Check with your state licensure board for individual state LD requirements.

Follow me, RDtipoftheday, on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter, for more information about healthy eating, encouragement, recipes, and nutrition facts. You can also subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin, so you won't miss any posts.

Denon Stacy, MS, RD, CSP, LD

If you liked this post, you might enjoy:

Where can Dietitians work? A list from A to Z.

5 Things You Should Know About Being a RD

National Nutrition Month: How did it start?

Where do Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) work? A look into clinical nutrition.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

How Do I Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist? 5 Steps to Becoming a RD

Happy National Nutrition Month! I get many questions from friends, clients, and students who are curious about how to become dietitians. Today, I am telling you the five steps you need to complete to become a Registered Dietitian.

Dietitian vs. Nutritionist

Registered Dietitians (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) are the nutrition experts. The RD and RDN are two credential designations for one certification program. In other words, a dietitian can choose to use the title RD or RDN.

A nutritionist is different from a dietitian. Anyone can call themselves a "nutritionist;" however, you have to complete many hours of education and an internship to become a RD/RDN. We complete a lot of education in school, an undergraduate degree and Masters Degree. We also receive valuable on-the-job experiences through dietetic internships. After completing your internship you must pass the RD exam to earn your RD or RDN credential. All students that complete their dietetic internship will be required to have a Master's degree by 2024 in order to sit for the RD exam.

These are the 5 steps to become a Registered Dietitian or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

1) Complete Your Undergraduate Education.

2) Take the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE).

You will need to take the GRE at least 6 months before you plan to apply to your internship. You will need to have your exam scores to complete your dietetic internship applications and to complete your post-graduate or Masters degree applications. Different dietetic internships have different desired scores for the GRE. Some dietetic internships simply require "completing the GRE," so there is no score cut off. So, research your dietetic internship's requirements.

3) Apply for Your Dietetic Internship.

3) Complete Your Dietetic Internship.

4) Complete Your Masters Degree.

In the past, you were not required to complete your Masters Degree. By 2024, all students that complete their dietetic internship are required to have a Master's degree in order to sit for the RD exam in 2024.

I choose to complete my Masters of Science (MS) even though it was not a requirement to take the RD exam. I choose to complete my MS for several reasons. One, I earned 12 graduate credit hours for completing Masters choices during my internship. These applied to the MS degree. I also wanted the opportunity to teach on the collegiate level, so I felt the MS was a great degree to support my career goals.

I have several co-workers and fellow dietitians that have Masters degrees in various areas. I worked for a registered dietitian that earned her MBA because she knew she wanted to open her own nutrition practice. I had a registered dietitian that earned her Masters of Art (MA) in Counseling; I've seen her use her counseling skills daily.

I encourage you to think about your future career goals. Research different Masters degrees. And, research your dietetic internship programs. Many dietetic internships offer Masters level courses that you complete during your dietetic internship. So, research and find the best fit for you and your future career.

5) Pass Your RD Exam.

If you liked this post, you might enjoy:

5 Things You Should Know About Being a RD

Where can Dietitians work? A list from A to Z.

National Nutrition Month: How did it start?

Where do Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) work? A look into clinical nutrition.

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

My 2016 Goals

As promised in my previous post, I'm sharing my 2016 goals today. Sharing these goals is not a braggy, "hey look at me" sort of thing. If anything, it is a look at where a fall short and areas I hope to improve. Sharing my goals is meant to encourage you to evaluate if you want to set goals. Sharing goals is also a way to be kept accountable. People who share their goals tend to be more successful. So, I'm sharing the goals here to encourage you and to keep me accountable. And, I'll share progress over the year. You are welcome to comment with your goals and progress as well.

2016 Goals
1) Try 30 new recipes.
I had a similar goal last year. I love baking and cooking. I think it's important to continue to grow and learn. Since I love baking and cooking, I want to continue to learn new techniques, try new cuisines, new flavors, and new food combinations. As a registered dietitian, I know the importance of healthy eating. As a human, I want to enjoy eating. So, I'm passionate about learning and trying new things.

I received several cookbooks and new cooking gadgets for Christmas. It's so nice to have fresh inspirations. I love to learn from other people's recipes. Then, I like to tweak the recipes to make them my own. I usually add a healthier spin as my dietitian twist to make the recipe my own.

2) Read more.
I grew up loving to read. When I was in elementary school, I got to stay up a few minutes past my bedtime if I was reading. In the Summers, I participated in the Summer reading challenges that my local library offered.

Then, I went to school and had to read. I had to read a mountain of books for English class and keep up with textbook readings from other classes. Then, college. Then, internship. Then, Masters. Then, CSP. Then, my textbooks for school. Whew. For so many years, I had to read. Don't get me wrong; I actually really enjoy reading and learning. Hence, the reason I teach. It's more of the mountainous volume of reading and looming deadlines that take some of the joy out of reading.

I don't have a specific number of books I plan to read. I did stop by Half-Priced Books and found some books about food - one on New Orleans cuisine and another about Julia Child. I like to read when I travel, which ties two goals into one.

I've also started reading through my cookbooks. I read them cover-to-cover. I mark recipes I'd like to try. I make notes of things I'd substitue or variations I'd like to try. Do you this too? Does anyone else read cookbooks cover to cover? One of my best friends does this, so I know I'm not the only one.

3) Build endurance and strength.
This is my take on increasing my physical activity. I hope to constantly grow and improve. I found a really good weight lifting class. The instructor challenges me and keeps me from getting bored. I know that weight lifting is important for muscle mass and maintaining good health, so I'm glad I found a great class. I actually look forward to going to class (most days).

In Arkansas, my husband and I played ultimate frisbee with a group of our friends. It was such a fun time in our lives. We met new people. I actually enjoyed running . . . for short distances, after the frisbee or to guard people when I was on defensece. The people and game were my incentive to stay active. Since we moved, I need to find another incentive to do more cardio. I'm thinking about a new workout playlist. Does anyone have any new, favorite songs?

4) Travel.
My husband and I have several trips planeed this year. I have a work trip coming up soon. We are going to go up a little early and stay a little after the trip to have some vacation time together. We are also planning to visit family and friends.

These are broad goals, but they do have more personal, specific meanings to me. SMART goals are important when you are making changes. That doesn't diminish the value of broad goals.

5) Learn something new.
As a RD and college professor, I teach people every day. It is especially important for me to keep learning every day as I continue to teach others. This is a very broad goal that will be manifested in many ways. It will likely look like reading journal articles to keep up with the evolving field of nutrition (I usually share these on Twitter). It may look like learning a new skill. I'm not sure exactly what it will look like, but I'm excited to see what I learn this year.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

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