How Do I Find a Dietitian?

So, you now know where RDs work and what RDs do. Are you interested in seeing a dietitian?  Dietitians are trained to help you with your nutrition and health. RDs can help you lose weight healthfully, gain weight healthfully, help you build a healthy plate, meal plan, read Nutrition Facts Labels, help you lower your cholesterol, and so much more. Here are another 10 reasons to see a RD. 

You can locate a dietitian near you though the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), which is the national credentialing agency for RDs and RDNs. Remember it is important to talk with your personal dietitian or MD before starting a new diet or exercise plan. 

And don't forget to follow me, RDtipoftheday, on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter . You can also subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin..

What Do Dietitians Do?

Dietitians do a lot! The specific role of a dietitian is tied to what area that practice in; if you missed yesterday's post, check out where dietitians work.

I work primarily as a clinical dietitian. In other words, my primary work setting is a hospital. I work with the medical team to provide adequate care and appropriate nutrition, which is also called Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). I am able to work with physicians to write TPN (total parenteral nutrition or IV nutrition) and tube feeds for patients who can not eat by mouth. I help counsel patients with many nutritional needs: malnutrition, failure to thrive, formula mixing, healing wounds, post-surgery nutrition, post-transplant nutrition, dialysis, diabetes education, and much more.

In the outpatient setting, I counsel and educate patients in a clinic similar to your doctor's office. The type of education or MNT is only limited to what type of doctor you work with or what types of patients are seen. In a Nutrition Clinic, dietitians see patients that are referred by doctors. So, the range of nutrition counseling is endless.

Dietitians can teach in schools and colleges. RDs can write menus for schools, restaurants, or large corporations. RDs can be policy-makers. RDs help fuel collegiate and professional athletes to help improve their athletic performance. If it has to do with nutrition, dietitians can be involved because dietitians are nutrition experts. Nutrition is a broad field with varied job opportunities. Did I leave out one of your favorite areas of practice for a RD? If so, leave a comment with more information about what RDs can do.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter . You can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin.

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Where do Registered Dietitians work?

Dietitian Myths

Where Do Registered Dietitians Work?

One of my passions is helping people. I also love teaching, and these two things are combined in my being a dietitians. Registered Dietitians (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) can work in many settings: hospitals, schools, dialysis centers, outpatient clinics, schools, college sports teams, professional sports teams, research, food service, and in so many other settings.

I work primarily as a clinical dietitian. In other words, my primary work setting is a hospital.
In an outpatient (aka not in the hospital) setting, I counsel and educate patients in a clinic similar to your doctor's office. 

I also work in academia as an adjunct professor teaching collegiate courses. I currently teach two, 1,000-level courses in Basic Human Nutrition. I will also be teaching Life Cycle Nutrition I and II this Fall and Spring! I love teaching; my favorite part of teaching is that "light-bulb" moment where everything clicks and makes sense. I also enjoy helping preparing dietetic students and dietetic interns for the future careers in dietetics.

There is a lot of misinformation about nutrition, so I work to help people understand the basic of nutrition and how it relates to their health. In my career, I have had the opportunity to work ins several different areas including pediatrics, nephrology, diabetes, general nutrition, critical care, clinical, and higher education. As a RD, I also have the opportunity to help people every day by teaching them bout good nutrition. My hope is to help and encourage people to become healthier by making small, healthy changes to their diet and lifestyle choices.

My goal for this blog is to provide valid, science-based nutrition information that can be used in real life. I will also provide cooking tips and recipes for healthy living. And, you'll get a little slice of my life as a dietitian.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter . You can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin.






If you enjoyed this post, you might be interested in:

What do Registered Dietitians do?

Dietitian Myths

National Nutrition Month: How Did It Start?

Happy National Nutrition Month 2015!

How did National Nutrition Month start? The beginnings started with a National Nutrition Week in 1973 with the first presidential proclamation, news releases, television public service announcement (PSA), and radio PSA. The first theme was "Invest in Yourself - Buy Nutrition." In 1980, National Nutrition Week was change to National Nutrition Month. This year's them for National Nutrition Month is 'bite into a healthy lifestyle;' it promotes good health through healthy eating. If you missed anything from last week, check out the blog to be encouraged to eat breakfast, be physically active, and eat more fruits and veggies.

This week we will focus on what dietitians do. Stay tuned to find out what registered dietitians (RD) or registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) do, where RDs work, and how you can find a RD near you.

Have a healthy week! For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter . You can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin.

Be Physically Active

Happy National Nutrition Month! This week we have discussed some healthy diet changes to include into our daily lives. You have been encouraged to eat more fruits and vegetables & eat breakfast 7 days per week. A healthy diet is one component of a healthy lifestyle. Another component of a healthy lifestyle is being physically active.

So how often should I be physically active?

For Cardiovascular Health the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity:

• Aerobic Activity
• > or = 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity at least 5 days per week for a total of 15; or > or = 25 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity at least 3 days per week for a total of 75 minutes; or a combination of both moderate-intensity aerobic activity and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity
• Muscle-Strengthening Activity
• > or = 2 days per week moderate-intensity to high-intensity muscle-strengthening for additional health benefits.

If your goal is to lower blood pressure or cholesterol levels, the AHA recommends "an average 40 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic activity 3 or 4 times per week."

Why should I be physically active?
Physical activity has many healthy benefits including lowering blood pressure, raising HDL (the "good" cholesterol), reducing risk of diabetes, and it has been shown to help with weight management Check with your personal RD or MD before starting a new diet or exercise program to make sure it is healthy, safe, and the right choice for you.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter . You can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin.

7 Quick Breakfast Ideas to Jumpstart Your Healthy Day

Breakfast: My Favorite Time of Day

I am what you would call a morning person. My internal alarm usually wakes me before my alarm clock. I love getting a head start on the day while the world is still asleep.

Most of the time, I wake up because I am hungry for my favorite meal, breakfast! I have a preference for sweet things or a 'sweet tooth' and breakfast usually incorporates something sweet. Breads, fruit, and (sweet) coffee - oh my!

Breakfast is a great way to start the day. Breakfast is literally breaking the fast. We fast, or don't eat, while we sleep. Our bodies can fast for some time, but breaking the fast is a healthy, jump-start to the day and to your metabolism. Many of my clients that are trying to lose weight inadvertently sabotage themselves by skipping meals. Most often breakfast is the meal that is skipped. This is a problem. One, you aren't breaking the fast. This can trick your body into thinking you are starving - on a desert-island somewhere. I digress. Over time, your body will become accustom to this skipping of meals and decrease your metabolism (the base energy your body need to stay alive). So, eat your breakfast! Ok?

If you need more incentive, here are some quick, easy breakfast ideas to start your day.

1) Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a delicious whole grain. It can be topped with different fruits, spices, and nuts to mix up the flavor. I especially like hot oatmeal on a cold morning. Oatmeal is a great

2) Cereal to go
Many people say time is the barrier to eat breakfast. I understand mornings are busy. So, pack your cereal in a zip top bag. Pour milk into a to-go cup. And, you are ready to take your breakfast to go!

3) Parfait
Parfaits are a visually appealing layered dish. Let's make this treat for breakfast! Add layers of your favorite yogurt, cereal, granola, nuts, and fruit. Repeat the layers. Top with fruit and mint. And enjoy! This can be assembled the night before, so it is a quick breakfast.

4) Smoothies
Smoothies are a great on-the-go breakfast drink. You can prepare a "smoothie pack" by washing the fruits or vegetables you want to include and putting them in zip top bags or in mason jars. Then, everything is ready to blend with yogurt, milk, or your favorite non-dairy option.

I prefer smoothies to juicing because juicing will pull out fiber which helps you feel full and can help lower cholesterol.
 

5) Breakfast Burritos
Take a whole grain tortilla, fill with scrambled eggs or egg whites, add your favorite veggies (tomatoes, mushrooms, onions), top with cheese, roll, and enjoy!

6) Paninis
Some people prefer savory to sweet. If you like savory breakfasts, this breakfast panini is for you! Toast whole wheat bread, add egg or egg whites, spinach, cheese and tomato.

7) Breakfast Bruscetta
I like to think of this as Italian-inspired toast. Toast bread and add a spread. (Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, olive oil, or mozzarella). Then top with tomatoes and basil for a savory delicious start to your day.

Start your day with any of these filling breakfasts, and you will be fueled for success. I hope these seven breakfast ideas will encourage you to eat seven days of the week!

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me, RDtipoftheday, on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter for more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating. You can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin.

Five Tips to Eat More Fruits & Vegetables

Happy National Nutrition Month! Each day this week, we will focus on one healthy habit to work on. We are taking small steps to big results!

Today, we are discussing a healthy habit, which is . . . eating more fruits and veggies! We know that fruits and vegetables are important. I'm sure you've been told to eat more fruits or vegetables in your lifetime. But, why is it important? 

Importance of Eating Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are packed with nutrients. Every color in fruits and vegetables represents a different micronutrient, vitamin or mineral, that helps nourish your body. Fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of fiber. Fiber serves many purposes including: filling us up (satiety), aiding in regularity of bowel movements, and fiber can help lower cholesterol.

How can I eat more fruits and veggies?
1) Aim for 5 a Day
How can you reach a goal you haven't set? It's impossible. So, let's set a more specific goal and eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

2) Fill half of your plate with fruits or vegetables
I love the MyPlate model of building a healthy plate. You simply take your plate and fill half of it with fruits and vegetables. One serving of fresh fruit is about the size of your fist or a tennis ball. One serving of leafy vegetables is 1 cup. One serving of sliced fruit or cooked vegetables is 1/2 cup. If you fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, you will usually get 2 servings of fruits or vegetables per meal. If you eat 3 meals per day and have 2 servings of fruits or vegetables per meal, you will succeed (or maybe even exceed) your goal of getting five servings of fruits and vegetables per day!!

3) Choose a fruit or vegetable as a snack
Many fruits and vegetables are perfectly packaged to transport and eat on the go. Think about apples, bananas, carrots, celery, cuties, Mandarin oranges, and satsumas. One of my cousins would carry around a tomato and eat in as a snack.

4) Eat the Rainbow
As we discussed earlier, every different color in food provides us with different nutrients. So, challenge yourself to eat different colors and make a beautiful, nutritious plate.

5) Try a New Food
In my experience as a registered dietitian (RD), the most common reason I hear people do not eat fruits or vegetables is because they don't like the taste. Our taste preferences change over time, so I would encourage you to try a food you've had before and cook it differently. Challenge yourself to try a new food!


I hope you enjoyed these 5 tips on how to eat more fruits and vegetables. I hope you learned a little something. And, I hope you apply these simple steps to your life. Remember, small changes can produce big results. For more information on healthy eating, you might enjoy these posts on fiber, cholesterol, and healthy fats.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter . You can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin.