Tag Archives: Nutrition Policy

Practicum Update Summer 2016

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For my practicum this summer, I’m working with the Connecticut Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In addition to creating and updating their social media presence, I’m assisting with ways to connect with our local legislators and emphasize the importance of the role of the Registered Dietitian when creating public policy.

Last month, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT 3rd District) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) held a press conference in New Haven regarding the FDA food label regulations, and invited me to attend. This was my first press conference and although I was very nervous, it went well. Four local television stations and two local newspapers covered the press conference. I was able to hone my public speaking skills and gain a new level of comfort interacting with the press as well as my state legislators. I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity.

Here’s a link to the article (and photo!) from the June 1, 2016 New Haven Register.
http://www.nhregister.com/health/20160531/in-new-haven-delauro-blumenthal-call-for-fda-to-define-natural-when-it-comes-to-food

I was a little disappointed that some of my comments weren’t exactly correct. For instance, I explained that the recommend limit for added sugar in a typical adult’s diet is 50grams, and the article only mentioned “sugar”, possibly making it seem like I’m asking people to stick to a very low carbohydrate diet. There were a few other small issues that I wish reporters would have clarified by contacting me instead of printing inaccuracies, but the real lesson for me is to be more accurate when speaking so there’s no room for confusion.

Developing a Nutrition Policy for the Arkansas Rice Depot

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I have been working on my practicum for some time, but this is my first time to post on the MPHN blog. My overall goal for the practicum is to address and update the nutrition component of the Food For Kids Program (BackPack Program) at the Arkansas Rice Depot. I will work to develop a nutrition policy, which includes requirements and guidelines that outline not only the items that are acceptable to purchase/donation for the program based on their nutritional value, but also dictates how the food items are to be distributed to the children participating in the program.

I have found thus far, however, that less of my time has been spent creating the nutrition policy, and more has been spent researching and examining existing policies at other organizations. Much of my focus is determining the existing body of knowledge and compiling that information in order to develop a policy that best serves the Arkansas Rice Depot based on best practices and the successes of similar, existing programs.

My practicum has been going well thus far, and I am learning a lot about different nutrition policies at Food Banks across the country. I reached out to Dr. Schwartz who is the director of the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity – she is one of the authors of the study A Qualitative Study of Nutrition-Based Initiatives at Selected Food Banks in the Feeding America Network– to inquire about possible contacts. She responded to me and shared suggestions for food banks that I should consider contacting that have solid nutrition policies in place.

From there I have started reaching out to contacts and arranging times to talk about nutrition policies at their facilities. I am hoping that through this process I can learn more about what other organizations are doing and what might work or not work for the Arkansas Rice Depot. Once I have information from the different contacts compiled I can develop something that will work for the Rice Depot and meet its specific needs. I am finding that quite a few organizations are starting to take notice of nutrition and they are willing and happy to share what they have done. I think we can learn from established programs and their successes – no need to reinvent the wheel.

Looking forward to sharing my next status update soon!

 

Emily

Beverage consumption patterns among U.S. adults

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The project I am working on involves an analysis of beverage consumption patterns of U.S. adults in 2009-2010 using What We Eat in America (WWEIA), National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dietary survey data.  I chose to complete the practicum experience at my place of employment with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Food Surveys Research Group as a way to branch out of my ordinary work day responsibilities and as I am nearing the end of the project, I have been very pleased I did so!  I have learned so much more than I had previously known about the dietary survey data, its uses, as well as data analysis methods and have really sharpened my technical writing skills.  In working with my Research Leader, we decided that since beverages are such a hot topic in the news, it would be worthwhile to examine what the top beverage choices are among US adults, how much are we drinking and how are beverage choices and mean intakes changing throughout the day.  I can’t reveal too much in this blog post, so you will have to tune in to the practicum presentations this Fall – I am looking forward to presenting the results of this study!

 

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer Carlson

Worksite Wellness

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Currently I am working on two different practicum experiences.  The first being in Washington, DC at The Mary Frances Picciano Dietary Supplement Research Practicum presented by the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institute of Health.  This was a four day educational opportunity to provide knowledge on supplements.  A wealth of information was dispensed to me in these four days.  Topics that I have been introduced have included:

  • Supplement use in the U.S. and reasons why individuals use them
  • Knowledge about government regulatory agencies and the framework surrounding supplements
  • Supplement quality differences (in which I have found there are many)
  • Assessing the health effects of food and supplements
  • Clinical trials, types and how they are done
  • Global perspectives and supplements
  • Case studies involving certain supplements like Iodine, Omega-3, Garlic, and Vitamin D
  • The importance of good research and how you conduct good research on supplementation
  • The controversy surrounding supplementation (good and bad)

This practicum experience has provided me with an amazing amount of additional knowledge about the world of supplementation.  I will be reporting more about what I learned and took away from the experience when I present my practicum presentation.

My second practicum experience has been secured and started with Live Well Longmont, a community which is part of Live Well Colorado.  Live Well Colorado is a nonprofit organization committed to reducing obesity in Colorado by promoting healthy eating and active living.  Live Well Colorado focuses on policy, environmental and lifestyle changes that remove barriers and increase access to healthy behaviors.  Live Well Longmont has made it their vision to make Longmont, Colorado the healthiest community in the healthiest state.  I have the opportunity to work with the worksite wellness coordinator Leslie Feuerborn as my practicum supervisor.    Currently LWL is working its worksite wellness collaboration with three of the larger employers of Longmont.  The collaboration includes Longmont United Hospital, St. Vrain Valley School District, and the City of Longmont.  Through these partners and the current project to develop comprehensive wellness plans.  LWL hopes to market the wellness plan to other employers in the community to help establish a community wide culture of healthy eating and active living in Longmont through various methods and programs.

Currently my role has been working exclusively with Leslie reviewing the latest literature to support her grant writing requests.  I assisted on research of the literature and finished the final letter to submit for the Millennium Trust grant for LWL.  This was an interesting letter to write since the trust specifically wanted to know how LWL worksite wellness program could help the people of Boulder County enjoy the beautiful nature of our surroundings.  I will also be helping with 2 other grant writing projects.  These grants would fund specific programs through LWL; targeting worksite wellness in different worksites.

LWL is looking to secure grants to fund worksite wellness programs in non-profit organizations that lack the funds to start or implement worksite wellness programs.  I will be assisting Leslie with the grant writing and literature review to support this new program.

I also have attended collaboration meetings to learn how these 3 large organizations are working with LWL to foster the growth and advertise the importance of worksite wellness programs.  Participating in these collaboration meetings has educated me on how a non-profits can work with different agencies to help develop new programs and policies collaboratively.  An upcoming project that I will assist on is LWL role in promoting worksite wellness at the Roger River 5 K run at Rhythm on the River (which is a very well attended event in Longmont that kicks off the summer events).   There are many projects that are in the works this summer so I look forward to updating my progress as we move through the summer.