Community Nutrition
Maria's first community rotation was with FSNE - The Food Supplement Nutrition Education program. This is an educational program through the University of Maryland extension system that provides education to food stamp and other eligible participants so that they may improve their over health and their nutrition knowledge. Although she only spent two weeks at this rotation, Maria gained new insight into community nutrition and its affects on the local population.
The second community nutrition location was with Food and Friends located in Washington, D.C. This nonprofit organization provides fresh-frozen meals or groceries to clients with HIV and cancer. Maria spent time with multiple dietitians in addition to various staff members and departments within Food and Friends. It provided her with the insight in how nutrition plays a large role in the health and wellness of patients living at home with HIV/AIDS and cancer. It was great to be a part of a team working for a great cause.
Maria also spent time working with RD's in the Maryland State Aging office and the Montgomery County School System. Each one-week rotation provided her with great insight into the importance of an RD these unique positions. Maria was able to observe community meals and meal delivery service the State provides senior citizens. In addition she created educational handouts that were delivered with the home-delivered meals for seniors. You can click here to view an example handout.
At the one-week school lunch rotation, Maria was able to observe how an RD works with government, state and local regulations on the nutritional contents of school lunch. She observed multiple school lunches in both elementary and middle school and how the lunches are delivered and prepared at each school. She also spent time with many employees at the school lunch office and learned how and why school lunches provide the required nutrition and how the state implements these regulations. It was a very educational opportunity.
The second community nutrition location was with Food and Friends located in Washington, D.C. This nonprofit organization provides fresh-frozen meals or groceries to clients with HIV and cancer. Maria spent time with multiple dietitians in addition to various staff members and departments within Food and Friends. It provided her with the insight in how nutrition plays a large role in the health and wellness of patients living at home with HIV/AIDS and cancer. It was great to be a part of a team working for a great cause.
Maria also spent time working with RD's in the Maryland State Aging office and the Montgomery County School System. Each one-week rotation provided her with great insight into the importance of an RD these unique positions. Maria was able to observe community meals and meal delivery service the State provides senior citizens. In addition she created educational handouts that were delivered with the home-delivered meals for seniors. You can click here to view an example handout.
At the one-week school lunch rotation, Maria was able to observe how an RD works with government, state and local regulations on the nutritional contents of school lunch. She observed multiple school lunches in both elementary and middle school and how the lunches are delivered and prepared at each school. She also spent time with many employees at the school lunch office and learned how and why school lunches provide the required nutrition and how the state implements these regulations. It was a very educational opportunity.