Synthesis Post

            Before creating this blog, I was undergoing serious doubts about sticking with my selected major. Although I enjoyed practicing and advocating a healthy lifestyle, I was hesitant about pursuing it as a career. Among the first of my doubts was an aversion to working in a hospital. This type of setting has never seemed entirely appealing to me and I was worried that it was the only place a nutritionist could find work. Researching different types of specified positions consequently led me to overcome this belief. Delving in the information I accessed via web, I was able to learn about alternative options within this field.

One piece of knowledge I gathered while exploring the nutrition field has stuck with me throughout the entire process. Rather than a technical source, this advice came directly from a registered dietician. The interview I held with Barb Wunsch ultimately opened my eyes and convinced me to continue on with my major. Her statement, “The opportunities are endless,” influenced my previously bleak outlook. This was the week of blogging that really allowed me to gain the most insight from the experience as a whole.

            In order to grasp the vastness of her claim, I began investigating how I could incorporate multiple interests into one career. While looking into this concept, I considered some of my passions such as communication, writing, traveling and fitness. Surprisingly I was able to find an aspect of nutrition that integrates each of these. Offering consultations would allow me to fine tune the art of communication by interacting with clients. Writing articles for magazines, journals, or newspapers is also a possible obligation regarding nutritionists. If I were to accomplish my aspiration of becoming a sports nutritionist, I would be required to travel with the athletes in order to keep their intake on track. There are also personal training certificates available that would enable me to instruct exercise classes along with providing nutrition advice.

Not only has recording a blog influenced my decision pertaining to my major, it has broadened my horizons. Instead of cementing myself to one position, I have come to the realization that I am able to have the best of both worlds. I can avoid the hospital and be a nutritionist at the same time. Also, I am not mandated to hold one specific occupation. If I remain persistent, I can simultaneously be a writer, consultant, and trainer as well. In fact, I discovered that most nutritionists and dieticians hold several of these titles. With my newly rejuvenated goals, I plan on signing up for more classes associated with my major and continuing to seek out the never-ending opportunities within this field.

Week 10 Free Post: Desserts!

            I think we can all agree that the best part of studying nutrition is the food itself. This week I thought I would share a website that I turn to quite often when it comes to baking. Everyone loves desserts and there is no better way to enjoy them than eating them guilt-free. By following the recipes on http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com , you can make tasty treats without worrying about your waistline. One benefit of the site is the variety of options. The creator provides gluten free, vegan, sugar-free, and soy-free options. She also offers additional recipes that can used to make regular meals. All of the ingredients required to bake are simple, healthy, and nourishing. My favorite aspect of the website is the authors outlook on nutrition. She advocates living healthily in moderation and balancing your life as much as possible. Some of the recipes I have tried are the dark chocolate raspberry muffins, the chocolate chips cookies, the flour-free brownies, and the banana ice cream.  I have also made a few of the pumpkin items and the chocolate fudge. Most of them turned out successfully and my test subjects could not even tell that they were designed to be healthy!

Here are some pictures of my results…

Sources:

Katie. "Chocolate Covered Katie." Chocolate Covered Katie. Deluxe Designs, 2014. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

 Dark Chocolate Muffins, Kitchen. Personal photograph by author. 2013.

 Cookies, Kitchen. Personal photograph by author. 2013.

Ice Cream, Kitchen. Personal photograph by author. 2014.

Brownies, Kitchen. Personal photograph by author. 2013.

Week 10 Prompt Post: Remixing Knowledge

            Most people are familiar with the conventional food pyramid, which categorizes foods based on the amounts we should be eating daily. It also provides specific examples of the foods along with the recommended total servings. Until recently, that was America’s guide to choosing a healthy diet. Last year the USDA unveiled their newest invention for achieving this goal. It was introduced as “My Plate” and illustrates what types of foods your dish should adorn.  The difference between the two models is vastly significant…

            As you can see, the original example provides a much clearer depiction of the USDAs standards. My Plate is essentially a simplified remix of the food pyramid. It took the basics of nutrition and turned it into something that resembles real-life settings. However, the arrangement of the final product seems to be a bit more confusing. Rather than providing specific food choices and serving amounts, it offers the category of food and it’s size in relation to those around it. This vagueness leaves it up to the viewer’s interpretation, which can often me misjudged. Plain and colorful aesthetics apply to the delivery of the model. Its style is so simplistic that My Plate almost seems to be directed toward adolescences. As for innovativeness, it is not as effective as the original creation, but it still relays the USDAs message. Although My Plate is already a revised version of the food pyramid, in order to communicate more effectively, the USDA may want to consider altering their model once more.

Sources:

"Choose a Food Group." Food Groups. USDA, 2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.

Food Pyramid. Digital image.Http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/07/16/63/1895631/7/628x471.jpg. USDA, 2005. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

Week 9 Prompt Post: News Article

After sifting through some news articles on nutrition, I came across one about Michelle Obama’s influence in this field. Most of us are familiar with her “Let’s Move” campaign, which promotes a healthy diet and active lifestyle for the younger generations. This article focused specifically on the state of Mississippi, who has the highest percentage of obesity in the country.  Her goal was aimed toward requiring healthier school lunches for elementary students.  After the act was passed, federal funding provided $4.5 billion dollars for these meals. That adds up to an extra six cents per lunch. Although there was some controversy over the standards of the food, compromises were reached. For example, pizza was deemed fit only if its crust was whole wheat and it included various healthy toppings. With Michelle’s help, the trajectory rate for obesity went from an increase of 65 percent to a 13.3 percent drop. Some of the schools honored the changes by replacing fryer with steamers and serving more vegetables and whole grains.

This article shows the importance of the nutrition field by demonstrating how slight changes can add up. By simply altering the foods served for lunch, the entire state showed a decrease in obesity rates. It also shows the importance of introducing a healthy lifestyle to younger kids. By teaching them to make healthy choices at such a young age, it helps develop a consistency that will follow them throughout their adult life. The content also makes it clear that regardless of political stance, one thing people can agree on is feeding kids healthy foods.

Sources:

 Solis, Rogelio V. Let's Move. Digital image. Http://thegrio.com/2013/02/28/how-michelle-obama-won-over-mississippi-on-school-lunches/. NBC Universal, 28 Feb. 2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

Reid, Joy-Ann. "TheGrio." TheGrio. NBC Universal, 28 Feb. 2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

Week 9 Free Post: Menu Navigation

With busy schedules, an active social life and unavoidable huger cues, dining out is almost impossible to avoid. It is proven that preparing meals at home leads to a healthier diet. However, by following some simple tips eating healthily in a restaurant is entirely feasible as well. It is acceptable to splurge and treat yourself on occasion, but it you are eating out more than three times per week, here are some guidelines for helping you make better choices…

Beverage: In order to avoid unnecessary sugar, ask for water, milk, or unsweetened tea. One benefit of this change is that these drinks are usually less expensive and sometimes free.

Dressing: Clarify that you want your dressing to come on the side. This will allow you to use as much as you want instead of consuming the entire serving.

Meat: Avoid anything with the title “fried”. The healthiest way to prepare meat is by grilling, broiling, or steaming.

Treat Meals: If you are craving a giant burger and fries, split it with a friend. Another strategy is taking a portion of the meal home for leftovers.

Most importantly, do not be afraid to be assertive. Asking the waiter to make alterations should not be something to fret about. Remember that you are paying for their service and the meal should be as enjoyable as you please.

Sources:

Health, Stealth. "Eat Smart When Dining Out: 20 Tips." Reader's Digest. The Reader's Digest Association, 2014. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. 

"Tips for Eating Healthy When Eating out." Tips for Eating Healthy When Eating out. USDA, 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. 

Walton, Charle. Restaurant Clip Art. Digital image. Www.examiner.com. Clarity Digital Group LLC, 2014. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. 

Week 8 Free Post: Superfoods

Recently people have been agreeing on an alternative approach to feeling healthy and prosperous. Rather than investing a small fortune on over-the-counter vitamins and supplements, they have started consuming “superfoods” more regularly.  Although these foods don’t fly of fight crime, they help ward off disease and improve overall longevity. Another benefit of eating them is that they are not difficult to find. Each superfood is relatively well known and available at any supermarket. However, they are more likely to be found in the produce section instead of a prepackaged container. This is due to the fact that they are whole foods, which means that they are unprocessed. Below I have provided a list of several superfoods along with a summary of their numerous benefits…

Apples- Contain an antioxidant called quercetin, which may reduce risk of lung cancer

Avocados- Healthy fats that allow you to absorb other nutrients

Omega-3 Fish (Salmon)- Lower risk of heart disease, improve arthritis, and memory loss

Tea- Possess antioxidants that can lower cholesterol

Sweet Potatoes- Full of vitamin A and shields immune system

Blueberries- Contain antioxidants and phytoflavinoids which lower risks of heart disease and cancer

Oats- Full of fiber to boost metabolism and burn fat

Sources:

Ansel, Karen. "Eat Healthy America: 52 Superfoods." Woman's Day. Hearst Communications, Inc, 2014. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.

Feature, Susan SeligerWebMD. "'Superfoods' Everyone Needs: Blueberries, Tea, Salmon, & More." WebMD. WebMD, 2008. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.