Registered Dietitian

September 28th, 2009

The Registered Dietitian’s role is to provide nutrition assessments, counseling and care plans in collaboration with individuals and families referred for dietitian services. Referrals to the Registered Dietitian are made by all health care providers for a variety of conditions and diseases, including but not limited to:

  • Diabetes (includes management and prevention strategy)
  • Cardiovascular Disease (includes heart disease and stroke)
  • Hypertension
  • Anemia
  • Celiac Disease
  • IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
  • High Risk Pregnancy
  • Eating Disorders
  • Weight Management

Nutrition and Healthy Living Program:

A Women’s Nutrition Survey was distributed in early December 2008. By mid-January 2009, forty-four surveys had been collected. The top three topics identified were: achieving a healthy weight, healthy eating and cooking classes.

Two cooking classes were planned for March 12 & 30, 2009. Emphasis was on presenting recipes that were heart healthy, diabetes friendly and budget conscious. Unfortunately, the March 12th class did not have enough participants and was cancelled. The March 30th class was popular and registration was cut off at fifteen participants. Ten of the fifteen registered participants attended the class. Participants evaluated the presentation/class and rated the taste acceptability of each recipe.

Feedback from the cooking class identified an interest in future cooking classes. Eight participants identified areas that they wanted to learn more cooking/preparation skills. This information will be incorporated into future classes.

The resource “Craving Change” was purchased and will be used to plan a series of workshops to help people identify why they eat the way they do.

Based on feedback received from the first cooking class, a second class is being planned for June 15th, 2009. Evaluation will be the same as the first class—a Taste Acceptability Scale and a Presentation Evaluation. Input from participants will determine future programs. At this time, four classes a year are tentatively planned.

“Craving Change” will be offered this spring 2009. This program is offered in a series of three workshops. An evening group will be offered Tuesdays, May 19th, 26th and June 2nd and an afternoon group on Wednesdays, May 20th, 27th and June 3rd. The program will be evaluated using the Craving Change evaluation.

A healthy eating and weight class will be offered in the fall of 2009. Pre- and post-interviews will be done with participants. A review of the literature will be conducted to find validated, reliable pre- and post-questionnaires that will measure knowledge, attitude and behavior changes.

A series of articles on vitamins and minerals will be submitted to the Marathon Mercury for publishing. This issue was identified in the Women’s Nutrition Survey as a topic of interest. Individual nutrition counseling will be ongoing.

The Registered Dietitian collaborates with the physicians and all other health providers on already established programs such as:

  • Hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • Smoking Cessation
  • INR

Links to Information on Healthy Eating:

Dietitians of Canada: http://www.dietitians.ca
EatRight Ontario: http://www.eatrightontario.ca Toll Free: 1-877-510-5102
Healthy Eating In Store For You: http://www.healthyeatinginstore.ca
Canadian Diabetes Assoc.: http://www.diabetes.ca

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