Men & Women’s Wellness Event - Sanofi Pasteur - Swiftwater, PA
When practicing dietetics, sometimes it’s easy to forget one of the most fundamental aspects of nutrition--food! I chose Sodexo’s culinary concentration because I’ve always had an interest in where food comes from, how it’s made, and every step in between. As dietitians, we know the nutritional components of chicken breast, Greek yogurt, cucumbers and red onions, but do we all know how to combine these healthy foods into a flavorful dish that customers want to eat?
I had the opportunity to do just that when the wellness director at my corporate dining site invited me to prepare some recipes for their annual wellness event. I utilized some of the healthy recipes Sodexo offers on Recipe Collections, including their Mindful Chicken Tandoori Pizzetta and a Citrus and Herb Lentil Salad. I also modified a blueberry-lavender infused water to include lemon seltzer in an effort to create my own mock spritzer. Both the pizzetta and the mock spritzer samples were gone in no time. As for the lentils, I suspect that customers were wary of this legume.
To add an additional nutrition component to the event, I asked those interested in the mock spritzer to try a comparable, higher calorie product and complete a sensory evaluation. The other product was a sugary, European soda and as it turns out, most participants enjoyed the homemade spritzer more! Other highlights from the event included a trifold poster providing tips for mindful eating, as well as ways to have a more relaxing lunch by staying off of electronic devices to prevent information overload.
This event taught me that employees at corporate dining sites are very interested in wellness and nutrition. Some employees did not enjoy my recipes, but those who did and asked nutrition-related questions showed me that the presence of a dietitian can truly make a difference in the community.
When practicing dietetics, sometimes it’s easy to forget one of the most fundamental aspects of nutrition--food! I chose Sodexo’s culinary concentration because I’ve always had an interest in where food comes from, how it’s made, and every step in between. As dietitians, we know the nutritional components of chicken breast, Greek yogurt, cucumbers and red onions, but do we all know how to combine these healthy foods into a flavorful dish that customers want to eat?
I had the opportunity to do just that when the wellness director at my corporate dining site invited me to prepare some recipes for their annual wellness event. I utilized some of the healthy recipes Sodexo offers on Recipe Collections, including their Mindful Chicken Tandoori Pizzetta and a Citrus and Herb Lentil Salad. I also modified a blueberry-lavender infused water to include lemon seltzer in an effort to create my own mock spritzer. Both the pizzetta and the mock spritzer samples were gone in no time. As for the lentils, I suspect that customers were wary of this legume.
To add an additional nutrition component to the event, I asked those interested in the mock spritzer to try a comparable, higher calorie product and complete a sensory evaluation. The other product was a sugary, European soda and as it turns out, most participants enjoyed the homemade spritzer more! Other highlights from the event included a trifold poster providing tips for mindful eating, as well as ways to have a more relaxing lunch by staying off of electronic devices to prevent information overload.
This event taught me that employees at corporate dining sites are very interested in wellness and nutrition. Some employees did not enjoy my recipes, but those who did and asked nutrition-related questions showed me that the presence of a dietitian can truly make a difference in the community.
