My name is Samantha Romeo and I’m in the MNT concentration at the Sodexo Allentown campus. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend nearly all of my clinical time at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Bethlehem PA, a 480-bed acute care hospital. I have learned so much in the past 8 months from the experienced RDs and it has confirmed my passion for clinical dietetics! In addition to my clinical responsibilities, I was able to get involved with community events these RDs participated in, including the St. Luke’s Half Marathon held annually. An expo is hosted the day before the race and each year the St. Luke’s RDs set up a table offering nutrition information, healthy snacks, and an activity for children (they also host a kids race!). My contribution was a display on various protein bars, highlighting calorie, protein, fiber, and sugar content. The runners appreciated the information and many took pictures to remember what to look for during their next grocery-shopping trip! I encouraged the runners to read nutrient labels if they didn’t already.
A couple suggestions I provided for choosing a protein bar included aiming for:
A couple suggestions I provided for choosing a protein bar included aiming for:
- 150-250 calories
- At least 7g protein
- At least 3g fiber
- Less than 13g sugar - Check ingredients for added sugars
- Short ingredient list - Look for whole food ingredients
