Hi Everyone! My name is Shana and I am a Sodexo Dietetic Intern at the New York Campus. My concentration is wellness, which to me, means how a person can take care of themselves mentally and physically for better overall health. I am in the middle of my clinical rotation at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, but I am also taking the opportunity to promote the idea of wellness whenever I can.
November is National Diabetes Month, and I had the privilege of teaching to the Diabetes Club at the hospital. This group of older adults meets monthly to go over healthy living in general as some of them are newly diagnosed with the disease. I gave a lecture on grocery shopping and kitchen tips. I really enjoy doing classes with adults, especially because they are usually engaged and receptive of all information that is given to them. Many of the tips I gave them were ideas that anyone can follow such as shopping the perimeter of the store, not going shopping on an empty stomach, and also not falling for gimmicks such as “all natural” and items labeled “healthy”. I think it’s such a great idea to host these clubs because many people can easily become discouraged and frustrated if they are not sure of the diet and/or lifestyle to follow.
November is National Diabetes Month, and I had the privilege of teaching to the Diabetes Club at the hospital. This group of older adults meets monthly to go over healthy living in general as some of them are newly diagnosed with the disease. I gave a lecture on grocery shopping and kitchen tips. I really enjoy doing classes with adults, especially because they are usually engaged and receptive of all information that is given to them. Many of the tips I gave them were ideas that anyone can follow such as shopping the perimeter of the store, not going shopping on an empty stomach, and also not falling for gimmicks such as “all natural” and items labeled “healthy”. I think it’s such a great idea to host these clubs because many people can easily become discouraged and frustrated if they are not sure of the diet and/or lifestyle to follow.
The hospital also likes to promote health among its employees as well. During Halloween, Sodexo hosted a farmer’s market in the cafeteria. There were different varieties of fresh produce being sold from local farms as well as homemade jams and butters. Cooking demos were also given for pumpkin ice cream which was a huge hit with everyone! At first thought, it might seem unnecessary to have wellness events at a hospital because it is assumed that health professionals are all very in touch with healthy living. But like most people, even health professionals need reminders and motivation. I really enjoyed the mini farmer's market mostly because it brought back memories of when I used to teach at the outdoor city markets giving culinary and nutrition lessons.
My overall goal in the industry is to promote wellness as a preventative measure. There are so many diagnoses that can be prevented if people were more aware of lifestyle changes. The main thing that I notice when I give nutrition classes, is that many people wished they knew of the healthy measures to put into practice before receiving their diagnosis. I am excited about my future as a dietitian in this role and promoting lifestyle changes in people.
My overall goal in the industry is to promote wellness as a preventative measure. There are so many diagnoses that can be prevented if people were more aware of lifestyle changes. The main thing that I notice when I give nutrition classes, is that many people wished they knew of the healthy measures to put into practice before receiving their diagnosis. I am excited about my future as a dietitian in this role and promoting lifestyle changes in people.
