Hey, everyone! My name is Stephanie Gallagher, and I am a Sodexo dietetic intern with the Philadelphia campus. I am also enrolled in the University of Rhode Island master’s program. These last two months have been extremely busy, but with efficient time management, I have been able to enjoy every second of it! Under the guidance of Capital Health, I was able to complete my foodservice rotation and embark on my new rotation experience in basic clinical.
During my last week of foodservice, I had the opportunity to host a theme meal at both of the Capital Health campuses. I created a “Mindful Tailgating” menu that included a variety of healthy and not-so-healthy foods that are typically seen at tailgates or while at home watching football games. Along with creating, budgeting, ordering, and producing this menu, I also had the chance to educate my customers on the method of Traffic Light Eating. The picture to the right displays my education board, which was aimed to demonstrate how simple it is to enjoy tailgating favorites without feeling guilty about it afterward. It was so rewarding to know that after all of my preparation, I was able to stay below my budget, maintain sales, provide nutrition education, and please so many customers on the day of my meal.
During my last week of foodservice, I had the opportunity to host a theme meal at both of the Capital Health campuses. I created a “Mindful Tailgating” menu that included a variety of healthy and not-so-healthy foods that are typically seen at tailgates or while at home watching football games. Along with creating, budgeting, ordering, and producing this menu, I also had the chance to educate my customers on the method of Traffic Light Eating. The picture to the right displays my education board, which was aimed to demonstrate how simple it is to enjoy tailgating favorites without feeling guilty about it afterward. It was so rewarding to know that after all of my preparation, I was able to stay below my budget, maintain sales, provide nutrition education, and please so many customers on the day of my meal.
Later in the week, I had the pleasure of doing a food demonstration with a fellow Philadelphia intern at Capital Health’s Diabetes Refresher Course. One of the main topics covered during the course was about a newly researched diet called “The MIND Diet”. The diet combines two well-known diets, the DASH and Mediterranean diets. It aims to reduce the risk of dementia and increase overall brain health. One of the foods this newly researched diet promotes is beans. “The MIND Diet” recommends about three servings of beans per week. With that being said, we decided to educate our audience about the health benefits of beans as well as alternative ways to utilize them. We demonstrated how easy it is to use beans in order to make hummus, which can also be a healthy alternative to dips for vegetables and spreads for sandwiches. With the holidays approaching, mindful eating will not only benefit overall health and wellness but will also provide insight to individuals about the choices they make based on the foods they eat.
