Hello, everyone! My name is Zahra Nomani and I am currently a dietetic intern at the Sodexo Philadelphia campus. The ample pediatric opportunities available throughout the course of the internship is what attracted me the most to this specific Sodexo campus. From clinical inpatient/outpatient settings to community events, I have had various encounters with the pediatric population.
My most recent interaction was at a celiac awareness event hosted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at the Colket Translational Research building in downtown Philadelphia. As we all may know, celiac disease is an immune disorder that attacks the small intestine when gluten is consumed. This event aimed to bring kids suffering with the disease to a safe space where they can consume all the gluten-free foods they want without having to worry about feeling ill. It also strived to provide ample information about gluten-free vendors and options, tips and strategies on how to live with celiac disease, and recipes for kids and their families.
A few other interns and I worked as volunteers for this event and helped out with greeting almost a hundred kids and their families, introducing them to gluten-free vendors and food options, and doing activities with them where they learned tips and strategies on how to live a gluten-free life more efficiently and stress-free. This was not just a chance for kids to make new friends that they can relate to, but a chance for me as a future registered dietitian to learn about the greatest challenges these kids face with having celiac disease and how I can use this knowledge to provide guidance to my own clients/patients in the future. Not to mention the plethora of food vendors I can recommend to them after trying their tasty samples myself.
Some suggestions I learned when approaching this specific population include:
By the end of the event when the kids were asked if they would come to the event again next year, they all screamed, “YES!” Nothing feels more rewarding than knowing you’ve made a child excited about food and healthy treats that they can enjoy pain-free!
My most recent interaction was at a celiac awareness event hosted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at the Colket Translational Research building in downtown Philadelphia. As we all may know, celiac disease is an immune disorder that attacks the small intestine when gluten is consumed. This event aimed to bring kids suffering with the disease to a safe space where they can consume all the gluten-free foods they want without having to worry about feeling ill. It also strived to provide ample information about gluten-free vendors and options, tips and strategies on how to live with celiac disease, and recipes for kids and their families.
A few other interns and I worked as volunteers for this event and helped out with greeting almost a hundred kids and their families, introducing them to gluten-free vendors and food options, and doing activities with them where they learned tips and strategies on how to live a gluten-free life more efficiently and stress-free. This was not just a chance for kids to make new friends that they can relate to, but a chance for me as a future registered dietitian to learn about the greatest challenges these kids face with having celiac disease and how I can use this knowledge to provide guidance to my own clients/patients in the future. Not to mention the plethora of food vendors I can recommend to them after trying their tasty samples myself.
Some suggestions I learned when approaching this specific population include:
- Going out to eat is OKAY. Just remember to ask about cross-contamination that may occur with fryers, blenders, toasters, and cooking spaces.
- Ask for gluten-free menus, if available.
- Be prepared with gluten-free snacks or meals for trips/travelling adventures.
- Pack a gluten-free snack or meal for your child when he/she visits a friend.
By the end of the event when the kids were asked if they would come to the event again next year, they all screamed, “YES!” Nothing feels more rewarding than knowing you’ve made a child excited about food and healthy treats that they can enjoy pain-free!
