Skip to main content

The Insightful Intern: Week 5


        Before I started my internship, my only knowledge about how dietitians handle nutritional counseling was really from the professors at school. In class, they show a more black and white approach to nutrition but from observing Amy I have learned it’s more shades of gray.  So I am going to share with you some common misconceptions some people believe about dietitians.  

        The first thing I really observed was how dietitians construct such personalized plans. Amy takes the time to talk to each client about his or her routine and works the plan around it. A “one size fits all” plan does not exist. While I knew to calculate the amount of calories for each meal plan, I didn’t know just how customized it should be. Amy asks what foods you eat on a normal basis and fits those in rather than giving out a standard plan.

        While shadowing, I also see that the meetings are not all about the food. Before, I believed that dietitians would only talk about a meal plan. I’m noticing Amy really takes the time to talk to each client about their life and about daily stresses. She helps counsel them to push through obstacles that may be stopping them from reaching their full potential. Each meeting is not just about the food consumed but also about what is going on in their everyday life.

        Another main thing I’ve noticed is nutrition is not an all or nothing subject. The reality is that you will probably have a bad day here and there. You will crave that piece of chocolate cake at a birthday party and will probably want that extra drink while on vacation. A lot of people think there are “good foods” and “bad foods” but those do not exist. Amy has a saying though that I’ve heard her use many times “majority rules”. It’s okay to have a bad day and enjoy the dessert. You never want anything to stop you from living your life. Just remember to not let it get you down and start fresh the next day with the motivation to get back on track. 

        I’m learning so much about nutritional counseling at Kindred. I can’t wait to be able to use it in the future when I start to make meal plans on my own!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Food Trends: A note about Stevia (zero calorie sugar substitute)

We’re all on the lookout for that sugar substitute that withholds calories, tastes good, and is natural and safe.   Recently I was asked what my thoughts were on Stevia?   Well to tell you the truth I didn’t have many thoughts on the product because basically I didn’t know much about it, except that in my mind it was a zero calorie product that could be substituted for table sugar.   I put this thought in my attic with the hopes of getting more acquainted at a later time. As I get myself more familiar lets start with the derivation.   Stevia is an herb that comes from South America and has been used by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay for over 100 years.   This is advertised on the Stevia website along with a statement that it provides zero calories because the body doesn’t metabolize glycosides from the leaf or processed forms.   Essentially Stevia is absorbed by the gut and broken down into Stevol which is excreted from the body as a waste.   Th...
5 comments
Read more

Miraculous Misconceptions: Raspberry Ketones

The interwebs are abuzz about the supposedly “miraculous” Raspberry Ketone supplements. Raspberry Ketone popularity started with Dr. Oz's show in February 2012, when he nicknamed it a “miracle weight loss drug.” Some even credit Raspberry Ketones with stimulating hair growth, but for our purposes here, let’s talk about weight loss. Raspberry Ketones are derived from red raspberries. Proponents claim that the supplement will stimulate your metabolism causing weight loss. However, there are no reliable studies to prove this.   Specifically there is no scientific evidence to show how it alters metabolism to promote weight loss. There is also no scientific evidence to determine a proper dosage. If you find a study that claims otherwise, check the funding source. Most likely, that study was funded by a company who produces or funds raspberry ketone products. As far as I know, no major pharmaceutical companies are investing in Raspberry Ketone research. And it is my opinion ...
9 comments
Read more

Food Trends: Plant vs. Animal Protein

In my practice I see a lot of vegetarians who have a lot of questions about the types of protein they eat.   In case you need a refresher, animal proteins are proteins derived from meat, dairy, and eggs.   Plant protein is derived from nuts, seeds, beans, legumes and soy.   Most animal proteins are higher in saturated fat as well as cholesterol which have been proved to increase risks of arteriosclerosis, a precursor to cardiovascular disease.   A lot of the general public, not just vegetarians, are starting to focus on decreasing intakes of animal proteins and focusing on plant sources to decrease total calorie, fat, and cholesterol intake.   It’s important to know that most generally healthy individuals only need .8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.   Basically this means that a 150 pound man or woman requires about 54 grams of protein in an entire day. Protein is made from amino acids.   Although there are many amino acids, ther...
Post a Comment
Read more