September Meeting Recap

Welcome back, SONDies!

First of all, thank you to all who came to our first meeting of the 2018-2019 school year! For those of you who were unable to attend, below is a brief summary of what took place during our first meeting:

We did not have a guest speaker for this meeting, but instead discussed some of the plans we have for SOND this year. More specifically, we covered upcoming volunteer opportunities, how to become a member, ordering SOND t-shirts, and future meetings.

For anyone looking for more information about our September meeting or about SOND in general, please do not hesitate to e-mail our president, Maddy Emanuel, at emanu028@umn.edu. Thank you!

October Meeting 2017

Hi SONDies!

Thank you to everyone who attended our October meeting a couple of weeks ago. For those who couldn't make it, no worries because we have a recap for you--

Our October speaker was Professor Carrie Earthman. Carrie is the director of the DPD at the U of MN and our very own faculty advisor! Carrie's presentation focused on the process of becoming a registered dietitian. She gave really great information about opportunities to get involved and gain experience as an undergrad, how to apply for dietetic internships and grad school, and future careers.

If you were unable to make the meeting or just would like more information, please email: umnsond@gmail.com

February Meeting & Upcoming Events

Hey SONDies!

Thank you to everyone who attended our "Speed Networking" event in February. We had a great turnout in both students and employers! In case you missed out and are still searching for a job/internship opportunity, our Department Head, Dr. Kumar Mallikarjunan, has offered to create a link on our SOND website that will take potential employers to a page containing student resumes. Please submit a pdf of your resume to the following email in order to have yours posted: SOND@umn.edu

 
Lastly, we have some great events coming up!

First, we will be hosting a food drive through the Nutritious U Food Pantry Pilot. We will be collecting food from March 6th - 10th, and the collection box will be in the front of FSCN 15. Foods we need include: Canned fruits & veggies, whole grain pasta, brown rice, canned tuna, canned chicken, canned &/or dried beans, peanut butter, jelly, spices, cooking oil, and other healthy grocery items. Please consider donating what you can!

Second, we have a SOND fundraiser coming up! On Friday, March 10th, we will be hosting a fundraiser at Blaze Pizza in Stadium Village (1000 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN). Take a group of friends, tell Blaze you're there for SOND, show them the flyer (see Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/umnsond/), and enjoy some pizza! 20% of your purchase will go to our student group.

Finally, please mark your calendars for our March meeting! We will be hosting guest speakers from the Minnesota Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (MAND) on Thursday, March 23rd in the FSCN Building. Room is TBD. We hope to see you there!

November Meeting

Hey SONDies,

Thanks to all who attended our November SOND meeting! Here's a quick recap for those who might have missed it:

Professor Carrie Earthman, director of the didactic program in dietetics (DPD) here at the U of M, gave some great information for those interested in becoming a dietitian. Her presentation outlined the academic steps to becoming a dietitian, the difference between everyday internships and accredited dietetic internships, and ways to become a competitive applicant for these dietetic internships.

Carrie prepared a great presentation, with paper copies available for those in attendance. She is placing the extra copies outside of her office door, so feel free to go pick one up and introduce yourself to our program director!

If anyone has questions or would like more specific information, please email:
sond@umn.edu or dpd@umn.edu

 

Upcoming Volunteer Event

Hey everyone!

We have scheduled a volunteer event with Open Arms for Saturday, December 3rd, from 9:30am-12:00pm. Open Arms of MN is a nonprofit that cooks and delivers free, nutritious meals to people living with life-threatening illnesses in the Twin Cities. Our volunteer event will be meal delivery! We have 4 routes for our group, and each route will need one car, & two people. Please email Emily Ososki if interested! ososk002@umn.edu

October Meeting Recap

Hey SONDies!

Here's a little recap from our October meeting:

Our guest speaker, Katie Gilder, is currently an eating disorders RD at the Emily Program. After attending college at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Katie completed her dietetic internship in Georgia, and then moved back to Minnesota to gain work experience. After working with a nonprofit for a while, Katie decided to attend the University of Minnesota, and completed the Master of Public Health, Nutrition program. Also while getting her Masters, Katie began working at the Emily Program. Now, Katie works as an RD at the St. Paul Anna Westin House for Adolescents and Young Adults, and is also the preceptor for dietetic interns who go through her location. If you have any questions for Katie, her contact info is below.

Katie.Gilder@emilyprogram.com

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities with the Emily Program, Katie mentioned there are opportunities through the Emily Program Foundation. Visit the site to learn more! http://emilyprogramfoundation.org/

 

First Meeting Recap

Hey SONDies! 

Just a quick recap of our first meeting--

Our first speaker was Renee Korczak, who discussed her Mentor Group, and opportunities involving the Minnesota Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (MAND). In regards to her Mentor Group, Renee invites food science and nutrition students to join her for meetings, at which she usually has a guest speaker, sort of like SOND. She encourages anyone who's interested in networking, learning from others, and meeting other food science and nutrition students to join. The first meeting is on Thursday, October 6th at 5pm. As for the MAND opportunities, Renee is seeking students to spotlight each month in the MAND newsletter, and would love people to reach out to her if interested! She would love to showcase our awesome U of M students. Please email her if interested in either opportunity! korcz005@umn.edu

Our second speaker(s) of the night was Lydia McAnerney, who shared information about her program, "Healthy Cooking for Seniors." As the name suggests, this is a program in which nutrition students can volunteer to aid seniors in cooking healthy recipes, as well as educate them on the benefits of nutrition. The program is currently seeking volunteers, as they are working to expand in the near future! Please email Lydia if you are interested in learning more about this wonderful opportunity: seslydia@gmail.com

Thanks again to those who attended, & watch out for an email with the details for our next meeting!

-Your SOND leaders

Important dates for the end of the school year!

Thurs. April 21st: April (LAST) SOND meeting! 

Where: FSCN 23

When: 5:30 or 6pm

Who: Soon to be announced

Free food! 

Mon. April 25th: LAST day for our Second Harvest Heartland Food and Fund Drive.Thank you to everyone who has supported this event. Don't worry about the amount of your contribution...with just $5, someone hungry near us get 50lbs of green beans! 

SONDies, please consider a last minute donation or share this link on your Facebook page: 

 http://support.2harvest.org/site/TR/FoodandFundDrive/FoodandFundDrives?px=1572358&pg=personal&fr_id=1290#.VqJnbpMrJPM

Thurs. April 28th: Deadline for SOND officer applications (PLEASE consider applying!) 

- A clear photo of yourself (portrait)
- Year in school and when you joined SOND
- Your goals and ideas for SOND next year
- A fun fact about you!

- Send to sond@umn.edu or moria102@umn.edu 

Thurs. April 28th: Deadline to RSVP for the SOND Mixer - Open to ALL interested students 

Sat. April 30th: Open Arms of MN volunteer event

Thurs. May 5th: SOND Professional Mixer!! 

Your SOND officers are happy to answer any questions or address concerns. 

Have a wonderful day! 

Apply to be a SOND officer for the 2016-2017 school year!

Are you interested in becoming a leader and an officer with SOND? This is a great opportunity for leadership, networking, fun, and outreach! 

Once we have applications submitted, we will host a SurveyMonkey poll for all of our members to anonymously vote on who they chose for their leaders for next school year. We will leave applications open for about 1 month! 

We ask that you submit a short paragraph (to Angela at moria102@umn.edu) to allow our members to read and get to know you! Please include:

- A clear photo of yourself (portrait please)
- Year in school and when you joined SOND
- Your goals and ideas for SOND next year
- A fun fact about you!

March Meeting Update

Kari Yorek Rd, LD at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview:
Position:
- Has covered pediatric weight management initially; now covers behavioral/OB/orthopedic surgery units
Advice: 
- The last 1.5 years of school are important! (Medical Nutrition Therapy, Counseling, Metabolism...)
- Try to work and volunteer during school
- Volunteering doesn't specifically need to be nutrition related, it shows involvement and dedication
- During the dietetic internship and job search, be OPEN MINDED - you never know where you will end up or what you will like doing; "you have nothing to lose, just be yourself"
- Be prepared to think on your toes and formulate plans quick in the clinical setting
- Taking a year off between undergraduate and the internship is O.K. and will help you grow and network for the future
- Be passionate, work hard, don't stress and always give 110%!


Liz Zaremba Rd, LD at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview:
Position:
- Transitional Care Center and Preceptor for M Health Dietetic Internship
Advice:
- Food is a medicine, but also a comfort and a culture
- Sociocultural nutrition is an important class, pay attention to cultural foods and dealing with interpreters
- Church mission trip to Guatemala - started teaching basic nutrition in Spanish, learned how to work independently and experience teaching about health
- 1 year experience working as an Advanced Nutrition Aide at UMMC may have looked the best on her resume
- There will be food service/food safety topics on the RD exam!
- The development of tough skin in the clinical setting is important and necessary
- Save your notes from Medical Nutrition Therapy
- Important to maintain a great attitude, professionalism, willingness to learn and to work hard during your interactions with people through the internship or job search

Both Kari and Liz most enjoy clinical units in transplants and tube feedings!

Please feel free to contact Kari at: kyorek1@Fairview.org
                                     and Liz at: ezaremb1@Fairview.org

Have some time to read over spring break? Check out the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' reading list for National Nutrition Month!

Follow this link for a nutrition-related reading list from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: http://www.eatright.org/~/media/eatright%20files/nationalnutritionmonth/handoutsandtipsheets/nutritiontipsheets/goodnutritionreadinglist.ashx

Welcome back students! Spring 2016 updates:

Our food drive has officially begun! This year, we have registered with Second Harvest Heartland of Minnesota to help end local hunger. This food drive will be running from Monday, January 25th - Monday, April 25th. Our current goal is 60lbs - but with the addition of a new virtual food drive, we hope to extend that goal!

A donation box will be located in the Food Science & Nutrition office on the second floor (Suite 225) starting Monday, January 25th.

Here is a quick list of some most needed items:

• Canned tuna, ham or chicken, beef stew, chili, peanut butter, canned/dried beans
• 100% fruit juice, canned fruits and vegetables, instant potatoes
• Pasta and sauce, boxed meals, hearty soups
• Cereal, rice
• Low-sodium, low-sugar, gluten-free foods

There is also a virtual addition to our food drive, where you are able to online shop for groceries that will be delivered directly to Second Harvest! Please check out the link:

http://support.2harvest.org/site/TR/FoodandFundDrive/FoodandFundDrives?px=1572358&pg=personal&fr_id=1290#.VqJnbpMrJPM


Help us end hunger in Minnesota! Your donations are extremely appreciated.

November Meeting Update

Notes from the graduate student panel: 

Kaela Pittman: pitt0162@umn.edu

• Masters of Science in Nutrition (2 year)
• Plan B with The Emily Program internship  
• Undergraduate degree in nutrition/dietetics 
• Sports nutrition focus 

Sydney Boehnlein: boeh0191@umn.edu 

• Masters of Science in Nutrition (1 year completion) 
• Plan B with The Emily Program internship
• Undergraduate degree in nutrition/dietetics 
• Sports nutrition focus 

Hannah Trasser: trass003@umn.edu

• Masters of Public Health Nutrition (non-coordinated track)
• Undergraduate degree in Psychology  

Rebecca Leighton: leigh142@umn.edu

• Masters of Pubic Health Nutrition, coordinated track (with dietetic internship)
• Undergraduate degree in nutrition/dietetics 

Highlighted Q & A: 

How did you find an advisor for graduate school?

Know what you are interested in ~ look into professors current research, start early, hold informational interviews, have a formulated plan, use your personal connections, don't burn bridges with professors. 

What are the Nutritional Science program tracks? 

Plan A : More research, science - aimed towards future completion of PhD

Plan B: More open to what you want to do, along with dietetic internship afterwards. (Have great time management skills and know what you want to focus on.)

How to apply for T.A. position: 

Talk to Dave Smith as early as possible - work together on coordinating similar interests with current professors. 

How important is your GRE score?

Focus on getting at least average - do your best! 

What strengthens grad school applications?

Long term experience, volunteer work, connections. Knowing what you're going to bring to the program, knowing what you want from the program and what you want to do with it. 

How is graduate different than undergraduate school?

You are taking classes you love, are able to apply knowledge from undergrad and real world situations, hands on learning experiences, less memorizing and cramming (less exams!), smaller more engaging class sizes, skills and knowledge taught are relevant and applicable.

I am interesting in the Masters of Public Health nutrition, where should I gain volunteer experience? 

Second Harvest Heartland (http://www.2harvest.org/?referrer=https://www.google.com/#.Vkn409-rSCQ)

Farm to School programs (http://nutritionservices.mpls.k12.mn.us/about)

Open Arms (http://www.openarmsmn.org/) 

Local Food Banks

Advice?

Be confident, true to yourself, know what you want!

Please feel free to email these students, or SOND, with any of your questions! 

Welcome SOND Members! ~ October 2015 Meeting Update

Last Thursday we had a great turn out as we welcomed Alexis Weisser and Renee Korczak as speakers for our October meeting. Here is a recap of the things they talked about, along with their contact information.

Alexis got married the summer after finishing her BS-nutrition and dietetics degree here at the U. She found a strong interest in foodservice her senior year, and was able to get a job at a senior living home in Maplewood that recently opened, for where she operates the kitchen full time as the dietary manager. The community is continually growing, and Alexis currently cooks 3 meals a day for 11 patients, > 62 years in age. She handles all the cooking, baking, budgeting, inventory, ordering and kitchen staff hiring.  Alexis was able to find a mentor throughout the facilities opening process, a dietary manager from a different location, to help her with all these new experiences.
One of Alexis' favorite things about this position is the menu planning because it allows her to use her creativity skills. This position is rewarding to her because she is building relationships with the residents and they can be very complimentary. In addition, everyday is different for her, she gets to create her own menu and there is a lot of positive teamwork within the facility.
Alexis mentioned that developing thick skin is important for this specific and other positions dealing with a variety of people. She stressed the importance of focusing on the population you're dealing with to be able to understand where they are coming from, what they want and what they need.

Renee had a passion for food and nutrition at a very young age. She immediately saw how nutrition can make a difference in the lives of the people around her. She completed her undergraduate degree in Connecticut and had plans to go onto medical school. After these plans fell through, she got a job at Kraft foods where she worked on the development of  low fat Oreos and created food labels. Renee went on the Grad school for a masters in nutrition from Boston. Here Renee volunteered with diabetes patients, was turned off by the medical school life and found passion for research, education and food. After her masters program, Renee started working for Nestle in regulatory affairs, where she labeled baby food and sports nutrition products while also working with dietitians in the call center. She found that food industry was a great and expanding place to work and when she connected with Joanne Slavin, professor at the University of Minnesota, Renee got involved in research and completed her PhD here while also completing her didactic internship through Iowa State. After being unsatisfied with going back to work at Nestle, she came back to MN to co-teach and create her own company - where she stands today!
Renee told us that experience is very important, and no matter where we work, we will be gaining transferable skills. She highly recommends finding a mentor and making connections everywhere you go.


Please feel free to contact both Alexis and Renee!

Alexis Weisser: lunde334@umn.edu
Renee Korczak: korcz005@umn.edu

Looking for Summer Opportunities?

The following is just some of the organizations and opportunities you can do in the summer, along with some tips! 

Farmers Market Nutrition Program through WIC -  Hennepin County  WIC clinics offer this as a volunteer position. Some rural clinics may as well. If you would like to know more information about volunteering at WIC in Hennepin County this summer, please contact Rolf at rolf.anderson@hennepin.us

Gopher Football Team– The RD is looking for interns this summer, fall and next spring. This is a really fun and engaging internship. If interested, you can contact Brittany at franc221@umn.edu  

Wisconsin AHEC which is a public health internship throughout Wisconsin and there are a lot of nutrition experiences through this depending on where you get placed for a site. 

Second Harvest Heartland – variety of volunteer positions and internships are available. One is a SNAP Resource Intern in which you visit sites (a food shelf/church) and provide families information about food assistance programs and screened them for SNAP eligibility . They are accepting applications now. Visit www.2harvest.org/careers, and if you have any questions, contact Jess Swanson at jswanson@2harvest.org

Nutrition Aide/associate at Fairview: Assist patients with meal ordering, deliver food to patients’ rooms, calculate calorie counts for patients, and more. This is a paid position.  

Hennepin County Medical Center also hires nutrition aides. Again, this is a paid position.

Mill city farmers market meet your vegetables intern program runs June through October.

Try contacting nursing homes in the area for extra projects the RD may have. They may also be hiring, or volunteering could lead to a paid position in the future! Students who have worked at nursing homes have worked closely with the RD and helped meal plan, order and have worked with special diets and feeding techniques.

Cooking Matters has intern positions where you coordinate and teach healthy cooking classes for lower income kids, teens and families. It’s a way to network with other food and health activists in the community as well as getting experience with more diverse communities.

Healthy Foods Healthy Lives Institute on campus is always looking for more student involvement. This is the institute that started Food Day. They are always looking for volunteers to work on Food Day activities and possibly coordinate the event. Working with them can lead to many advanced opportunities such as a Teaching Assistant in the cooking classes on campus as well as research. (Paid/unpaid)

University Dining Services: Intern – creating nutrition station signs for the dining halls, meal plan office duties, and orientation information booths each day for incoming students. This was a paid internship.

University of Wisconsin – Extension Waukesha, WI: Help prepare curriculum for 10 different units each summer, which included evaluation questions, a lesson, activities and games, and food samples. Also, you can co-instruct classes (about 100) during the summer to culturally diverse children from Milwaukee at Camp Whitcomb Mason about proper nutrition. Contact Jan at janis.skell@ces.uwex.edu

And the list goes on!

Personal Care Assistant

Youth Farm

Urban Roots

Open Arms

Let's Move

Twin Cities Mobile Market,

Finnegan’s has some nutrition opportunities,

International Association of Culinary Professionals

Minneapolis health department  sometimes has projects/unpaid internships

Tips to remember from current seniors!

**There are so many opportunities it's impossible to get to them all.  If you have an area you are interested in (clinical, community, etc.) focus their skills in that area!

**Don’t do it all! Its not always how many organizations you’ve worked with, but how long you have been there and what you did there. Interviewers like to know details about what your role was and what you learned from participating in that organization. You won’t have much to discuss if you do everything. 

**Students have applied for unpaid internship grants through the U and have received credits. 

February Meeting Minutes

Thank you for joining us in February to kick off our Spring Semester! Our guest speaker was Lisa Diers from The Emily Program. Lisa gladly shared her story with us; below is a summary of what her presentation was about! Enjoy reading J

Lisa Diers has worked with The Emily Program for 9 years. She has been a part of their growth and success in expanding across the nation. As she grew up in a small town, she experienced a lot in the ‘diet world’ and remembers when ‘fat-free’ foods came out. Lisa went to Mankato State and originally wanted to study nursing, but after taking a nutrition class, she switched majors. After college, she did not apply to Dietetic Internships at first; she wanted to join the Peace Corps. However, because of so much war in the world at the time, volunteers weren't allowed to leave. Before working in the nutrition field professionally, she worked at her dad’s welding shop. Her first nutrition job was at Fairview Southdale as a Diet Tech, which focused heavily on clinical work. After gaining some experience at Fairview, she decided to apply for the internship through the UMMC- Fairview. Of course, she got it! She gained a lot of medical/nutrition knowledge during this time with her mom. The internship was very hands-on work and she really appreciated the unique learning opportunity she received from the internship.

Once she completed her internship, she started out as a clinical RD and worked in the Bariatric unit. She now works at The Emily Program, where she wears many different hats. As the Director of Nutrition Services and the Yoga Program Manager, Lisa excels in working with her patients who are going through recovery and in her research. 

If you put your mind to it, there’s nothing you can’t do.

We also created recipes for a nutritional cookbook we are creating for People Serving People. At this moment, we are reviewing the recipes you shared with us. If you want to take part in the cookbook, please email SOND@umn.edu for more information. 

Our next meeting will be held AFTER Spring Break on Thursday, March 26. Stay tuned for our guest speakers! 

Enjoy a fantastic Spring Break! 

Sustainable Food Systems of Italy – My Time Abroad

A Study Abroad Story from our Secretary, Angela  

In May of 2014, I traveled to Florence, Italy with 25 students and one awesome professor. During our stay, we had assigned apartments in Florence for one month. There were 3 weekends free for travel where small groups explored Rome, Venice, the Cinque Terre/Pisa and a few other cities. The focus of the trip was to study Italy’s culture through their sustainable practices of their production of food. We were able to visit farms, groves, vineyards and cheese making facilities to understand the process of producing prosciutto, olive oil, wine, balsamic vinegar and Parmigiano Reggiano. When not studying about the agriculture, we were learning about the history of Florence, and exploring the many beautiful buildings and museums the city has to offer.

Overall, I gained such an insight on the international practices and traditions of food culture. I also have a new prospective on sustainability and the slow food movement and how we as Americans can learn slow down to appreciate and produce food on socially, environmentally and economically sound way. 

Upcoming Events

February Meeting: Thursday February 19 at 6 PM in FSCN 23. Lisa Diers, Director of Nutrition and Yoga Program Manager from The Emily Program  will be our guest speaker. Come hear about her story and chocolate treats!

Monday February 23: Come volunteer at Chefs for Change at People Serving People. 5:30-10 PM. Come serve at this monthly fundraiser dinner and enjoy a meal! For more information and interested in attending, please contact sond@umn.edu

Tuesday February 24: Hunger Banquet. Come eat and learn about different aspects of food security and what of means in different parts of the world. Event is FREE! RSVP on the Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/793634467340525/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Saturday March 7: The Emily Program Foundation is hosting their 2nd Annual Gala and needs some extra help volunteering that night. More details to come later. Email Alexis or Lorrie for more info at sond@umn.edu

March 19: MAND DAY at the CAPITOL! Interested in public policy? This would be a great opportunity to learn more! Share MAND’s policy and advocacy priorities with our elected State officials & get a good foundation in what public policy in action means for Minnesota dietitians!

No experience? No problem! The morning workshop will get you ready. Really! You’ll have a blast! Cost: $12, which includes lunch!

To register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mand-day-at-the-capitol-2015-r…,

DEADLINE is FEB 28. Email sond@umn.edu if you need a ride!

Save the Date! Thursday May 7, SOND will be hosting their Annual Spring Mixer. This will be an evening event. Time and location TBD. This event will provide you dinner, a guest speaker or 2 and a chance to network with other nutrition professionals from a variety of disciplines.  

What is Your Focus?

Trying to find a focus within the Nutrition and Dietetics realm? Below is a list of professionals who attended our meetings this past semester categorized by their disciplines. If you have any interest in finding out more about what they do or have any questions, their contact information is included.

Public Health Nutrition

Aida Miles is the Director of the Coordinated MPH/Dietetic Internship Program at the University of MN campus. If you are interested in Public Health Nutrition, Aida is a great person to reach out to about that path. There are numerous options in this field and if you are ever looking for an additional class, there are several Public Health classes you can choose from to see if it is the right fit for you. If you have any questions you can contact Aida at miles081@umn.edu.

Sports Nutrition

Brittany Francis has her masters in Dietetics from the University of Minnesota. She is the first dietitian for the Gopher Football team. She works with the players individually and within their football skill groups to advise and educate each player on eating right during the season to fuel their bodies correctly for each of their unique positions and playing level. On top of that, she organizes caterers and snacks and ensures each food item has a nutrition facts label. She hired 10 interns this fall to help her with grocery shopping, food prep, one-on-one player meetings/counseling, and much more. Have a passion for both nutrition and sports? Any questions about sports nutrition, you can always email Brittany at franc221@umn.edu.

International/Study Abroad 

Maria Frank is a senior pursuing a dual degree in Nutrition (DPD) and Spanish. She recently spent a semester in Toledo, Spain, where she did an independent study on dietary differences between the US and Spain. She hopes to continue combining her two majors by working as a bilingual dietitian, most likely in community nutrition. If you are interested in studying abroad and gaining a new perspective on food/nutrition/culture, you can ask Maria about her experience. Her email is frank892@umn.edu.

Community Nutrition 

Mira Friedlander is an Americorps member and works with a program called Cooking Matters. Cooking Matters is a hands-on, cooking-based nutrition education program run through the University of Minnesota Extension. They focus on teaching low income Minnesota families how to cook healthy on a budget. Cooking Matters is always looking for volunteers. Interested in getting some hands-on experience in the community realm? Contact Mira at miraf@umich.edu.

School Nutrition

Sara Eugene works for Minneapolis Public Schools in their Culinary and Nutrition Services Department.  Sara graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in Nutrition and did not go on to pursue an internship to become an RD.  She is currently involved with the Dinner Program introduced by MPS this year, as well as, the Summer Meal Program.  Sara is responsible for entering the food items from menu into computer software that calculates the nutrition facts for each product.  The information she provides is then used for future menu planning. She also keeps track of the meal orders shipped to each school to ensure there is enough food for all students to be fed.  There is an opportunity for students to get involved and intern with the Culinary and Nutrition Services Department during the summer months.  Interns are responsible for traveling to various schools and parks in Minneapolis that participate in the Free Summer Lunch Program.  Interns observe meals served at these sites and ensure that meal delivery goes smoothly and food safety protocols are followed.  Interns are also encouraged to interact with the children at the sites and promote healthy eating choices. If you have an interest in school nutrition and would like to reach out to Sara, her email is sara.eugene@mpls.k12.mn.us. 

Another professional who spoke this semester is Dr. Carrie Earthman. She is the adviser for SOND and the Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics. She also teaches Medical Nutrition Therapy and the Senior Capstone class. Carrie is a wonderful supporter of SOND, and if you haven’t introduced yourself to her, stop by and do so in FSCN 269.

Is there a discipline you are passionate about and is not included above? Feel free to contact sond@umn.edu  so we can find a professional to come speak!