Today's Decisions Can Impact Someone's Future

As I am finishing up my 4 week rotation at San Luis Coastal Unified School District, I’ve done

some reflections on everything I’ve learned so far here. Nutrition education is so important to

start while the students are young because it influences their food choices later on in their lives.

Working with kids as a dietetics professional means you have to think about how every aspect

can be a teaching moment.

Teaching a kindergarten class about eating the rainbow.

My preceptor Erin explained to me that this district does not buy the “healthier” versions of

cereals or chips because that sends a message to kids that because I get it at school, that must

mean it’s healthy so I can buy it at the grocery store. When in reality the items from the grocery

store contain more added sugar and trans fat. Kids aren’t at the age to differentiate this yet and

we want to be setting a good example. At the school sites, they may be choosing between whole wheat crackers or dried fruit, but in real life we want the students to be able to make these healthy choices on their own. By providing these at schools, it influences the students to know that they can trust what SLCUSD provides can be healthy choices they choose outside of school too.

Setting up a build your own rainbow salad station.

Another aspect to think about is providing a multi-cultural variety of food choices. We want the

students to go into the world with the knowledge to be able to choose their own food that fuels

and nourishes their body. By having exposure to different cultural foods, they’re able to decide

themselves whether they enjoy it or not, and what it is. Sometimes people are not as open to

trying new foods because it’s unfamiliar. The students will be able to experience new foods at

school which is a great nutrition education lesson in itself. From bean and cheese pupusas to

teriyaki beef short ribs, students get to choose between something new or something familiar.

Garden bar at an elementary school site.

As dietetics professionals, we often get caught up in the idea of MNT or needing specific

nutrients to support healing. Connecting this to my clinical experience, I know that RDs can

really provide a nourishing menu for patients and food that empowers adults to eat to fuel their

healing. Although this is definitely more of a focus at school sites, I would love to be the change

in clinical settings to promote healthy living in all aspects from nutrition education to the hospital

meals provided. Sometimes we need to step back and really dig into why we care and find out

what we want our patients or students to do to have a successful and healthy life. I want to be

able to support them with today’s actions so we can impact their future.

Pupusa and dumpling day at SLCUSD