Celebrate Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist Day!
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN, CDN
It is one of my favorite days of the year – a day when I get to celebrate the work of my peers and how they improve wellbeing through the transformative power of nutrition, celebrated every year during March, National Nutrition Month. You may not realize it, but you benefit from the work of registered dietitian-nutritionists (RDNs) every day, and so do many people in your life! RDNs work throughout our food systems, from farm to table, molecule to menu, recipes to research, and most importantly, they translate the science of food, culinary skills and clinical nutrition into solutions and communications that serve individuals, communities, and populations.
In your communities, RDNs often direct school food systems, working to fuel growth and learning for our children, and help them explore healthful eating. RDNs direct hospital-based clinical nutrition and food service, food banks and community-based organizations, restaurant chains, military operations, food product development, work in academics and sports, public health prevention and medical nutrition treatment across the entire lifespan. RDNs are also chefs, farmers, entrepreneurs, and culinary nutrition educators. RDNs may also be board-certified in advanced practice, pediatrics, sports nutrition, gerontology, and nutrition support. It is a dynamic field centered on meeting the needs of all with evidence-based, empathetic, and respectful nutrition science and care.
RDNs have been part of all those institutions for over 100 years but were rarely powered or resourced well enough to deliver and measure the full value of their expertise. That is changing – the most recent shift in focus on nutrition and health has risen to prominent view in the last 10 years. The true capacity of RDNs to meaningfully change health when the right infrastructure is in place has broken through via Food-as-Medicine initiatives. These programs have been growing out of non-profits that created services when there was no other way to meet specific nutritional needs. The New York State Department of Health has also worked to build capacity through many innovation initiatives. This included produce prescription programs and RDN-prescribed, medically tailored meal programs serving our most vulnerable and chronically ill. When data systems began to track that care and outcomes, the opportunity became clear – when food and nutrition treatment with RDNs is available, quality of life and the ability to recover and thrive is not just possible, it changes everything about costs, and empowering patient confidence and capacity to restore health, elevating the importance of applied nutrition science and access to qualified nutrition care to the health of our communities, states and country. This is interwoven with other societal issues and allied health disciplines driving change through social determinants of care – it all comes together in prevention and treatment that fuels health, equity and opportunity.
I have the privilege of serving our communities through the work I do at Price Chopper/Market 32 – ensuring food information is the best it can be in all the channels it is needed: for our customers’ and teammates’ benefit, for business operations, and community and healthcare collaborations with resources like the Know Your Colors nutrition guides program in Price Chopper and Market 32. I love the work I do, and continually learning how to support my peers in their vital roles using nutrition to safeguard and promote wellbeing. To better illustrate what that can mean, I will share a statement from a fellow RDN quoted in our professional journal this month. Alice Dunham, MS, RD, LD/N, works with veterans in Sarasota, Florida. She wrote: “I am proud to be a registered dietitian-nutritionist because every day I am a public servant. In my role, I am serving as a mental health dietitian for veterans in transitional housing. Witnessing the positive impact nutrition therapy has on a person’s psychological health and overall well-being is special. I am able to help this population work through challenges including food safety, nutrition security, feeding environments, food relationships and budgeting a balanced diet. Each day feels like I am fulfilling a great purpose: to heal people through food. It is the most rewarding profession. I am so grateful to be a nutritional caregiver daily and help people navigate their health.”
Me too – knowing the work I do supports so many ways food brings joy and health is why I entered this profession. Wishing all my friends and colleagues the very best on RDN Day!
National Nutrition Month – Celebrate the Bounty and Benefits of Eating Well
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN, CDN
March is National Nutrition Month®, an annual celebration and education campaign inspiring the national appetite for the benefits eating well brings to your life and wellbeing. This year marks the 51st year this outreach event is delivered by members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world’s largest and most recognized nutrition professional organization. Academy members have led the food and health conversation for over 100 years! The term “dietitian” was coined in Lake Placid, NY in 1917, and the Academy was founded in Cleveland, OH, later that year. ₁
This year the campaign theme is Beyond the Table – a call to action to engage in eating well and choosing well on a routine basis, wherever you eat! While there is no perfect eating style, we have good information on the basics of better eating that can be part of every food occasion. Check these options out – which would be a food fit for you?
Keep food safety in mind at home and anywhere you eat.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables every day – most Americans have lots of room to add more to meet their wellness and prevention needs. Start with doubling up what you already enjoy, working your way up to half your plate for each meal or snack!
Eat mindfully – for example, at home is usually better than eating out, and bring lunch instead of buying it. Create a grocery game plan to save time and money!
- Be purposeful with portion control and limiting food waste – our weekly Value Plan blog ideas are right on track to help with that! We are striving to ensure our ideas bring flavor, nutrition, budget, and time together in an easy, enjoyable way.
- Diet culture is off the menu – but heritage and traditions can ensure food is always a bridge builder, connecting families, communities and continents through cuisine and culinary collaborations.
Price Chopper and Market 32 are very proud to be your neighbor – our mission is to help you feed and care for your family! Check out our website for nutrition information and resources!
Wishing you the best for National Nutrition Month
₁. Accessed 3/5/2024; https://www.eatright.org/about-the-academy
Find more healthy eating tips at:
www.eatright.org
Back-to-School Allergy Planning - What You Need to Know
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN
Food allergies are a very stressful issue for children and families. Given how diverse our food supply is, and the potential for foods to be ingredients or potential exposure to allergens in kitchens and prep areas means every mouthful is meaningful.
There are nine food allergens identified as having significant prevalence that must be clearly labeled by law. The Food Allergen Labeling and Protection Act [1]was rolled out in 2004 and has been an important tool for those navigating these issues. The original eight allergens are: milk, soy, peanut, fish, shellfish, wheat, (tree) nuts, and eggs, and sesame was added to the federal list in the Spring of 2021.
One of the most common and most concerning is peanut allergy. Sensitivity can range from slight to life-threatening, and the issue may not be on the radar until a frightening health episode. For many with peanut and other severe allergies, it is critical to maintain and carry an epinephrine auto-injector in case of accidental exposure. Family, childcare providers, friends, school nurses and teachers should all be trained to read food labels to avoid allergenic foods, understand signs of exposure and have an emergency response plan. To ease this process, Food Allergy Research and Education, a non-profit supporting those with allergies, has an emergency plan resource document.
The Price Chopper/Market 32 Pharmacy Team is conducting an awareness campaign about epinephrine auto-injector management, ask your pharmacist to assist with keeping these vital devices ready if they are needed. Work with your healthcare provider to ensure an emergency plan is in place.
There is some good news – strong research[2] has shown it is possible to avoid developing a peanut allergy. Infants that show early signs of possible allergy issues, including family history, eczema and egg allergy may be on the road to a peanut allergy as well. If identified early, and coordinated/supervised by an allergist, pediatrician and registered dietitian-nutritionist, it has been shown that peanut allergy development can be mitigated/reduced with very controlled micro-doses (6-7 grams) of peanuts over time, and timing of that intervention is key. Ideally, the process should start when the baby is just starting on foods, at about the 6-month mark. It should NOT be attempted without coordination and supervision of experienced healthcare providers. It is a recent development in allergy prevention and care, discussion of any concerns should occur at one of the first pediatrician visits, so risks can be assessed as soon as possible. Early and medically supervised intervention could offer significant health and quality of life benefits if peanut allergy can be avoided.
[1] https://www.fda.gov/food/food-allergensgluten-free-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/food-allergen-labeling-and-consumer-protection-act-2004-falcpa
[2] Togias A, Cooper SF, Acebal ML, et al. Addendum Guidelines for the Prevention of Peanut Allergy in the United States: Summary of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-Sponsored Expert Panel. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2017;117(5):788-793.
https://farrp.unl.edu/for-consumers
Crunch Time!
Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN Senior Nutritionist
Apples are amazing – sweet, tart, crunchy and crave-worthy! This is apple season, and we have the benefit of enjoying local apples and apple cider, especially the super crunchy, super juicy Snapdragon® born and raised in New York! Sweet and spicy, with hints of vanilla, it is a variety that has the bonus of being the product of a cross with the super popular Honey Crisp – YUM! Fun fact – New York ranks second in the U.S. for apple production, with more than 1 billion pounds grown each year!
Farming and harvest of Honeycrisp apples in an orchard in Nova Scotia.
New Year, New You
Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN Senior Nutritionist
Happy New Year!
The New Year is a time for a fresh start, and many people put their energy into wellness for their families and themselves. Making a plan is usually easier than sticking to it, but we want to help you find success, and offer some solutions highlighted by New Year, New You shelf tags throughout the store.
If more veggies are on your list, Fresh Express salads makes quick work of a salad for lunch or dinner. Add Tyson’s Grilled and Ready Chicken to round it out with some lean protein – a meal in less than 5 minutes that leaves you plenty of time for the gym. Another way to up the ante on vegetables and a secret weapon for weight loss is to sub soup for your sandwich. Well, Yes! Soups from Campbell’s are all new varieties that combine plant proteins, like white beans and lentils, with roasted chicken, whole grains, and vegetables in savory broth. Add them to your menu plan and keep one in your desk for busy days as a back-up plan.
Breakfast is key to high energy and focus in the morning. In the Dairy case, find the shelf tags on 64 oz. Silk beverages or So Delicious Almond milk – they are a tasty base for breakfast smoothies. Pop the frozen Jimmy Dean Frittata in the microwave, and round it out with some delicious cut fruit from the Produce department. On the go, Muuna Cottage Cheese has some great flavors (MMMMango!) that travel well and are packed with 15 grams of protein, pieces of fruit and calcium.
There is more in the store – find the New Year, New You shelf tags in the dairy, sports drinks and cereal/granola bars aisles. Enjoy a happy, healthy New Year! Written by Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN, CDN Senior Nutritionist, Price Chopper and Market 32
Celebrate great food that is good for you, and the dedicated, passionate women and men that bring better health through nutrition to your community! March is National Nutrition Month, (#NNM) and today marks the annual celebration of Registered Dietitian-Nutritionists. The largest group of nutrition professionals in the world, we are over 70,000 strong in the United States! In a time of unprecedented interest and need, Registered Dietitian-Nutritionists (RDNs) are improving nutrition security by working throughout our food and health care systems to ensure residents have access to safe, delicious and nutritious foods.
Nutrition is getting a lot of love these days – and a lot of action, with RDNs at the center of it. In communities, RDNs are at the center of food access and education; school, college and hospital food and nutrition service and clinical care; farmer’s market education, and community-based medical and specialty nutrition therapy. Food companies are working with RDNs to ensure food labeling is correct, and food operations are safe and sanitary. Supermarkets and convenience store chains have dietitians working at the corporate offices and stores, and RDN entrepreneurs have small businesses all over the state. RDNs are also bringing delicious recipes and evidence-based education to social and traditional media channels – it is an exciting time to be a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist!
2017 is of particular importance to our profession – it is the celebration of our Centennial. For the past 100 years, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has been dedicated to building a profession that optimizes health through food and nutrition. The Academy was founded as the American Dietetic Association in 1917 by a visionary group of women committed to taking on the greatest food and nutrition challenge of the day: conserving food, feeding the troops and nourishing Americans while combating malnutrition in the face of severe food shortages during World War I. They continue this work today, closing the gaps between individuals and the good nutrition they need. RDNs help you put your best fork forward and make great food good for you – celebrate RDNs and great nutrition today!
Written by Jane N. Golub
Director In-Store Marketing Programs
JOLLY RANCHER GELATINS
KIDZ ZONE PERFECT NUTRITIONAL BARS
Now Silk Soy Milk has the seal of being Non GMO verified. For consumers, it can be difficult to stay up-to-date on food ingredients that are at-risk of being genetically modified. This seal can now assure you that Silk is verified to be non GMO.
In addition, their non-GMO verified Almondmilk has a mildly nutty taste and a calorie count that isn’t nutty at all. And their Coconutmilk says no to GMOs and yes to a little exotic flavor, along with more than a little calcium. Try any of them in a shake, as a substitute for milk in recipes or straight up on their own.
For more information and recipe ideas, visit http://silk.com/. Look for Silk Soy Milk in the Dairy aisle.
EVOLVE NATURALLY FLAVORED PROTEIN SHAKE
Evolve is sweetened with Stevia, Monk Fruit and Cane Sugar – no artificial sweeteners. Look for Evolve Naturally Flavored Protein Shake in the Nutrition aisle!
110 calories – Tonalin adds fat calories- 12 grams of protein – an excellent source of Vitamins A, B, C, D and E
- Excellent source of fiber – gluten and lactose free
- Tonalin for reducing body fat. Shaped by Muscle Milk.
What’s your go-to workout routine? Do you love a certain spinning class with your friends or maybe taking a brisk morning walk? Whatever type of exercise you choose to do, protein is a necessary component to getting the energy you need! Tell us about your workout routine and you could win a Spa Getaway courtesy of Lean 1!
Lean 
1 has the powerful nutrients you need to lose body fat as well as tone muscles—all in a meal replacement shake! It boosts energy levels and has over 20 grams of protein in every serving! Lean 1 is giving one of our lucky shoppers a $300 Spa Finder gift card as well as a $250 Marriot gift card towards a relaxing spa weekend getaway! Two first prize winners will each receive a month’s supply of Lean 1 as well as Lean 1 T-shirts and three second prize winners will each receive Lean 1 T-shirts and Lean 1 shaker bottles!
Simply leave your comment below and on our Facebook page by Friday, January 18th to be entered! Read official contest rules here. What is your family’s favorite game to play together?
It’s hard sometimes to spend as much time as we’d like with our families. That’s why it’s so important to make the time that you do spend together even more special. Nestlé’s Nesquik wants to treat your family to a movie night!
Nesquik offers quick and easy ways to complement the natural nutrition of milk and make irresistibly delicious drinks that kids will ask for every time.
Comment on our blog below AND our Facebook page telling us what game you LOVE to enjoy with your family! Four lucky winners will receive a $50 Regal Cinemas gift card to see Disney’s Wreck It Ralph!
This contest runs from Thursday, November 1-Monday, November 5. This contest will end at 5:00 PM on Monday, November 5. Winners will be chosen on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Read official rules here.