Feed Me the Facts

On this first episode of Season 3, we talk with two members of our DD Community: Drs. Kate Burt and Shelly Debiasse. They, along with their colleague Dr. Zubaida Qamar have launched a new project called  #InclusiveDietetics, a group on Facebook aimed to increase the awareness about the lack of diversity in the dietetics profession. In this group, they will share important information about diversity and inclusion in general and on topics relevant to facilitating a more diverse and inclusive profession. Join #Inclusive Dietetics to continue the conversation! Drs. Burt and Debiasse discuss why they are launching this project, why they took the extra steps to make the project a part of a research study and what conversations, movements and changes they hope this campaign will spark in the dietetics community. If you have ever wondered how our profession got to where it is today (i.e.- with so little diversity), and what are ways that you can help to change it, you will want to be a part of this project! You can join #Inclusive Dietetics to continue the conversation!

Can you tell we’re excited about the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo aka FNCE? As the final hours tick away the Diversify Dietetics co-founders talk about where DD will be during the 4 day conference, what their most looking forward to and notable events that you don’t want to miss.

Are you a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics? As the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals we are rightfully invested in what Diversity and leadership looks like in this professional organization. In 2015 the Academy released its first Diversity Strategic Plan along with a handful of other Diversity Initiatives. One key objective of this strategic plan is “to establish strong diversity efforts at all levels of Academy leadership”. So how do we make sure this happens? How do we ensure that diverse leaders are in the room where decisions are being made and are represented at all levels of leadership? Today we talk with Camille Range about just that. She started working with the Academy as a Diversity Leader and is now a member of the Board of Directors and the House of Delegates, representing dietitians under the age of 30. Camille is passionate about leadership and talks to us about why its so important to have a seat at the table even when you may be the only one. She shares insights into the decision making structure within the Academy and what the Academy is working on as it relates to diversity.

Did you first fall in love with nutrition because you were an athlete in high school or college? Or maybe while you were training for a marathon? Lots of folks make their way to dietetics because of their own experience with learning more about nutrition to support their fitness goals. Some RDstoBE and even RDs in other areas of practice are curious about specializing in this area of practice. At the same time, many college and professional sports teams now have an RDN on staff to provide sports nutrition counseling to help their athletes perform their best. But the skill set and demands on sports nutritionists have evolved greatly over the past decade or so. In this episode, Pratik Patel shares how he made his way to his current role as a professional sports team’s Director of Performance Nutrition. Pratik Pratik’s journey to becoming a Sports RD was not without its obstacles. He’s a first-generation American, he hadn’t even heard of the nutrition major when he started college, and he didn’t match to a dietetic internship on his first try. But he overcame these challenges (and SO MANY MORE!) to get to where he is today. During this episode Pratik talks about: How he handled all the aforementioned challenges to achieve his RD The schedule of an RD who works with a professional sports team The resilience needed to manage the uncertainties of working for college and professional sports teams Why he still uses MNT and Food Service skills in his current role What are the critical qualities needed to work with pro athletes If you’re considering working in Sports Nutrition, have your notebook ready for this episode!

Starla Garcia aka @starla_shines graciously shares her story about how being a eating disorder(ED) survivor has helped her become a better ED Dietitian to Latina patients and why more Latinx dietitians are needed in pediatrics, women’s health, and diabetes education. Today goes into detail on her pathway, her career, her story and how she continues to shine.

Let’s face it, when you’re on the nutrition educational pathway it can sometimes feel like your options are RDN or bust, but we don’t just need diverse dietitians we need diverse nutrition professionals across the board. Today’s Feed Me the Facts guest is here to tell you there’s more than one way to excel in the field of nutrition even without the RD credential. Sabrina Bauggue talks about her new role as the Assistant Director of Food and Nutrition at Emory University Hospital and the process she took to become a leader in the field.

If we had a penny for every time an RDN complained that we don’t get paid as much as other allied health disciplines… The idea that low pay is a given if you want to work in dietetics is also sometimes the reason why students of color decide to pursue other pathways besides dietetics, so it was a topic we definitely wanted to discuss! Some people blame the lowers salaries on the fact that we are female-dominated profession, while others attribute the lower pay to less than energetic lobbying on behalf of our professional organizations. In this episode, money mindset coach and expert Christine Dyan, RDN says that that kind of thinking is self-defeating and part of the problem (and we agree!). During this episode Christine talks about: - Why is it critical to change your mindset toward money FIRST - Her own personal journey to change her money mindset - Why RDNs (on average) get paid less than our colleagues - Why thinking the Academy is responsible for RDN salaries is flawed thinking - Why it's important to think like a biz owner 1st, and an RDN 2nd and so much more! This episode is a MUST LISTEN for every RDN and RD2Be out there!

On this episode of Feed Me the Facts, we talk with a dynamic mentor/preceptor/leader in the field of nutrition, Jerlyn Jones. She talks with us about what it takes to be a mentor both formally and informally and how her duty to give back to the future of dietetics has positioned her to be an impactful mentor in the field.

As a military wife in a new city, a mother,a first generation college student and #rd2be, Darah Matos jumped into the Diversify Dietetics pilot mentor program feet first and made a splash! On this episode of Feed Me the Facts, Darah shares how she made the mentor program experience her own and talks about the process and perks of having a mentor.

Matt Frakes was not exactly what you would call an ideal dietetics student. He was a first-generation college student, had a low ACT score and struggled in his intro to nutrition course. But Matt didn't let those obstacles slow him down. In this episode Matt describes what strategies he used to overcome every obstacle and how he got to where he is today- a Ph.D. candidate and sports dietitian.

We’ve seen the letters DTR/NDTR but what exactly do they mean? What is the job outlook for a Dietetic Technician and how is the process similar or different from becoming an RDN? Dietetic Technicians (DTR/NDTR), as our guest Candice Jones describes, are the Watson to the RD’s Sherlock Holmes, the Robin to Batman, the C3PO to R2D2 (I think you get the point). They bring a complementary set of skills that are key to the profession, as well as to patients and clients. As the Dietetic Technology Program Chair at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Candice knows the ins and outs of this growing profession. Today, Candice talks with us about: What the DTR credential is and the process for becoming a Dietetic Technician. DT vs DTR vs NDTR what’s the difference? The traditional and non-traditional career paths for DTR professionals and how to grow your salary as a DTR. New research on the exciting (and slightly unknown) future of the DTR educational pathway & we find out, is this a good pathway for people of color?

There are so many interesting career paths you can take in the world of nutrition and dietetics. This journey typically begins with finding an interest and that interest can turn into a passion. But, what happens when you have multiple passions? Is it possible to pursue all of them and maintain sanity as well as joy in your every day work? On this episode, we talk with Alice Figueroa, a registered dietitian who is pursuing her passions in malnutrition research, global health advocacy, diabetes prevention, culinary arts, and yoga. We learn how she balances it all, stays true to herself, and continues to find joy in her work.

What does it take to transition from another career, become an RDN and then take the leap to building your own private practice? On this SNACKS episode we chat with Basheerah Enahora, owner of BE Nutrition, a private practice based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Basheerah describes how she transitioned from a successful decade long career in the food marketing industry, juggled a full-time job and attended graduate school to achieve her dream of becoming an RDN. She describes how she managed her schedule as she built her private practice on the side while working full-time as an outpatient dietitian. Basheerah shares her insight on how to find clients, discusses marketing strategies that are necessary for a new private practice, explains the technology needed to set up a HIPPA-compliant practice, and more. Be sure to listen all the way to the end of the episode, where Basheerah reveals what about qualities and skills are a MUST HAVE to be a successful nutrition entrepreneur in private practice!

Second career and Non-Traditional Students enter the field with a unique set of skills and experiences that set them apart from their colleagues. On the other hand, it can be challenging to deal with the rigor of the educational pathway on top of being the first in your family to go to college or having a family of your own, or being a decade older than all the students around you. As a second career or non-traditional student you have a different perspective. To hear more about that perspective we talked with Dr. Francoise Knox-Kazimierczuk. As a second career dietitian as well as an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati she knows all about the winding road of the dietetic pathway. In today's episode she talks with us about her personal path from athletic trainer to chemist to dietitian to researcher, Her definition of a non-traditional student The historical structures that systematically put certain individuals at a disadvantage in education (read: everyone except white men) The pros of being a second career or non-traditional student and how to use your experiences to your advantage!

DICAS… the sound of that acronym can cause so much anxiety for dietetics students! We feel you, and know where you’re coming from. But the whole reason the DD Community exists is to help you get through, over or around anxiety in the whole RDN experience. We believe the more knowledge, prep and inside info that you have about the DICAS application, the less anxiety-ridden the whole process has to be. So on this episode of FMTF, we went straight to the source to get details on how DICAS applicants can get organized and make the best impression on their applications! Our guest on this episode is Kathleen Carozza. Kathleen the Dietetic Internship Program Director at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, New Jersey. She’s been an RDN for over 30 years. Under her tenure, the DI program at the College of Saint Elizabeth has doubled its capacity and become a combined masters/internship program.

On this episode, we talk with Trinique Stallings RDN. Trinique is a registered dietitian living and working in Philedelphia. She attended La Salle University and graduated two years ago from their Coordinated Program. Following the program she encountered obstacles in getting her first job, causing her to question her place in the field. Trinique talks to us about life after the dietetic internship, how she overcame questions around belonging and what she learned about shifting careers in the field of dietetics.

We are excited to announce a new feature of Feed Me the Facts podcast- our SNACKS episodes! SNACKS episodes will feature guests and topics that are of special interest to you, the RDN Professional of Color. Have you been thinking of starting your own nutrition business on the side in 2019? In our first SNACKS FMTF episode we are talking about "Starting a Side Hustle" with Kim Rose, RDN. Kim talks about how starting a side hustle wasn't even on her radar at all, but how she has embraced this new career pathway. She also shares what resources she's used to grow from just an idea to a full blown side hustle in less than one year! If you've been thinking of starting a side hustle to earn some extra income, build a new skill set or make a career change, be sure to check out this episode!

Have you ever been told, “you speak so well!” or asked, “but, where are you really from?” In this episode Deanna Belleny Lewis and Tamara Melton, the co-founders of Diversify Dietetics talk about microaggressions. What are they, how do we deal with them, and how do they impact the future of dietetics? Tamara and Deanna reflect on personal experiences both in the classroom and in their careers, then discuss the resources and research available for the Diversify Dietetics community.

In our FIRST podcast episode we talk about what students should do before, during and after a dietetic internship (or any academic) open house to figure out if the program is a good fit and to make a good impression on the program director and other faculty. Our guest, Hannah Thornton, is a clinical assistant professor and dietetic internship director at Texas State University. Hannah and Tamara discuss things that students do (or don't do) that can affect their chances of getting accepted to a program- things that have nothing to do with your GPA or personal statement. We also reveal some little known secrets of program directors, and why first impressions are such a big deal when you're applying to a dietetic internship.