Education Path
My passion for dietetics started in high school when I became interested in the science behind the food we eat. I knew that was the career field I wanted to go into, but decided to take a soccer scholarship at Lindenwood University and continue my education in Exercise Science since they didn't have a dietetics program. After earning my degree, I was accepted into Illinois State University to complete the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) coursework I needed before I could apply for dietetic internships. After a year and a half of classes, and a very lengthy process of submitting my DICAS application, I was accepted to Bradley University! Bradley's program is a Masters degree along with the dietetic internship, and currently I am in the final 6 months of rotations. After graduation (in August!!) I will be eligible to sit for the RD exam and finally achieve my goal of becoming a Registered Dietitian.
Dietetics Overview
The field of dietetics focuses on the connection between the food we eat and our overall health.
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The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is our governing body and is a valuable resource for professionals in the field.
The USDA offers plenty of online and printable nutrition resources for professionals and individuals looking for more information.
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Professional Work
Currently, I am working with District 150 in my food service rotation. During the course of this rotation, my partner and I will create a new summer meal menu, teach nutrition courses to the community, and gather data for the school lunch programs being implemented in some of the schools in the district.
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Community
With the exception of individualized rotations, all of our coursework for our dietetic internship is completed in Peoria, Illinois. It is incredibly rewarding to be able to make a difference in the local community through nutrition. Many of our volunteer locations are at food banks and pantries that serve meals to low-socioeconomic individuals every weekend. Having the opportunity to reach different people and get them excited about food and nutrition is one of the most gratifying parts of this career.
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