Updates

 

This was Stella when we first got her! So tiny and precious!

 

This is Stella 3 weeks ago, growing like a weed!!

My 23rd Birthday!!

Jerrod Neiman, Chris Young, & Miranda Lambert Concert in Macon!

Me & My Sweet Mother who took me to the concert! :) LOVE her!

Girls Night Out for Whit & Meg's 23rd Birthday!

I just wanted to make a quick post! I've been super busy lately. I finished up my dietetic internship rotations! Whoo hoo! 8 months flew by but I am so grateful for the opportunity and experience God blessed me with. Cedar Crest College was a great opportunity! I completed my rotations in Georgia (distance intern) at the Medical Center of Central Georgia, South Central Health District, the local school nutrition program office, and the district Head Start facility. I learned so much and had the most amazing preceptors. I definitely was blessed. I would recommend a distance dietetic internship to anyone looking for one this fall or spring! It is a lot of paperwork but once you get past that part, it is not so bad. God always puts you where he wants you.

Now, I just have to submit my final paper, pass my RD exam, and get a job! Wish me luck!

Get Your Plate in Shape for National Nutrition Month

Get Your Plate in Shape for National Nutrition Month

Good nutrition is essential for good health. Not only is nutrition a preventive measure for many chronic diseases and problems, but nutrition is a science that is constantly changing as new evidence and new research appears. Registered Dietitians (RD’s) are the professionals that are required to stay up to date and in the know about current nutrition which is evidence-based. RD’s are professionals who have an undergraduate or graduate degree in nutrition, food science, and/or dietetics from an accredited program, followed by a 1200 hour minimum internship that is packed with different rotations in the field of nutrition, followed by an exam that has to be passed in order to legally use the term registered dietitian (RD) behind their name and counsel others. After all of this, in order to maintain their license in the state of Georgia, a RD must meet requirements of completing 30 continuing education hours every two years and in order to remain a registered dietitian, one must complete 75 continuing education hours every 5 years. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is a large organization filled with food and nutrition professionals in all fields of nutrition. They also are an advocate and educator for evidence-based practice and reliable nutrition information you can trust. They also promote National Nutrition Month. National Nutrition Month is in March each year. This year’s theme is “Get Your Plate in Shape.” In case you are not aware, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created an icon known as MyPlate. Its predecessor, MyPyramid, ended in the summer of 2011. This icon is always based on the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans which are updated every 5 years. This new icon also places an emphasis on mealtime and the recommendations are for children two of age or older. Although the MyPlate icon is only one symbol, it is a recommendation for everyone. However, the portion sizes do vary based on one’s age. Portion sizes developed for you can be found at ChooseMyPlate.gov.  MyPlate is a colorful icon that represents 5 essential components of a plate: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. The goal is to make your plate into four sections. Half of the plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables. For example, a lunchtime salad can meet this recommendation by having a spinach salad with dried cranberries, dried strawberries, diced green pepper, and raspberry vinaigrette dressing. The other half of my plate would be filled with protein and grains. MyPlate recommendations state that protein should take up 1/4^th of your plate and grains should take up the final 1/4^th of your plate. The final component is a low-fat dairy product or a 1% or fat-free milk product. 2% milk and dairy products do not count as a low-fat dairy product; these are reduced-fat products. This is not drawn on the plate divided into four sections but it is drawn as a cup sitting to the side of the plate. If you are lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy, the recommendations are for you to replace this product with a food product that is high in calcium. MyPlate recommendations also recommends drinking less sugary drinks and replacing it with 100% juice, water, or low-fat or fat-free milk. The MyPlate icon is not something that has to be followed three times a day, you can spread out the recommended amounts between three meals and two snacks, five small meals, or however you choose to divide up your daily intake. Following the guidelines set by MyPlate and controlling your portion sizes will have your plate in shape in no time!

For more information on the MyPlate recommendations, visit www.ChooseMyPlate.gov. For a referral to a registered dietitian and for additional food and nutrition information visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website at www.eatright.org.

Prepared by Morgan Sanders, Cedar Crest College Dietetic Intern

Ice Ice, Baby!

So here in south Georgia we have officially had our first "ice" of the year. Last year is snowed in February and I am keeping my fingers crossed to see another snow day soon! I have this week off and then I go back to college next week for my last first day of undergraduate classes EVER! I am very excited!

The ice outside is now melting and I am craving a good Keurig cup of coffee! My granny uses a Peculator to make her coffee and it makes some of the best coffee one could ever try but it makes a lot at one time, so for those who only one one or two cups, this is not the best solution. Whereas, my granny drinks coffee from sunup to sundown so she finds it useful. Now, my mama purchased a Keurig and I must say, it seemed expensive to buy the individual cups but when I thought about how much I spend at Starbucks on one drink, it no longer seems so bad. I absolutely love breakfast blends! No, they are not that strong, but they are delicious!

As for my Cricut expression that I received for Christmas. I have yet to use it a whole lot, I wrote my name on my sewing machine and on my Cricut. I made letters for my mothers car and I made a huge K for her pie plate but other than that I have not used it much. I ordered some material to attempt to make a few iron on things for little kids! I am anxiously awaiting its arrival so I can put my new Cricut to use!

Today I have been rather productive - I have merged all my duplicate Gmail contacts, I have contacted Verizon to successfully return my Android Eris #4 and FINALLY they agreed to send me a new phone the Droid 2. Reviews are not that great on this phone, but I am just ecstatic that they are sending me something other than the Eris. It is now being shipped overnight and will be here tomorrow for me to try out! Wish me luck!

Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred is in the works while I am at home - it always makes me feel much better when I exercise! I cannot wait to start jogging again! The wedding is just around the corner and I have a majority of things out of the way. I have my rehearsal dress, wedding dress, and reception dress - now all I need is shoes for these! Below is a picture of some of my bridesmaids when we went to let them try on dresses. They got to choose their own style dress in Satin or Cotton Sateen, they just have to have the same color - Sangria!

May

So I am still on Christmas break and I have one more full week off! 5 weeks at home has been so nice! I substituted all week this past week. I had first grade, special ed, fifth grade, and third grade. I absolutely love third grade students! If I was going to be a teacher - I would pray that I could teach them! They are super cute :)

I am currently working on the DICAS application for Utah State Distance Dietetic Internship and for Northern Colorado University Distance Dietetic Internship. I am praying that in April I will find out that I am accepted into one of the two. I have two of my preceptors forms completed - Ms. Dena Barrows, RD, LD, School Nutrition Director and Ms. Millie Smith, RD, LD, is going to be my Clinical preceptor. I am waiting on a district person from the Health Department to e-mail me back about being my community nutrition preceptor and I need to find a long-term care center for 2 weeks to complete rotations at.

The DICAS form is a little aggravating because it is the first year it has been used and being a transfer student, when I am entering my courses, on my ABAC transcripts, I have no idea if it is wanting to know the way it was named at that school or if it wants how GSU accepted it and what GSU called the class and in the instructions that is not listed. I have to have the DICAS form completed and have additional information mailed by February 15th. Time is moving so quickly!

Besides, internship stuff - I have been walking! My roommate Caitlin said that she got a new Jillian Michaels video that uses a Kettle ball - so I am definitely going to get one. We love the 30 day Shred video Jillian has - so I have no doubt that her new video "with weights" is a good one!

My first shower is the 22nd of this month! I can't believe it! I am super excited and I have no idea what I am going to wear!

My grandparents gave Benton and I a set of really pretty fine china and I am registered for casual china. It is Juliska Thread and Berry! I LOVE it! It is very pretty and I have already received my first gift! I dinner plate from that registry courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Harrington! I was super excited, and no, I did not break the bow :)

My wedding is 140 days away - it is sneaking up! I have the florist and photographer out of the way. Below is a picture of my two main colors for the wedding, I call it sangria & lime :) And yes, the boys are wearing "toffee" colored tuxess!

I really have been wanting a puppy. My mother thinks that it is not the right time in my life to get a puppy, but they are so cute and I have a lot of patience and I can't help but to look at the online constantly. Benton and I have talked about it a lot and it definitely is in the future! We both like miniature schnauzers! This is a white one that is irresistibly cute from the kennel in which we are going to buy one from!

Benton and I went to the Falcons game last week and I had a blast! I loved that it was in a dome and the people were all so enthusiastic! It was one of the best Christmas gifts! Brandy & Jake gave the tickets to Benton, second row seats! At first I was a little hesitant about a football game in January thinking it was going to be long and cold and full of old people. I was wrong! It was a lot of fun, only cold outside, and people of all ages! I would definitely go back!

Well, back to working on the DICAS form. I am excited to see if here in south Georgia if we will see the "snow storm" on Monday that the weathermen are predicting!