Happy RD Day!

Registered Dietitian Day… a holiday you’ve never heard of before? Probably! Four years ago, the American Dietetic Association decided to mark a day to honor registered dietitians, and there’s no better month to do so than March – National Nutrition Month!

 Those who are close to me know that I cringe and/or spin in to a violent rage (kidding…sorta) when I’m referred to as a “nutritionist” instead of a “dietitian.” Why, you may ask? While these terms may sound very similar and like they’d do the same type of thing, there is actually quite a difference.

What are the differences? Well, I am so glad you asked!

From the American Dietetic Association website (eatright.org):The “RD” (registered dietitian) credential is a legally protected title that can ONLY be used by practitioners who are authorized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association.

Some RDs may call themselves “nutritionists,” but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. (I know, that’s way confusing. That’s why I only call myself a dietitian!) The definition and requirements for the term “nutritionist” vary. Some states have licensure laws that define the range of practice for someone using the designation “nutritionist,” but in other states, VIRTUALLY ANYONE can call him- or herself a “nutritionist,” REGARDLESS of education or training.

Individuals with the RD credential have fulfilled specific academic and professional requirements, including having earned at least a bachelor’s degree (although about half of RDs hold advanced degrees as well), completed a supervised practice program and passed a registration examination – in addition to maintaining continuing education requirements for recertification.

In short, registered dietitians are professionals who have completed 5 or more years of education & training to become credentialed food and nutrition experts who are trained to translate the evidence-based science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living. However, nutritionists may simply be someone who watches Dr. Oz on the regular, picks up nutrition tips from him, and distributes that knowledge to others. Which would you feel more comfortable with?

When you need food and nutrition information based on facts or need to know how a healthy diet improves health and fights disease – rely on qualified professionals in the field. If you take away nothing else from this post, remember this: RD = Expert.

Happy Registered Dietitian Day!

Cartoon from http://www.diabeteshealth.com/

A Reply (by Bob)

I'm switching it up this post! I follow several blogs, and after reading the most recent post of my dear friend Bob, I felt that his message was something powerful that I needed to share. A fellow Billiken, Bob will be graduating from Saint Louis University this spring. This semester, he is taking a course in spiritual exercises, and the following letter (shared with permission) is an assignment Bob wrote in the style of the philosopher Seneca. As much as I talk about nutrition and physical activity, I really haven't touched on spiritual exercises - but what better time to get our spiritual side into shape than during Lent?! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

My dear Gardener,

How good it was to hear from you! I was most pleased to learn of your change in profession. Being a mason certainly had many benefits. You were able to build many wonderful and beautiful structures.. wonderful lighthouses to guide those searching for a path. I was worried when I heard of the collapse of one of your structures, the lighthouse you were so proud to have completed crumbled and fell. You are no doubt aware of the causes of this. I have no doubts in your skill at masonry, but it was the very structure that was damaged, that was weak. Without any ability to move and sway with the winds, or to move with the shakings of the earth, all structures fail.


Have you made a connection yet between the crumbling of your tower, and the misguidedness of the path you were on in life? As I have stated, your tower could not handle the subtle changes of the elements. In much the same way, you could not handle the subtle changes of life. You were so used to building things of stone, you also built yourself of stone. Everything you had learned in life, everything that had crossed your path you internalized. This is good! Without internalizing events we learn little. However, you internalized things and did not question them.

The events of your life were but steps on your path, yet you did not know where you were going, and more importantly you did know from where you came.

All the gifts of your life, you gathered together. You did not necessarily take them for granted, but you did not imagine a life without them, you did not question towards what end they were leading you. Further, you did not question where God was leading you in all of these things.

And much like your tower, which took but the smallest quake of the earth to destroy,
it took one small question, “Where are you headed in life down this path?” to freeze you in place with fear.

But you have recovered well from that point! You are now the gardener of something incredibly precious. For just as you prune and make beautiful flowers and other pieces of nature, you also have learned to do the same with yourself. You have certainly found that at times you must cut parts of plants away so that the rest of the plant may live. In some cases too, beautiful parts of a flower must be removed in order that the flower may continue to grow. You must do the same with yourself, you must be open to your own self-pruning. Your soul can become so much more alive, so much more happy if you practice this self-care.

This is no easy task to be sure, but you are not alone in your endeavors. God, in all of God’s goodness, is helping you. You just need to be aware, to be present to what God is saying. This idea of presence is perhaps the first step in cultivating a strong sense of self. Do not think your efforts in building were a waste. They brought you to this point. It may not have been the quickest route to this point where you can freely discern, but it is sometimes necessary to come to these points in our lives through a “back door.” If you had been more in practice of being present to yourself and your surroundings, you would have likely realized that masonry was not fitting for you. You desire something with more fluidity, something with greater opportunity for growth and freedom. But you have started down the path to presence in the end.

What does it mean to be present in every situation? It means that you are aware, you are able to see each situation for what it really is. In all of your interactions with others, you are able to view them as a third party. It may sound paradoxical to be both present and removed from a situation, but think of a couple in the heat of an argument. Is either person being very present to the feelings of the other? But if one can step back and view the argument of the other, than true presence can be found, and the couple can reach a resolution.

Very often as a gardener you may find that your work goes unnoticed. You are no longer constructing enormous (and at times beautiful) structures. But use this as a lesson in humility. How fickle were your creations. Does anyone remember everything you have built? You may, but I imagine that there are certain aspects even you do not remember. No one may ever see your beautiful arrangements of flowers and trees and bushes, but you will know that they are your creation.

You will also be aware that sometimes pieces of your arrangement must be removed. Something may grow which at first appears beautiful, but in truth it does not fit. This same occurrence happens in life. How often do you try to take up things into yourself? How often do you try to make the ideas of others part of yourself? This practice is not in itself bad, for how else can one learn if not by examining the thoughts and practices of others? But, where many people fail is in not examining these ideas. They simply add them to their buildings, but when something comes along that challenges this idea they are greatly weakened because they have never examined it. If however you treat each new idea as a leaf on a stem then you can be more present, more open to growth. Upon being challenged, you can simply remove the leaf, and the rest remains strong.

Take great care in all of your actions.

Your life is meant to allow immense growth.

Very often, the size of a plant is only limited by the nutrients it is offered. Be sure to nurture yourself always. Do not settle for the advice of peers. Look to the heroes of old, in all areas of study for knowledge. Create a fertile bed for yourself, and you can handle any variety of situations that your journey may bring you.

The better the ground from which you sprout, the stronger your roots can be, and the less likely you will be to stumble as you did once before.

If you do stumble though, examine what tripped you and add this too, to your bed from which you grow.


Gardens at Versailles, the most beautiful place I've ever been

 For more of Bob's thoughts and insights, you can follow his blog "Presently Present" at http://reflectiveandpresent.blogspot.com/