Richmond Dietetic Association

As you may have read in the VDA Lines, sustainable farming, the Farm Bill linked with nutrition are hot topics. The“Buy Fresh Buy Local” campaign is being introduced to Richmond and the RDA along with VDA are supporting the efforts to provide our community with local fruits, vegetables and other products from our local farms. Dietitians have the professional knowledge and credibility to raise awareness in this area and will be asked to help this advance in Richmond. If you have a particular interest please contact Marilyn Trownsell.

Five of our members attended the first Legislative leadership workshop in Richmond in February and found it exciting and worthwhile. Look for their remarks in this newsletter and on the WEB. RDA’s NNM chair, Elaine Smith, composed the proclamations for Virginia to designate March as Nutrition Month and March 10th as Dietitian Day. These were signed by Governor Kaine who has been invited to our annual VDA meeting March 30-April 1, 2008 held in Richmond. Elaine has other fun ways to be seen as a” RD the nutritional expert” in March for NNM. We will again have a booth as a part of the Ukrop’s 10K at its new location. So look for ways to be involved for NNM in the newsletter, on our Website or contact Elaine.

Clare Costello and her VDA annual meeting committee have planned a top notch annual VDA meeting in Richmond. Starting 3/30 w some excellent workshops even a gourmet culinary class at Sur La Table in Stony Point Shopping Mall and an exciting music filled opening event .-you do not want to miss. A record number of CEUs are offered , good food, a record number of sponsors and exhibits with some new faces like Power of Fruit, Brookview Farms, and Remuda Ranch to name a few.. Register ASAP.(on VDA website or via mail.)

Licensure issues have taken a back seat this year to Public Relations of RDs as the experts in nutrition. Nancy Farrell and Krystal Register, as VDA media reps, have produced some great resources and sound bytes to use by all VDA/RDA RDs. Grace Miller, RDA’s media rep, has been making headway in this area in Richmond so please contact her and learn what is available. There have been some excellent programs provided by RDA’s president-elect, Valerie Waters. November we had a cutting edge DB update , January had Susan Delgabo from U of VA share Vegetarianism and Eating Disorder insights and Lynda Fanning , VDA president, educated us on sustainable farming while Bev Townsend,RDA RD & owner of Belle Kuisine, served a tasty dinner.

Our website is state of the art and has great potential but we need you to use it more. We currently use it for registration and paying for meetings and membership by Paypal, reading articles about and by a our members, offered programs, available jobs, legislative resources, marketing your services for referral or speaking. interactive, chatting, blackboard possibilities, etc. Please let us know what you’d like to see and use. Also maybe some of you would like to be involved in producing the RDA Website data –let Paula Inserra know. Nominations for RDA officers will be slated soon.for your vote-keep an eye out and please vote. May we will hold our next RDA meeting for installation of our new officers, a great program on coaching and motivation by a YMCA expert, and more. It will be our membership drive (the RDA year is June to May) be sure to look for the announcement for date and come. We enjoy networking with you: we strengthen each other. This has been an enriching and exciting year. I thank you for the privilege of being your president. RDA is awesome keep it afire.

Thank you,

Marilyn Trownsell

Governor Timothy Kaine- 2008 Proclamations

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/CitizenServices/ConstituentServices/Proclamations/2008/nutritionalHealthMonth.cfm

Nutritional Health Month

WHEREAS, Virginia is committed to helping citizens of the Commonwealth live long, productive, healthy lives; and

WHEREAS, food is the substance by which life is sustained; and

WHEREAS, it is important to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits; and

WHEREAS, the type, quality, and amount of food that individuals consume each day plays a vital role in their overall health; and

WHEREAS, only 12% of Americans eat a healthy diet consistent with federal nutrition recommendations. The typical American diet is high in saturated and trans fat, salt, and refined sugars and too low in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, calcium, and fiber; and

WHEREAS, unhealthy eating and physical inactivity cause 1/3 of premature deaths; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for continuing nutrition education and a wide-scale effort to
promote good eating practices; and

WHEREAS, Registered Dietitians are food and nutrition experts, translating the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living. The expertise, training and credentials of a registered dietitian are vital for promoting positive lifestyle choices;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Timothy M. Kaine, do hereby recognize March 2008 as NUTRITIONAL HEALTH MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA and recognize March 10, 2008 as the first REGISTERED DIETITIAN DAY, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.