How did this collaboration come about?
A year ago, Dr. Rivera and the previous president of SDA, Yi Hao Chin, wanted to open an opportunity for nutrition students to offer nutrition education to the community. They reached out to me and asked if I was interested in coordinating the program. I felt that it was a great opportunity for me to practice my leadership skills.
We were in communication with the Naranja and Westchester branches for a month, where we brainstormed the key takeaways of the sessions: nutrition education to promote health, improve nutrition literacy, and helping the community achieve healthy lifestyles.
It’s now been a year since the program’s initiation, and we have members of all ages attending our sessions. This has been a great opportunity not just for me, but for our volunteers to apply the nutritional theories that we learn in school into the real world.
What kind of topics are covered at the sessions?
Nutrition is a broad world, so we go over a little bit of everything. We cover the importance of food groups, portion sizing, and how to read nutrition labels. We want them to understand that all foods fit. You can still have a pastelito, but you can also incorporate fruits and vegetables into your meals.
At the Westchester branch, we started offering cooking demos at each session. We recently taught attendees how to build a nutrient-dense yogurt parfait. As we made the parfaits together, we also spoke about protein, low-fat dairy, and fruit choices to maximize their daily nutrient intake. We don’t just give a cooking demo; we also talk about the benefits of the recipe and its components.
What has been the overall feedback?
The attendees love the sessions! They always stay behind to let us know that they liked the topics. They’re always very grateful and they ask, “When are you coming back?”
We also see that there’s a change in their behavior over time. They gradually become more health conscious; they’re thinking of how they are building their plates and how to take better care of themselves. They become more aware of health risks.
What has been a rewarding experience from this collaboration?
Seeing the impact that this program is making on the community. You see that they are taking in the lessons and applying them to their daily routines.
We held a session a few weeks ago about sarcopenia, which is the loss of muscle mass as we age. It happens to all of us at some point, but we can minimize its effects through good nutrition and daily exercise. The older adults were shocked to learn about this condition. Some attendees shared that this was their first time hearing about sarcopenia.
On a personal level, I get to have a behind-the-scenes look at what my future career is going to look like. When you’re working one-on-one with clients, they ask lots of questions about nutrition. You must give them an in-depth, knowledgeable answer that is tailored to their needs. This experience has taught me the importance of the theories that we learn in class and how we can apply them to the community.
How can we get involved?
The sessions are open to all members of the community. You do not need a library card to attend.
Dietetics & Nutrition students who are interested in volunteering within the sessions can contact me at jnava063@fiu.edu.
When are the next sessions?
Please stop by and join our sessions on the following dates:
Westchester Branch:
- May 22
- June 5
- June 26
Naranja Branch:
- May 16
- June 6
- June 20
- June 27
Additional dates can also be found at the Miami-Dade Public Library System's calendar of events.