Today is the first annual Registered Dietitian Day! The American Dietetic Association, in recognition of National Nutrition Month, has announced March 10th as Registered Dietitian Day.

Registered Dietitians (RD’s) are the nutrition experts. They are committed to improving the health of their clients and their community. They can help you make positive lifestyle changes to help manage or prevent many medical conditions.

Celebrate Registered Dietitian Day by scheduling an appointment with your RD. If you do not have an RD, Nutrition Pair is available for individual, phone or email consultations. Or you can find a dietitian in your local area by visiting www.eatright.org and clicking on “Find a Nutrition Professional”.

John and I would like to extend a special thank you to Kelly McCombs, MS, RD, LDN, CDE. Kelly has been an RD with Nutrition Pair for the past two years. She has both B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Human Nutrition from THE Ohio State University. Kelly is also a Certified Diabetes Educator. She is a wonderful asset to Nutrition Pair. Thanks Kelly!

It’s Your Health. It’s Your Life. Make that change!

~ Angie & John

We took part in a talk radio show recently with Radio Café Hertford 103. John and I were paired up against a third “nutritionist”. “Battle of the Nutritionists” they called it. But John and I are Registered Dietitians, not nutritionists. We hold both B. S. and M. S. degrees in Human Nutrition. We each spent six months in structured internship programs and sat for a national exam. The individual they paired us up with was someone who is interested in health and wellness that happens to sell a nutritional product. A nutritionist can be anyone off the street–maybe they have a high school degree, maybe they have a degree in astrophysics, but not a degree in nutritional science.

Our battle was over many things, but particularly over water. Water–what John and I try to get our clients to drink more of. The third “nutritionist” was trying to say that water is not good enough, that you have to buy his company’s water–special water that is low in acid, “more alkaline”. Pardon me, but all this water is going to do is make the person selling it richer. Our bodies do not need alkaline water. Water, plain and simple, tap if it tastes good, bottled if it doesn’t. Simple enough. There is nothing complex about it. “Oh but, alkaline (ionized) water passes through body tissues more efficiently”. This is complete bull. Remember, our stomachs are full of gastric acid. Gastric acid has a pH of roughly 2.5. Once this alkaline water reaches our stomachs it is turned directly into acid. The water does not reach the tissues in its original state. There’s absolutely no reason for it and it is a complete waste of money.

Please take the advice of Registered Dietitians for your nutrition information. RD’s are the experts in human nutrition and how our bodies work to manufacture what we eat. John and I are not out to sell products. We sell a service—helping those reaching better health though a better diet and lifestyle. We want to help others lead healthier, longer lives. We are not out to become millionaires off of the latest nutritional gimmick.

OK, I’m done. Listen to our radio show: http://www.rch103.com/archives/137 
Remembering that RD’s are the nutritional experts will to help to eliminate the confusion about conflicting nutritional views—whether it’s with this radio show or with anything else dealing with nutrition.

~ Angie

This should be an interesting week.  I will be traveling to Florence, Alabama for a 240 mile bike ride to Nashville, Tennessee!  I am participating in the first Tour DaVita.  The tour is to raise money for the Kidney Trust Fund.  The Fund is used to increase knowledge and awareness of kidney disease.  Over 200 riders will participate in this event.  It is a worthy cause.  I have never ridden such long distances, so this should be a learning experience.  Stay Tuned!

~ John

Family Meal Time

Sitting down to dinner is a concept that many families have difficulty doing these days. As a working mother with two active children, I fully understand how hard it can be for everyone to come together as a family for a dinner meal. At times, it seems like every night is full with after-work meetings, football practice or music lessons. However, making time for family meals is important. Take a look at the benefits it holds to children:

• Teaches table manners and conversation skills
• Improves eating habits, as children tend to eat more fruits and vegetables  when meals are shared with their parents
• Helps them develop a sense of security
• Helps them feel connected to their family
• Exposes them to new and different foods
• Teaches them patience (waiting for dishes to be passed, waiting until all are finished before leaving the table or waiting their turn to talk)
• Provides a great time for laughter and fun

It should be noted that the benefits are just as important to teenage children as they are to infants who are just starting to eat solid foods. Research has shown that teens who eat regular family meals do better in all ways- nutritionally, socially, emotionally and academically. A University of Minnesota study found that teens that ate the most meals with family had the least tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use. They also had higher grade point averages, less depression and less suicide. Specifically, in teen girls, the more meals that were consumed with family, the less likely they were to use extreme weight control measures (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158:792-796).

Our family makes every effort that we can to schedule our dinner time around extra-curricular activities. When we turn off the television and light a candle, the kids know that it is time to unwind and come together for a meal (even if we’re just having leftovers!).

Find the time to enjoy more family meals, no matter how simple they may be. It will help your family eat better, stay healthy and grow closer!

~Angie

It’s Your Health. It’s Your Life. Make That Change!