Preparing Future Registered Dietitian Nutritionists for Working with Populations with Food Insecurity: A New Food Insecurity/Food Banking Supervised Practice Concentration Piloted with Dietetic Interns

Abstract

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Information Available below are the current Continuing Professional Education (CPE) articles for each month. CPE quizzes for these articles may be taken at www.eatrightPRO.org. Simply log in with your Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or Commission on Dietetic Registration username and password, go to the My Account section of My Academy Toolbar, click the “Access Quiz” link, click “Journal Article Quiz” on the next page, then click the “Additional Journal CPE quizzes” button to view a list of available quizzes. Non-members may take CPE quizzes by sending a request to [email protected] There is a fee of $45 per article for non-member Journal CPE. CPE quizzes are valid for 1 year after the issue date in which the articles are published. A 2012 Feeding America survey of food bank managers revealed a need to better prepare entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) for working within a food bank and/or working with populations with food insecurity. 1 Feeding America. Healthy Food Bank Hub website. https://healthyfoodbankhub.feedingamerica.org/resource/food-insecurityfood-banking-supervised-practice-concentration/. Accessed March 1, 2016. Google Scholar Feeding America is the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, with a network of more than 200 food banks in the United States. 2 Feeding America. Our history. http://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/about-feeding-america/our-history/. Accessed December 15, 2015. Google Scholar The Feeding America survey included responses from 100 food bank managers, the majority of whom (60%) reported working with RDNs and dietetic interns. The results of the survey suggest that although food bank mangers valued working with RDNs and interns, they also reported that many RDNs lacked necessary skills for working with a population with food insecurity. Examples of such skills include a gap in ability to translate science-based information into practical information and provide relevant food preparation techniques and recipe recommendations for food bank clients. One survey respondent stated, “Many [RDNs] who come to volunteer have little experience working with low-income communities and struggle to translate their science-based information to be more practical for clients; some seem to have difficulty meeting clients where they're at and making recommendations for incremental changes.” 1 Feeding America. Healthy Food Bank Hub website. https://healthyfoodbankhub.feedingamerica.org/resource/food-insecurityfood-banking-supervised-practice-concentration/. Accessed March 1, 2016. Google Scholar The results of this survey prompted exploring the feasibility of developing a Food Insecurity/Food Banking Supervised Practice Concentration (Concentration) to better prepare future dietetics professionals to be leaders in this area. Available below are the current Continuing Professional Education (CPE) articles for each month. CPE quizzes for these articles may be taken at www.eatrightPRO.org. Simply log in with your Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or Commission on Dietetic Registration username and password, go to the My Account section of My Academy Toolbar, click the “Access Quiz” link, click “Journal Article Quiz” on the next page, then click the “Additional Journal CPE quizzes” button to view a list of available quizzes. Non-members may take CPE quizzes by sending a request to [email protected] There is a fee of $45 per article for non-member Journal CPE. CPE quizzes are valid for 1 year after the issue date in which the articles are published. D. Handu is a lead analyst/program manager, Research, International, and Scientific Affairs, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL. L. Medrow is a project specialist consultant, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, Kansas City, KS. K. Brown is chief global nutrition strategy officer, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, Chicago, IL.