UConnCollegeofAgricultureandNaturalResources

DepartmentofAlliedHealthSciences/CoordinatedPrograminDietetics
Diet3235/Spring17/Reflection

1.Name
EmilyTaylor

2.Dateofplacement
3/21/17

3.Placementsite/description(urban,suburban,demographics,i.e.gender,age,race/ethnicity,etc)
CharterOakHealthCenter
UrbancommunityhealthcenterinHartford,CT.Audienceconsistedofadultsandolderadults,bothmale
andfemale.Peoplewhowerewhite,AfricanAmerican,andHispanic/Latinowerepresent.

4.Sitementor
LorieReardon

5.LanguagebarriersY/N.Ifyes,pleaseexplainhowyoudealtwiththechallenge
Yes.TwoparticipantsspokeonlySpanish.TherewereSpanishwordsontheslide,butitprobablywould
havebeenbetterhadtherebeenmore,orifmypartnerhadsaidacoupleofphrasesinSpanishoutloud
(shespeakssomeandIdontspeakany).Ithinkthatwewereabletoconnectwiththeseparticipantsby
goingovertotheirtableafterthelesson,beingfriendlyandhandingthemtherecipeandinformation
sheet,explicitlypointingoutthattheywereinbothEnglishandSpanish.

6.Describethesupervisedpraxplacement/activityhere.Pleaseweaveintoyourresponsethe
following:
A. ConnectionstotheNutritionCareProcess
a. PleaselistouttheNCPstepsonyourreflectionanddiscussindetainin
relationtothisplacementyouvechosentoreflectupon:
i. Assessment
TheparticipantsatCharterOakHealthCenterwereineitherthepreparationoractionstagesofthe
TranstheoreticalModel,accordingtomyownassessment.Eveniftheseparticipantshavenotstarted
makinglifestylechanges,theyhaveatleastbegunpreparingtodosobyattendingweightlossclasses,
mostofthemregularly.Therefore,itwasappropriatetogivethemtipsandstrategiesrelatedtogrocery
shoppingandmakinghealthychangesratherthansimplygivinginformationtomotivatethemtomake
healthychanges.Itwasalsoimportanttotakeintoaccountthattheseindividualsweremostlylow
income,soitwasimportanttoteachthemtipsthatwouldbeappropriateconsideringtheresources
availabletothem.
ii. Diagnosis
Overweight/obesityrelatedtolimitedaccesstofoodasevidencedbythemajoritylowincome
demographicoftheaudience,andinterestinlosingweightandlearningabouttipstohowtobuyhealthy
foodsforcheaper.

iii. Plan
1. CreatePowerPointPresentationusingSupermarketSmartshandoutwithfellowdietetics
student.SendtoKoonsHallcommunitynutritionstaffforfeedback.Makeedits.
 2. Practicepresentingandexplainingtipsforhealthyandbudgetfriendlysupermarketshopping.
3. AssessdemographicofHartford,CTandlearnaboutCharterOakHealthCenterandthe
servicesitoffers.
4. Gathernonfoodincentive:stickynotepadstoallowparticipantstomakegrocerylistsat
home.
5. Preparetastingofnosugaroatmealcookiesinordertomodelhealthychoices.Providerecipe
andasheetonnutritionfactsthatareliteracylevelappropriateandinbothEnglishand
Spanishtoallowparticipantstounderstandwhythefoodisbeneficialandallowthemto
prepareitathome.
6. Prepareappropriateevaluationform.
7. Reviewtransportationandprocedureforarrivingandcheckingin.
8. ArriveandsetuppullupPowerPointanddisplaycookies.
9. Performpreparedpresentation.
10. Answerquestionsofparticipantsandengagethemindiscussion.
11. Packupmaterialsandmakesureareausedisclean.
12. Evaluatesuccessofeducationandthinkofmodificationsforifthisprogramweretobe
repeated.

iv. Implementation
WhenwefirstarrivedatCharterOakHealthCenter,wehadtocheckinandsignemployeeformsto
maintainconfidentialityoftheparticipantsandtoensurethateveryonewhoworksatandvisitsCOHC
providesethicalhealthcareandhealthadvicetotheclientsofthecenter.Wethenlocatedthedietitians
officesandtheopenkitchen/lessonareawherewewouldbegivingourpresentation.Wecheckedinwith
ourcontact,LorieReardon.WesetupourPowerPointonthemonitor,thenhadextratimebeforethe
lessonstarted.WesatwiththeotherdieteticinternfromSt.JosephsCollege,oneoftheproviders,and
anoldergentlemanthereforthelesson.Theoldermanhadalotofideasaboutnutritionsomecorrect
andsomeincorrectandhadalotofquestionsforusasbuddingnutritionprofessionals.Wespokeabout
avarietyoffoodandnutritionissues,andaboutthismansexperiencesmanaginghisdiabetes.Wetried
tocorrectsomemisconceptionshethoughtthatbakedpotatoeshadlesscarbohydratethanboiled
potatoes,becausewhenyouboilpotatoes,youcanseethestarchrisingtothetopofthepot.Therestof
theparticipantsarrived(withtheexceptionoftheSpanishspeakingcouplewhoarrivedtowardstheend
ofthepresentation),andwebegun.MeganandIalternatedslidesaswehaddeterminedbeforethe
lesson.Participantsaskedquestionsandsparkeddiscussionbothduringandafterthepresentation.We
thenallowedparticipantstotrythesugarlessoatmealraisincookieswehadpreparedandtaketherecipe
andnutritioninformationsheet.Wealsopassedoutevaluationformsthatparticipantswereaskedto
complete.Fortheremainingtime,everyoneintheroommingled,talkingmostlyaboutfoodandnutrition.

v. Evaluation/Modificationimportantsection
Theprimarymeansofevaluationforourlessonwastheuseofanevaluationform.Fiveevaluationforms
werecollected.Thismeansofevaluationwouldhavebeenmoreeffectivewithmoreresponses,however
attendancewaslowattheclassthatday.Feedbackissummarizedbelowbyquestion:

1.Describeyourfavoritepartoftodayslesson.
60%ofrespondentsindicatedthattheylikedthelessonitselfandlearnedsomethingfromit.
o Ex:Ienjoyedgoingovergreatmoneysavingreminderswhenshopping.IfeelIwantto
startbuyingbulkfornonfooditems.
Onerespondentindicatedthatthesamplewastheirfavoritepartofthelesson.
2.Youcansavemoneybybuyingnonfooditemsat____stores.
Thisquestionwasnotwellinterpretedbythetargetaudience.Thecorrectanswerwasdiscount.
o 40%ofrespondentsansweredyes.
o 60%ofrespondentsgaveexamplesofdiscountstores,suchasBJsorOceanStateJob
Lot.

3.Preslicedvegetablesarelessexpensivethanwholeones.TrueorFalse?
Thecorrectanswerwasfalse.
60%ofrespondentsansweredcorrectly.

4.Basedontodayslesson,describethebesttimeforyoutogoshopping.
60%ofrespondentsansweredthisquestionwithinformationprovidedinthepresentation.
o Examples
When[produceis]inseasonand[youre]nothungry
Inthemorning
Morningafterbreakfastalonewithyourfavoriteplaylistandgrocerylist
40%ofrespondentsansweredyes,suggestingthattheydidnotunderstandthequestion.

5.Basedontodayslesson,whatsupermarketshoppingskillthatyoulearnedaboutareyouwillingtotry
athome?Circleasmanyanswersthatapply.
40%ofparticipantswerewillingtomakeashoppinglistbeforetheyshopandsticktoit.
80%ofparticipantswerewillingtolookforcouponsthatapplytoproductstheywillbebuying.
80%ofparticipantswerewillingtoprepareandslicetheirownvegetables.
60%ofparticipantswerewillingtobuyinseasonproduce.

Theevaluationformwasmostlysuccessful,exceptitseemsthatquestion2wasdifficulttounderstand.It
wouldhavebeenhelpfultosimplifytheevaluationformandalsoprovideoneinSpanish.Overall,results
fromtheevaluationformsindicatedthatparticipantslikedthelesson,understoodthetipsformaking
healthyandbudgetfriendlytipsatthegrocerystore,andwerewillingtotrythesetips.100%of
participantsindicatedthattheywouldtryatleastonetip.Thelevelofengagementintheclassroomalso
indicatedthatthelessonwassuccessful.

vi. Lessonslearnedanotherimportantsection
Ireallyfeelthatthelessonwentwell,butthereisalwaysroomforimprovement.Firstofall,more
informationshouldhavebeenprovidedinSpanishinthepresentation,andtheevaluationformshould
havebeenprovidedinSpanish.Ialsothinkthatitwouldhavebeengoodtoembedaninteractiveactivity
inthelesson,suchasanopportunityforparticipantstomakeagrocerylistandreceivefeedbackonit.I
thinkthatacookingdemowithfreshfoodswouldhavealsoaddedtothelesson,especiallybecausethe
kitchenfacilityinthelessonroomwasfantasticatCOHC.Thisisnottosaythatparticipantswerenot
engaged,becausetheywere,butthesewouldbegoodwaystoaddsomepizzazztothelessonand
providemorelearningopportunitiesforparticipants.

B.Competenciesyouaddressed/met.
CRD2.2Demonstrateprofessionalwritingskillsinpreparingprofessionalcommunications
(Note:Examplesincluderesearchmanuscripts,projectproposals,educationmaterials,
policiesandprocedures)
 WeeffectivelyusedwritingskillstocompileaneasytounderstandPowerPointand
informationalsheetonthenutritionfactsofourtasting.
CRDN2.3Demonstrateactiveparticipation,teamworkandcontributionsingroupsettings
Wedividedtasksandcoordinatedtoensurethatourworkhadcontinuity.
CRDN2.9Participateinprofessionalandcommunityorganizations
WeeffectivelycoordinatedwithCharterOakHealthCentertogiveapresentationthataligned
withtheprogramandorganizationgoals.
CRDN2.10Demonstrateprofessionalattributesinallareasofpractice
IfeelthatIconductedmyselfprofessionallybefore,during,andafterthelesson.
CRDN3.4Design,implement,andevaluatepresentationstoatargetaudience
WedesignedthePowerPointpresentation,implementedinawaythatsparkeddiscussionand
engagedtheaudience,theneffectivelyusedevaluationsheetstodeterminetheeffectivenessof
ourprogram.
CRDN3.5Developnutritioneducationmaterialsthatareculturallyandageappropriateanddesignedfor
theliteracyleveloftheaudience
ParticipantsshowedunderstandingofthematerialpresentedinthePowerPointitself.Issueswere
mostlywiththeevaluationform.

C.Connectionstoclasslecturenotesimportanttodemonstratetheloop
WhenwetalkedaboutfoodsecurityintheCommunityNutritionclasswithDr.Mobley,wementioned
thatreducedquality,ornutritionaladequacy,isoneofthecomponentsoffoodinsecurity.Fromthework
IhavedoneinDr.Mobleyslabinterviewingfoodinsecurecouples,Iknowthatbudgetingandgrocery
shoppingstrategiesareveryimportantforfamilieswithlimitedmeans.Ifeelthatthroughthislesson,we
wereabletotargetthequalityaspectoffoodinsecurity.Teachingpeoplehowtoshophealthierisbyno
meansanoverallsolutiontofoodinsecurity,butitisanimportantsupplementtohelppeoplestretchtheir
SNAPbenefitsortheirownmoneyabitfurthertohaveasatisfyingandhealthydiet.

Researchalsosupportsteachinggroceryshoppingtipstofacilitatehealthiereating.Onestudythat
examinedbarrierstogroceryshoppingshowedthatoneoftwomainbarrierswaslackofselfefficacyin
choosing,preparing,andcookinghealthfulfoods(Hollywoodetal,2013).Thelessonweprepared
seemedtohaveincreasedselfefficacy,as100%ofparticipantswerewillingtotryatleastoneofthetips
provided.

Hollywood,L.E.,Cuskelly,G.J.,OBrien,M.,Mcconnon,A.,Barnett,J.,Raats,M.M.,&Dean,M.
(2013).Healthfulgroceryshopping.Perceptionsandbarriers.Appetite,70,119126.
doi:10.1016/j.appet.2013.06.090

D. Lastbriefnotes:
a. Acceptanceofyourpresenceatthesite
IfeltthatwewereveryacceptedatCharterOakHealthCenter.Oursitecontactandtheparticipants
seemedveryhappytohaveusthere,andwereexcitedtolistentoourpresentation.Everyonewasvery
chattyandfriendlyoutsideofthelessonitselfaswell.

b. Yourperceivedvalueandworthoftheactivities/lesson
IthinkthatmyexperienceatCharterOakHealthCenterwasveryvaluablebecauseitgavemeexperience
teachingaclasstoadults.TheconversationsthatIhadbeforeandafterthelessonitselfalsogaveme
confidenceingivingnutritioneducationonthespotwhenpeoplehavequestions.
 c. Sitementorperceivedvalueandworthofthelesson/shareanyoftheir
comments
LorieReardonseemedhappytohaveusthere,complimentedusonourpresentation,andthankedusfor
coming.

d. Yourcomfortlevelatsite
Iwasverycomfortableatthissitebecauseeveryonewasfriendly,respectful,andexcitedtobethere.I
thinkIwouldhavebeenabitlesscomfortableiftherehadbeenmoreparticipants,butIthinkevensoit
wouldhavebeenapositiveexperience.IfoundduringthiscommunitypracticumoverallthatIammuch
morecomfortableworkingwithadultsandolderadultsthanchildren.

7.KEYPOINTTOEND:Whatdidyougainfromtheexperiencethatspeakstoyourgrowthand
developmentasacommunitynutritionist?Inwhatwaysareyoufeelingincreasinglycompetent?
(woohoo!)
Asmentionedpreviously,thisexperiencewaskeyinincreasingmyconfidenceinmyabilitytotalkto
participantsandgivenutritioneducationonthespot.Ialsofeelmorecompetentinmyabilitytoengage
anaudiencefollowingthispresentation.Ilearnedthatasacommunitynutritionist,itisimportanttobe
professionalwhilemaintainingarelaxedandfriendlyatmosphere.Itisimportanttoallowpeopleto
contributeandreallylistentowhattheyhavetosaytomakesurethatparticipantsfeelvalued,becauseit
isinthiskindofenvironmentthatpeoplelearnbest.

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