ArAND Receives Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Mini-Grant
The Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (ArAND) received an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) mini-grant to promote the nutrition and dietetics profession, and implement nutrition education and hands-on programming for underrepresented groups. Stephanie Jones MPH, RD, LD, CHES, CPT, a Well-Being Clinician for Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield and ArAND’s Diversity Liaision, applied for the IDEA grant with the help of Sarah Keathley MS, RD, LD, private practice dietitian, and Courtney Fose, MS, RD, LD, CNSC, FAND, program director of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Dietetic Internship. The team worked with the UAMS Pathways Academy program to coordinate nutrition sessions and a hands-on culinary activity for students in 5th-8th grades. Pathways Academy is a statewide K-12 STEM-H educational and community engagement program with the ultimate goal of diversifying the healthcare workforce. The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance provided additional grant funding and the use of their Cooking Matters program materials to help support this endeavor.
Jones and Keathley, along with Alyssa Frisby MS, RD, LD, from the UAMS Culinary Medicine Program, discussed the benefits of becoming a Registered Dietitian with students and emphasized the importance of eating a balanced, healthy diet using MyPlate. The presenters demonstrated basic knife skills and discussed knife safety and basic kitchen terminology with the students before beginning a hands-on nutrition activity where students could demonstrate what they learned. The students, assisted by UAMS dietetic interns, sliced and chopped fresh fruit and portioned granola and yogurt into parfait cups to create healthy and refreshing snack. “We were able to impact many children by teaching them the fun of nutrition and the benefits of being a Registered Dietitian,” shared Jones after the event. Keathley added, “I watched so many kids taste a new fruit for the first time and then build creative parfaits with a lot of flair!”
With the Academy’s support through the IDEA grant and the additional funds granted by the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, ArAND plans to continue to promote the nutrition and dietetics profession and cultural understanding of current professionals, and provide a welcoming environment for all participants.
