Nutritionist Encourages Healthy Eating, Exercise

By Larissa Lytwyn

With an estimated $33 billion spent annually on diet books and weight-loss treatments, according to the US Surgeon General’s office, the United States is home to the world’s largest dieting industry.

Coupled with rising obesity rates, as well as increasing cases of childhood diabetes and asthma, weight preoccupation can easily eclipse the critical — if less cosmetic — goal of improved physical health.

Returning students to this health-first focus is one of 23-year-old Jill Patterson’s preeminent goals for Newtown schools this year. Ms Patterson is the district’s first resident dietician.

The district’s new food service company, Chartwells, hired Ms Patterson, a May 2004 graduate of the University of Connecticut at Storrs, as part of its student nutrition program, Nurture Our World.

“I’ve always liked the idea of working with kids,” Ms Patterson said, “and, combined with my interest in nutrition, my position here in Newtown is really an ideal one. I’m very excited to be here!”

The Kennebunk, Maine, native received a BS in dietetics from UConn, one of the only schools in New England to offer the program.

“One of the great things about my [dietetics] program was that it deeply integrated internships,” said Ms Patterson, “allowing us to get some real hands-on experience.”

The dietetics program is one of several concentrations, including food science, nutritional biochemistry, and nutrition and sports, students can specialize in under UConn’s nutritional sciences program.

The nutritional sciences program is part of UConn’s College of Agriculture & Natural Resources.

Under the program, Ms Patterson enjoyed several food-service internships, she said, at area hospitals and schools.

“It was very helpful to be exposed to a variety of environments,” she said. “I also was able to involve my work with children, which really strengthened my desire to work with them [professionally].”

Margie Saidel, the district’s director of nutrition, said she has worked in the food service industry for a number of years, most recently for a company in Oneida, Mass., before joining Chartwells last May.

“Right now we are grappling with the national childhood obesity problem, which are among the factors that have lead to [Chartwells’] development of a strategic nutritional plan for [the country],” she said.

She said that Ms Patterson’s multifaceted role includes heavy involvement in nutrition education.

Recently, Ms Patterson discussed the chemistry behind the low-carb diet craze with a Newtown High School biology class.

She also met with Middle Gate Elementary School’s second graders to introduce them to the fundaments of the food pyramid and the five food groups.

“In addition, [Ms Patterson] will be deeply involved in menu development,” said Ms Saidel.

Using specially designed software, Ms Patterson can calculate the caloric and nutritional levels of the Chartwells menu in concurrence with national dietary guidelines for children.

The Nurture Our World program is modeled with respect to the “Children and Healthy Choices: 50 Schools in 50 States” initiative, the US Surgeon General’s program to encourage children and adolescents to make healthy food choices.

“To implement the [healthier] programs, we aim to reach out to parents, school faculty, and administration and of course, students, to educate them on the benefits of making healthier choices, as well as how to make those choices,” said Ms Saidel.

While Chartwells cannot prohibit widely used, less-than-healthy foods from being purchased or made available, the company can and does, Ms Saidel explained, work to expand students’ number of choices.

In addition, she continued, “a lot of the snacks we offer, like chips, are baked, to lower fat content and meet [dietary] guidelines.”

Another interesting facet of Ms Patterson’s job is to ensure that children with severe food allergies are identified.

“We work with these students on a case-by-case basis, finding out which ingredients in which foods may pose a problem,” Ms Patterson said. “It’s important that parents make us aware and the school aware of their child’s [condition].”

As the year progresses, Ms Patterson will continue to work with students and their families, as well as school administrators and faculty, to provide resources and information on healthy dietary information.

“With all the various dietary crazes out there, as well as issues such as eating disorders, it’s important to provide the facts behind it all,” said Ms Saidel. “With [Ms Patterson] we can do that.”

Parents or students with questions regarding nutrition or similar concerns can contact Ms Patterson at Chartwells, JillPatterson@yahoo.com.