Celebrating Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day

By Rita Zapien, Registered Dietitian

Looking for guidance when it comes to your diet?  Help may be as close as your nearest registered dietitian. Wednesday, March 10, 2021 is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Day. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics created this day to celebrate the work that registered dietitian nutritionists do to improve the health of their patients and clients.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, as well as National Nutrition Month®, which is also observed in March, commemorates the dedication of RDNs as advocates for advancing the nutrition status of our communities. RDNs have degrees in nutrition, dietetics, public health or other related field from accredited colleges and universities. All RDNs have completed an internship, passed an examination and maintained continuing education, with many also holding advanced degrees and specialty certifications.

Legacy Community Health’s nutrition program began almost a decade ago under the City of Houston’s Ryan White nutritional grant. Registered Dietitian Manager Sean Barrett was hired in 2012 as Legacy’s first registered dietitian and the program has now expanded to four registered dieticians. Each offers nutritional counseling services that can help patients determine the foods and eating patterns that will help them meet their overall health goals.

For those living with HIV, medical nutrition therapy has been shown to help improve quality of life, resolve various health related symptoms, increase medication effectiveness and prevent or reduce undesirable weight loss, muscle wasting and malnutrition from nutrient deficiencies.

Legacy’s registered and licensed dietitians are dedicated to providing nutrition education and counseling to individuals of all ages. During your visit, we will perform a thorough assessment and develop personalized dietary recommendations based on your unique needs. Our dietitians are here to help you create nutrition goals which meet and exceed your overall health goals, that fit into your lifestyle.

Nutrition counseling at Legacy can help with a variety of topics such as general nutrition, medical weight management, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or HIV. Talk to your Legacy provider if you want to meet with an RDN. Visit our website or call (832) 548 5000 to schedule an appointment.