Introduction

Miles, Stuart (2012).
Dieting Advice Confusion Monitor [Cartoon].
Retrieved from: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net
/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2664

Hi there!  My name is Brenda Le and I'm in my second year of the Nutrition and Food Science Major at the University of Alberta.  I think nutrition is fascinating because I like to understand the science behind the food we eat.  I am also interested in healthcare, so it seems fit that my career goal is to become a registered dietitian.  In this post I will discuss the role of communication in the dietetic profession. 

Communication is an indispensable part of a dietitian's career.  They counsel clients about healthy food choices and in order for the clients to understand their advice, dietitians must explain scientific information with common terms.  While most dietitians communicate in person, through telephone, or though e-mail, some are starting to use social media in a professional manner.  An example is @DesireeRD on Twitter.  She is a registered dietitian who tweets tidbits of nutritional information along with updates on her career.

Last year I did some volunteer work for a dietitian with Alberta Health Services.  Our primary methods of communicating with each other were through e-mail and teleconferencing.  I helped her simplify training modules for staff in Nutrition and Food Services (NFS).  The training modules covered topics such as fire safety, food safety, and WHMIS.  We had to ensure that our use of language did not exceed a grade 8 level because many staff members in the NFS department learned English as a second language.  I discovered how challenging it is to simplify information, yet retain its accuracy.  Communication is an integral part of a dietitian's work and they must always consider their audience so they can convey their message at an appropriate level.  This was a great learning experience that was also very rewarding as the modules that I helped her with were distributed to hundreds of NFS staff members across Alberta. 

Campus Food Bank (2008).
Campus Food Bank Logo [Logo}.
Retrieved from: http://campusfoodbank.com/

I will conclude my post with a small update from my ALES 204 class.  I have chosen to take part in Community Service-Learning (CSL), a program where students volunteer with an organization as part of their coursework.  When I first heard about participating in CSL, I jumped at the chance because I've always wanted to get more involved with school, but I never really did.  This term I will be placed with the Campus Food Bank, along with Nian and Aimee.  I look forward to learning more about food, meeting new people, and helping out hungry students!

Thanks for reading!