| May 2017 Newsletter
Greetings:
The 2016-2017 year has come to an end. It was an
honor serving as your president. This weekend,
new officers will be inducted and will officially take
office on June 1, 2017.
I would like to encourage you to participate in MS-AND activities. Compared to
other states, our organization is very small. We need your involvement to help
us grow. If you do not wish to participate at the state level, participate at
your district or local level. Again, we need YOU.
As always, I look forward to working with you in the future. I’m committed to
staying involved. Remember to follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Check the website often. It’s been a great experience. I’ll see you at next
year’s annual conference.
Best,
LaShaundrea B. Crook, MS, RDN, LD
President, MSAND
|
|
| Gulf Coast-AND District Update
GCAND served at Our Daily Bread in Pascagoula on April 29. Through our t-shirt fundraiser, we were able to donate $100! They were so appreciative to have our service and the financial donation, as this is a time of year they have a great need. We had a great time serving up a host of impressive dishes, and we thank all eight members who gave up time from their weekend to help those in our fellow community.
Officer elections are currently underway. Please vote to help make 2017-2018 a success!
|
|
| Central-MSAND District Update
On Febraury 23, 2017 MS-AND Central District held a meeting at Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Mississippi. Along with the regular business meeting, members were treated to healthy lunch provided by Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Mississippi and Mississippi Access to Care (MAC) Network helped members learn more about long term care services and support for aging individuals as well as people with disabilities (www.mississippiaccesstocare.org). The keynote speaker was Clint Clardy of Salus Genetics, and he discussed the GeneDiet Test.
The Central District recently held our last meeting for the Spring at Tara Yoga Studio in Flowood. We had 10 RDs participate in a basic yoga class with Tara Blumenthal. It was so much fun to get together as a group to stretch, strengthen and de-stress our bodies and minds.
|
|
| Second Century Update
As the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics embarks on its 100th anniversary in 2017, the organization is taking this moment to chart a new vision for the future — a Second Century built with an extraordinary commitment to collaboration, a focus on service and an emphasis on accelerating the progress toward solving the greatest food and nutrition challenges of our time. Thus, creating a world where people and communities flourish because of the transformational power of food and nutrition.
It is the goal of the Academy to not only keep members informed over the next three years as the Second Century initiative continues, but to part of shaping our future. The Academy is asking members to get involved throughout this process — provide feedback through surveys and key discussions at member meetings, stay engaged and help to create this new vision for the Academy.
Now, as the Academy is kicking off the Second Century initiative, is the perfect opportunity to learn more about the Academy’s history and the history of the profession through past Journal of the Academy of Nutrition Dietetics articles including “History Snapshot: Dietetics Student Experience in the 1940s” or Academy publications Carry the Flame and the The First Fifty. Also, be on the lookout for upcoming meetings or webinars to learn more about the Second Century initiative.
The foundation would like for you to consider donating in recognition of this major milestone and support our Second Century Initiative! http://eatrightfoundation.org/why-it-matters/second-century/
Please direct additional questions to [email protected].
Thank you,
Alisha Jones
Second Century Liaison, MSAND
[email protected] |
|
Thank you to our Members who Donated to Second Century:
- A. Karen Lewis
- Elise A Smith
|
|
|
New Federal Leadership will Influence Many Food and Nutrition Related Programs
On April 25, 2017 Sonny Perdue was sworn in as the 31st U. S. Secretary of Agriculture (USDA). Many food, nutrition and dietetics agendas are impacted by polices and regulations of USDA agencies including: Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) (including MyPlate/MiPlato, SuperTracker, Healthy Eating Patterns, Nutrition Evidence Library (NEL), Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) (including National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Summer Food Service Program, USDA Foods, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), National Agricultural Library (NAL), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Within his first week as Secretary, Mr. Perdue announced greater flexibility for programs participating in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. USDA School Meal Programs (SMP) will not have to meet the sodium targets that had been scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2017 (instead they will continue to have to meet sodium targets required in 2014). In addition, USDA SMP will be able to offer flavored 1% milk. Since 2014, states have been allowed to permit SMP to offer whole grain rich, as well as enriched, grain items to students. Under the guidance of Secretary Perdue, that flexibility will continue. For more information, please visit: https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/nutrition-standards-school-meals |
|
|
An Unidentified Benefactor Donates to a Mississippi School District
Ocean Springs School District received an anonymous donation earlier this month- an individual paid off the unpaid meal charges for every student in the district for the school year ( for a total of $760.00). Because School Breakfast and Lunch Programs are federally funded, they are not allowed to carry unpaid balances into the next school year and federal funds cannot be used to pay off the unpaid balanced.
Beginning July 1, 2017, the United States Department of Agriculture will require all organizations that operate the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs to have a written and clearly communicated meal policy (USDA Unpaid Meal Charge Memo). Most districts in Mississippi already have a policy in place. The USDA Unpaid Meal Charges website provides links to the policy guidance memos and a best practice resource section.
Several School Child Nutrition Programs in Mississippi are directed by Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists, or have Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists on staff.
|
|
Mississippi celebrates National Public Health Week
The first week in April was National Public Health Week (NPHW). The Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA) coordinated various public health educational activities with partners, association sections and members to celebrate 2017 National Public Health Week in Mississippi. Governor Phil Bryant spoke at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the first School of Public Health in Mississippi at Jackson State University, declaring the first week of April as Public Health Week in Mississippi.
Throughout the week NPHW participants were encouraged to make healthy choices, including food and nutrition options. Some of the participants took their lunch break at a local farmers market, held community lunch and learns about nutrition and wellness, celebrated with healthy staff lunches, as well as participated in worksite Food Truck rallies, farmers markets and cooking demonstrations. MPHA also hosted a healthy recipe contest and had daily reminders for participants about public health.
The Association of Schools and Programs and Programs of Public Health also held their first “This is Public Health Road Show”, and Mississippi’s NPHW was chosen as the destination (www.thisispublichealth.org). One of the events included packing 408 backpacks at the Mississippi Food Network. These backpacks are for children at risk of hunger over the weekends and during holiday.
The Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics helped to sponsor refreshments at the MPHA “Annual Dr. Ed Thompson Walk for Health” on Friday of NPHW. For more information on National Public Health Week, please visit www.nphw.org. |
|
| MS-AND Member Discussion Board
We have created a private forum for MS-AND members to communicate with each other to share resources, ask questions, and interact more. To subscribe to the discussion board simply send an email that contains your full name and Academy ID number to [email protected] and you will be approved shortly.
Once you are subscribed you can post directly from your email by sending your questions, resource, or discussion topic directly to [email protected]. The group has been quiet so far, but please don’t be shy! This was created for us to interact more effectively with each other. |
|
Public Policy Workshop
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic’s 2017 Public Policy Workship is June 25th-26th in Washington D.C. This is a chance for you to connect with nutrition and dietetics colleagues at an advocacy summit, learn about current food and nutrition related issues, advance your leadership and communication skills, as well as learn how to become the voice of nutrition that Congress listens to and trusts. To learn more, please visit the advocacy section of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ website at www.eatrightpro.org/resources/advocacy/action-center/public-policy-workshop.
|
|
|
