Inform us about your self!
My identify is Liam Reilly (he/him). I’m a Dietetic Technician at The Emily Program’s Columbus, OH, Residential website, and I’ve been with the corporate for 9 months.
What does the position of a Dietetic Technician entail?
I used to be employed as a Culinary Assistant after I first began working at The Emily Program. I labored on this place for six months earlier than transitioning into the Dietetic Technician position.
As part of our great vitamin group, our important aim is to help our purchasers’ nourishing course of within the eating room. We work laborious to arrange the eating room for every meal and snack and work carefully with the dietitians and cooks to satisfy every consumer’s dietary necessities. We additionally work carefully with Behavioral Well being Technicians (BHTs) to make sure every consumer is supported whereas consuming by means of meal teaching and answering any questions the purchasers might have whereas within the eating room.
In honor of Nationwide Vitamin Month, what vitamin fantasy would you wish to debunk?
The most important fantasy I typically hear within the vitamin subject is that “one weight-reduction plan matches all.” All over the place you look, whether or not in books, motion pictures, tv, billboards, and particularly social media, you will notice ads for a “new weight-reduction plan that may repair all of your issues.” Most of the time, these “particular diets” are extremely restrictive and trigger extra harm, together with malnutrition. These weight-reduction plan ideas typically contain eradicating meals which are deemed “unhealthy” when, in actuality, there isn’t any such factor as an unhealthy meals. All forms of meals are necessary to correctly nourish the physique, together with so-called “junk meals.”
Not one single weight-reduction plan or way of life will work for everybody. Every particular person has particular dietary and way of life wants that differ from these of anybody else and have to be addressed individually as an alternative of generically. Whereas it may be very simple to be misled by false ads, people ought to hearken to their very own physique’s particular wants and search steering from licensed professionals concerning vitamin recommendation.
What motivates you to indicate up for work every day?
I’m motivated by realizing the optimistic influence I’m making on every consumer’s life. Every time I stroll into work, the purchasers all the time say “Hello, Liam” with an enormous smile on their face. Every consumer teaches me one thing new about myself and find out how to help our purchasers higher.
Whereas they educate me loads, I additionally wish to joke round with the purchasers to remind them that whereas this can be a very troublesome time of their lives, there may be nonetheless room for enjoyable. Their consuming issues don’t outline who they’re, and generally, having a bit of enjoyable or making a joke right here and there helps make the restoration course of a bit of bit simpler. On the finish of the day, my favourite half about my work as a Dietetic Technician is seeing all of the purchasers’ personalities come out as they develop into extra nourished.
What do you look ahead to studying in 2024?
This yr, whereas persevering with to work as a Dietetic Technician at The Emily Program, I’ll graduate from The Ohio State College with a Bachelor of Science (BS) diploma in Dietetics.
Whereas I proceed to study inside my place, I may even be learning to develop into a licensed private coach in order that I can higher perceive and look after the purchasers I work with. I wish to deepen my understanding of not solely the advantages of bodily health, but in addition the impacts of physiological actions and processes. I may even be making use of for graduate faculty this yr to pursue a grasp’s in vitamin and start the subsequent step of my journey towards turning into a registered dietitian.
What piece of recommendation would you give to these combating consuming issues?
The most important piece of recommendation I’ve for these combating consuming issues and disordered consuming is that you’re not alone. Thousands and thousands of individuals all over the world are combating one thing comparable. Whereas it might appear daunting, you may get the provide help to want and deserve. There are a lot of individuals and locations focusing on serving to particularly you and the issues you might be experiencing. So, by no means hand over hope it doesn’t matter what as a result of issues really can and can get higher.