MS-AND Loves a Dinner Party
Food & Nutrition Magazine hosts a virtual dinner party each month. This is a time for food and nutrition professionals to share a meal with friends, family, fellow RDNs, NDTRs, interns and students (https://foodandnutrition.org/from-the-magazine/virtual-dinner-party/). We are encouraged to connect with others near and far by posting pictures on instagram and use the hashtag #FNDinnerParty. In March, MS-AND had a Pre-Conference Dinner Party at Weidmann’s in Meridian, Mississippi’s oldest restaurant.
Traditionally, the Dinner Party is the fourth Thursday of the month. MS-AND is going to participate a week early in April. If you are in the Metro on April 19, join us for an event called Paws on the Patio at Fairview Inn in Jackson. Read more about it here: https://www.facebook.com/events/386534255152708/, proceeds will go to the Animal Rescue Fund of Mississippi.
If you’re not about to come to Fairview Inn on April 19, consider hosting an event in your area. Let us know about it and we’ll share it on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MSANandD/) and Twitter (@mississippiRDs)! We’ll move the MS-AND #FNDinnerParty around the state throughout the year, so let us know what you have planned so we can make it the highlighted event of the month!
We were Informed, we were Involved, we are Inspired!
Since the 2018 MS-AND Annual Conference was at the MSU Riley Center, I think it is fair for me to quote Jack Cristil and say, we can “wrap this one in Maroon and White”. Thank you to everyone who served on a planning committee, everyone who gave advice and input along the way, our speakers, the exhibitors and to everyone who attended conference.
Friday started out with a great business meeting where we discussed the current status of our affiliate as well as plans for the future. Friday’s education sessions were filled with a variety of sessions related to many fields related to food, nutrition and dietetics. There was also time for vising with our many vendors and exhibitors and networking. The day wrapped up with a professional poster session with 20 posters followed by an elegant awards ceremony in the Grand Theater of the MSU Riley Center where we recognized our Outstanding Dietitian of the Year Awardee: Elise Smith, Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Awardee: Ashley Harris, Emerging Dietetic Leader Awardee: Rebecca Butz, Magnolia Awardee: Josie Bidwell, Outstanding Dietetics Student of the Year – Coordinated Program: Claire Adams, Outstanding Dietetics Student of the Year – Didactic Program in Dietetics: Molly Stevenson, Outstanding Dietetics Student of the Year – Dietetic Internship: Natosha Rosenau, Outstanding Dietetics Educator of the Year – Coordinated Program: Kathy Knight, Outstanding Dietetics Educator of the Year – Didactic Program in Dietetics: Marie Allsopp, and Outstanding Dietetics Educator of the Year – Dietetic Internship: Diane K. Tidwell.
Saturday started out with an energizing physical activity event at Bonita Lakes Park. The education sessions started with a member idea exchange where we heard from attendees about work that is going on around the state and issues that attendees want to work on over the next couple of years. The conference was concluded by Jimmy Stewart, MD who helped us think about the importance of working together. He left us informed, and with a mission to be involved and inspired.
I think I have about finished floating from being so elated at conference. The ideas that were discussed at conference were very insightful and I look forward to work on implementing them. I hope to gather more ideas as we move into this next year in the affiliate. The MS-AND 2018-2019 year is going to be another GREAT one.
Sincerely,
Lydia West, MS-AND 2017-2018 President-elect
MS-AND Members help to Ensure Mississippi Students have top Quality Products for School Breakfast and Lunch
For the past 26 years the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and participating local school districts’ Child Nutrition Programs have participated in a statewide purchasing program for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program. Bids for food and supplies are issued by MDE. Local schools may order products from the approved bid list at a fixed price for the duration of the contract.
The specific items on the bid are determined by the Purchasing Management Committee (PMC). Once items are selected by PMC, they must pass student acceptability assessments, which are conducted in a school environment. There are currently more than 600 items on the bid.
Many MS-AND assist with the work of PMC. This group met in metro Jackson in March for a spring meeting. For more information, please contact the MDE Division of Purchasing and Food Distribution at 601-576-4980.
Front Row: Left to Right: Tonya L. Thomas-McSweyn, MS, RD, Director of Child Nutrition Department of Brookhaven School District; Lynne Rogers, RD, Director of Nutrition Services, Tupelo School District; Pam Roberts, Director of Child Nutrition, Rankin County School District. Back row, left to right: Lydia West, MPH, RD, LD, consultant, Mississippi Department of Education; Alex Hallmark, RN, RD, Director of Child Nutrition, DeSoto County School District; Doris Schneider, RD, Consultant, Mississippi Department of Education; Ashley Harris, MS, RD, SNS, Director of Child Nutrition, Pascagoula-Gautier School District
2018 MS-AND Diet Manual Available
We are pleased to announce our 2018 Diet Manual is ready. Please visit the website to order online or download your order form today. Please email Carrie at [email protected] with any questions.
Healthiest Nation 2030 – Changing our Future Together
Mississippi registered dietitians, dietetic interns and students participated in National Public Health Week events all over the state. The Mississippi Public Health Institute coordinated public health professionals around the state to coordinate this year’s events, with the aim of working together to make the United States the healthiest nation in one generation.
Each day had a theme: Monday, April 2, Behavioral Health, Tuesday, April 3: Communicable Diseases, Wednesday, April 4: Environmental Health, Thursday, April 5: Injury and Violence Prevention, and Friday, April 6: Ensuring the Right to Health.
Events were held at Jackson State University School of Public Health, Mississippi State University Central Offices as well as district and county offices, Delta Health Collaborative (Greenville), MSU Drill Field, Mississippi Hospital Association, University of Mississippi Medical Center, The University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg and Gulf Coast), Biloxi Armed Forces Retirement Home, Walmart Neighborhood Market (Starkville).
National Public Health Week takes place the first week of April each year. For more information, please visit: http://nphw.org/.
Mississippi Registered Dietitians and partners attended MPHA Public Health Leadership Symposium at Mississippi Hospital Association as part of this year’s National Public Health Week events in Mississippi.
MS-AND T-Shirts Are HERE!
You are the food and nutrition professionals in Mississippi, show it on your shirt. The Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has t-shirts for $18 that will help others know who you are! Get yours today by clicking here.
MS-AND Listserv
Connect with other MS-AND members by joining our Listserv. Be sure to include your Academy ID number to verify membership. Post questions, resources, events, and network with MS-AND members from around the state!
KIND Nutrition Collective
KIND has long recognized the value of registered dietitians and the important work they do to positively impact the health of their communities. In 2016, the KIND™ Nutrition Collective was launched. This is an exclusive program to bring together passionate, like-minded Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists across all practice settings to collectively advance health and wellness efforts.
Members of the KIND™ Nutrition Collective receive resources to support the essential work they do, including education materials, samples, coupons and more. You can learn more and apply to join here. If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].