[AODA members] FWD: think globally, eat locally - Georgia Dietetic Assn, . Alice Bender

[Stacia Nordin, RD]

Of great interest to HEN and AODA members

Stacia Nordin, RD
AODA Pres-elect
Malawi Africa

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	FYI: Spring 2007 Affiliate Update
Date: 	Thu, 5 Apr 2007 15:46:03 -0500
From: 	Stacey Greenfield <sgreenfield at eatright.org>
Reply-To: 	Stacey Greenfield <sgreenfield at eatright.org>
To: 	Affiliate-L <affiliate-l at list.eatright.org>



/Affiliate// Update/ is a vehicle for enhancing communication among 
affiliate leaders.  Affiliate leaders are invited to submit best 
practices, innovative programs, and other initiatives for inclusion in 
upcoming issues to affiliate at eatright.org <mailto:affiliate at eatright.org>.

/ /

 


        *Think Globally, Eat Locally:  Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
        in the Georgia Dietetic Association

        *

*Georgia Dietetic Association*
When Alice Bender, current Georgia Dietetic Association (GDA) president, 
was president-elect, a member asked what she had planned as her "theme" 
or "initiative" for GDA members during her term as president.  At that 
point Alice was just hoping to keep the organization running according 
to the GDA strategic plan. She was, however, passionate about promoting 
a sustainable agriculture and felt this topic was relevant to GDA 
members on a professional and personal level.  While following the GDA 
mission and vision, she had a goal to encourage GDA members to consider 
that, as they promote health and nutrition, they also promote a healthy 
food production environment. 

 

To carry the theme throughout the year, Alice communicated to the GDA 
Board of Directors the importance of promoting the purchase and use of 
local produce, looking for products that encourage sustainable farming, 
and selecting products that promoted fair trade when possible.

At the GDA quarterly board meetings, Alice included a brief 
awareness-raising/educational activity about board members' role in 
promoting health in a comprehensive way.  For example, she stressed that 
as food and nutrition professionals they cannot separate their health 
and the consumer's health from the food production, processing, and 
distribution systems.  It is irrelevant whether food and nutrition 
professionals work in public health or with children, young adults, or 
athletes---the footprint that the food production environment leaves 
affects all.  

 

To incorporate her passion for this topic, Alice included various 
activities into the GDA board meeting activities. Some of the activities 
have included:

·        Board members discussing their personal experience with raising 
their own food and/or purchasing Georgia-grown products; 

·        Estimating/guessing how many miles the average food product 
travels in the US by the time it gets to the supermarket;

·        Answering questions to a quiz about Georgia farm products and 
produce;

·        Tasting fair trade chocolate and teaming up to answer trivia 
questions about chocolate and coffee; and

·        Having a board meeting at a state farmers' market and picking 
up some Georgia-grown food products on the way home.

At each meeting, one board member wins a cookbook, /Simply in Season/, 
which promotes the use of seasonal and local foods by grouping recipes 
by season.

The first newsletter of the year (GDA Network) featured the themes from 
this initiative with articles about sustainable agriculture and 
resources for finding local produce throughout the state.  Alice's goal 
this year was to educate and raise interest among the board members. As 
past president/co-chair of the 2008 annual meeting, she will have the 
opportunity to bring some of these issues to the full membership.   Many 
members are already involved in their communities in promoting locally 
grown food. There are resources from local and state farm/organic 
coalitions, the state department of agriculture, and from the ADA Hunger 
and Environmental Dietetic Practice Group.   This is the season to check 
out what's available near you!

For more information, contact Alice Bender, 2006-2007 GDA president, at 
gdapres at yahoo.com <mailto:gdapres at yahoo.com>

 

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