It’s About Me….and you….and us!

SCAN members—we need your help with the Find a SCAN RD feature. One of the most important features of the SCAN website is Find a SCAN RD. It is front and center on the homepage because it is critical that consumers and potential employers can easily find SCAN members. But they can’t find you unless you go to My Profile and update your information. The more information you enter the more attractive your Find a SCAN RD listing will be. To update My Profile, you must be signed in as a member.

Once you are signed in, click on My Profile, which is at the top of the page next to your name. There are three green EDIT buttons on this page.

The first section is called General Information and includes your name, credentials, contact information, etc. If you want your contact information to show on the Find a SCAN RD page then be sure to click the box that says Is Public. Under membership details, check the appropriate boxes under expertise and subunits. When you are done editing be sure to click on the green box that says SAVE.

The second section is Member Profile, which allows you to describe yourself and your services. This information will be under the heading About Me when someone looks at your Find a SCAN RD listing. It also has a SAVE button, so be sure and click it when you are done editing.

Don’t overlook the third section on the right hand side of the page, User Picture, which allows you to upload an image by clicking on Change. You may choose to upload a picture of yourself, but you don’t have to. For example, you may prefer to upload the logo of your company. Images naturally draw the eye and encourage people to view your information.

The fourth section is for your social networking information, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, or your personal Facebook page. Do you have a blog? Enter the URL and it will show on your Find a SCAN RD listing. Remember to SAVE your information after you edit it.

Tip: Once you make changes to MyProfile, go to Find a SCAN RD, enter your zip code, and take a look at your listing.

Updating your My Profile is About Me…and you…and us! It’s About Me, because that is the best ways to describe who you are and what you do. But it’s not just about you. When you update your profile it makes for a more complete Find a SCAN RD feature and that helps every SCAN member. If you have questions, please add a comment to this blog or email me privately at NutritionLogic@comcast.net. Best, Marie

Marie Dunford, PhD, RD

SCAN’s volunteer Web Editor

Getting love bac

So often in the media we hear general terms that describe a more complex entity. Many food and supplement companies have been using the term "probiotic" to market the health benefits of products such as yogurt, keifer, wellness drinks and now childrens snacks. Great but what is a probiotic?

It is this halo effect that I find confusing as I try to understand how to harness the power of bacteria to benefit my own health. I try to narrow down the ingredient to a single thing to look for on a food label but find that it is not a single thing. Probiotics are a classification of living, viable microorganisms that impact the gut flora and as a result provide health benefits. This makes me wonder what type I need and how much I should have, how much are in different products and what else can we eat that will provide the beneficial affect to our bodies?

Well to answer my questions I visited www.usprobiotics.org for answers to my clinical questions and much more. Another thing you can do is look for the National Yogurt Associations seal. The NYA Seal is available to qualified producers of live and active culture refrigerated and frozen yogurt for use on product labels and in advertising and promotional materials.

I would encourage all those who work in nutrition or any area of medicine for that matter to become engaged in this conversation. A preventative approach to health is an underlying theme of nutrition and this topic certainly lends itself to that catagory.

Hearing the voice of Science

During the last session I attended, "The Peaks and Valleys in Product Innovation" it became very apparent that the role of a dietitian is becoming more complex as buisness and science take on the challange of helping people eat better.

I have to say that I am one who looks as innovation in a positive light and feel like it is my job as a dietitian to go forward with an open mind. SDA oil, probiotics and carotenoid rich veggies are food for thought and I hope that there is more to learn about them in the future.

A warm welcome at the Boston Convention Center

It may be a cold November day in Boston but inside the convention center I am welcomed by warm smiles and friendly people. This is my 8th trip to FNCE but I still get butterflies walking up to the registration table and getting my badge. Once I have my bag and book I peer down onto the Expo floor to see the maze of booths. Some names I recognize and look forward to visiting because I know there will be new ideas, hands to shake and friend to make.

Being in the midst of a large crowd can be somewhat intimidating, that is why I am so glad that I can connect on a smaller level with my SCAN friends at their events. I am especially excited to attend the reception tonight and shake the hands of those executive members who work so hard to connect with their fellow members and bring value to their time at FNCE.

Right now I am headed to my first session and then a stroll down on the Expo floor. Looks like it is going to be a full day!