Meet our Intern!

I'd like to introduce Crave Health's newest intern from the undergraduate nutrition program at Bastyr University: Alyssa Rieser!

Alyssa will be with me through at least June 2011 and most likely through the end of her undergrad career :) She will be guest blogging in April as well so look for her upcoming posts!

I became interested in nutrition while working at an acupuncture clinic in Asheville, North Carolina, where practitioners achieved success by making a transition to a whole foods diet a standard part of all treatment plans. Inspired by the positive physical and psychological changes the clients experienced, it became my goal to be a registered dietitian and help others optimally nourish themselves. I moved to Washington in the summer of 2010 to pursue a MS in Nutrition from Bastyr University. In the past several years I have been involved in Slow Food, farm to school programs, and other branches of the food justice movement. Currently I am leading the Greenwood Community Kitchen and have a cooking blog: Figs and Fennel where I focus on seasonal, local food. I am passionate about sustainable food systems and have strong interests in community nutrition and public health policy.

Alyssa

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Add "Registered Dietitian" to 425's Best of Edition!

425 Editors and Staff,

I have just returned from Tokyo, Japan this morning, safe and sound. I was there on business with my fiancée when the earthquake hit. Prior to leaving for Japan, I was discussing 425’s “Best of” list for 2011 with several 425 associates. Now that I am back safe I wanted to return to my first business priority!

I am disappointed that there is no category for “Best Registered Dietitian” this year, but would like to take on the challenge and advocate having it on the list for next year. Nutrition is such a hot topic with the epidemic of obesity, childhood obesity, diabetes, hypertension, eating disorders and on and on. Nutrition plays a vital role in all disease states, especially the main issues plaguing our country at present. Registered Dietitians, or RD’s are trained for 5+ years in nutritional science specific to the human body, complete a residency just like an MD in a hospital setting and then are required to pass a national exam much like the Bar Exam. This matters because the term “Nutritionist” is not a licensed term and requires no credentials, background or training. So in advocating for my profession I hope you consider the specific title of “Registered Dietitian” to note that there is a major difference and impact on quality of care.

To give one very recent example of why I believe what I do is worth noting: a patient called my office recently wishing to seek nutritional advice for a rare disease that causes her extreme pain. The only treatment is surgery, which is extremely risky for the patient. After education and recommendations for a completely anti-inflammatory diet, she went 3 consecutive days without any pain and is continuing to feel better than she has since diagnosis.

Nutrition can change lives and I love what I do. Please consider adding “Registered Dietitian” to your most loved “Best of” issue of 425 Magazine! (http://425magazine.com/best_of_425)

Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Ashley A Harris, RD, CD

Owner and Registered Dietitian at Crave Health

CC: Mailed copy to Premier Media Group Bellevue

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Japan Update

It is now about 2:15 pm on Saturday the day after the earthquake here in Japan. We are stuck as our flight out of Narita airport today was cancelled and have been re-booked for a flight on Monday afternoon back to Seattle.

Crave Health appointments this week have been cancelled.

We are safe in our hotel and they were kind enough (after begging) to extend our stay another 2 nights at The Mitsui Garden Hotel in Ginza. Our friend Kaneya-san takes a train 90 mins into Tokyo each day from Yokohama...last night he was stranded as trains were shut down and traffic was gridlocked, so he WALKED. It took him 6 hours to walk home! Is that not the craziest thing ever? He made it safe and sound but it is very cold here, not to mention scary with all the aftershocks. Just one of many crazy stories from over here.

Tyler and I were featured in an article in the Kirkland reporter sharing our story if you would like to check it out: http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/kir/news/117825348.html

Front page of the paper this morning

The one convenient store open this morning - shelves were totally cleared of food and snacks

To show we are in good spirits!

I will be back in Seattle hopefully in a few days and will be in contact via

Email: Ashley@Crave-Health.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CraveHealthWA and

Twitter: @cravehealth

Thanks for all the support and thoughts!

Ashley

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Earthquake in Japan

My fiancee Tyler and I are in Tokyo, Japan currently and did experience the 8.9 earthquake today. We are both okay and are staying on the 19th floor of the Mitsui Garden Hotel in the Ginza district. We still have power and access to email and internet at this point. We are having many aftershocks and are being warned of 6-10 meter waves from a Tsunami that may be coming. We can see Tokyo Bay from our hotel room and should be safe should the Tsunami hit.

To my patients scheduled this upcoming week - we are set to fly out of Narita Airport tomorrow but will likely not be able to fly out. I will try to contact scheduled patients via email as soon as I can.

Thank you for your prayers and I will try to continue to keep you updated!

Ashley

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Elementary Nutrition

I spent the day on Wednesday at Woodin Elementary School on the Woodinville/Bothell border with my best friend and Woodin PE teacher, Jaclyn Rice. A part of the elementary PE curriculum now is nutrition focused, which is wonderful! They do a segment and test called "Mrs. Trimbles Muffins" where they learn about Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Saturated Fat, Trans Fat, Fiber, Vitamin A and C, Iron, etc, etc.

During "Wildcat Wednesday" at Woodin I was able to spend about 25 minutes with each class (6 classes in one day contain the entire school!) 1st grade-6th grade. Here are some clips and photos from the day:

Kids understand science. I had drawings of molecules of saturated and trans fats up on the board and they totally got it. They were able to understand the word macronutrient vs. micronutrient and they walked away with a better understanding of why food is so important for their health.

Nutrition should be taught in school on a science level starting in kindergarten and repeated each year.

Kudos to Northshore School District, Woodin Elementary and most of all their PE teacher, Miss Jaclyn Rice for taking the time to utilize an RD to teach nutrition to her classes!

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March is National Nutrition Month

Welcome to March 2011 - National Nutrition Month!

This month, registered dietitians across the United States will be downloading their brains via blogs, newspapers, magazines, tv and radio interviews to get up to date and correct nutrition advice to our public.

This years theme is "Eat Right with Color". If you do one thing this month, try to get as many colors on your lunch and dinner plates as possible. Different colors note different micronutrients and phytochemicals, all of which have different roles in the body. The more color the better!

Registered Dietitian Day is next week on Wednesday March 9th. Instead of filling my office with gorgeous flowers this year (haha) please just do one thing for me on my national day of awesomeness...learn the difference between a Nutritionist and a Registered Dietitian!!! Click here to learn: http://crave-health.com/aboutTheRD.html

Happy Nutrition Month!

Ashley

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