Create a Brand — and a Great Resume

It is useful to think of DICAS from a marketing perspective. Essentially, you are “shopping” for a dietetic internship that best suits your interests and career goals. At the same time, you are creating a brand for yourself that you wish to “sell” via your resume. Visit your school’s career center to have your resume reviewed by a professional who can ensure that the format and presentation are up to par, and that it represents your envisioned brand well!

Make a List

The next step is to make a list of programs that pique your interest. Luckily, there are several tools available that can help narrow your search. The Academy’s website offers a list of accredited dietetic internship programs along with various stats about the programs and contact information.

Tell Your Story

With your brand and program list in check, you are ready to begin the application. Since the application is lengthy, it is wise to work on a few sections at a time. Your personal statement is a good place to start, as it is the heart of your application. Tell a unique story in your statement to make a lasting impression and express yourself creatively. If you are struggling with an idea, think of a concrete experience — an obstacle you have overcome, for example — that has led you to discover what you are most passionate about. Be sure to have a diverse set of eyes — family members, professors, peers — view your statement before you click “submit.” Finally, remember to tailor your statement for each program.

At Last, Breathe

Relax. You worked hard to get to this point, and your application reflects this!

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What’s Important?

Reading through the available accredited internships or attending internship workshops as early as your sophomore or junior year in college can help you become familiar with what is offered and what is important to you. Do you want to stay close to home? Do you prefer a community emphasis? Do you want a pediatric focus? Seeing the different opportunities and hearing from experienced RDNs can help reinforce your passion or even uncover one you did not know you had.

What Do They Want from You?

After getting a better idea of which internships you’d benefit from the most, you can find out what they will expect from you. Some internships value a high GPA, while others are looking for work or volunteer experience. Having discovered this early, you have plenty of time to boost your grades or look into a part-time job. Given this extra time, you can build your resume with a more specific goal in mind.

What’s the Goal?

Remember that the goal is to be able to do something you are passionate about, and in starting your preparations early, you can build a less stressful and more direct path to meet that goal.

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Patients often hear “don’t eat this and don’t eat that.” The most common question asked in return is, “Then what can I eat?” Like many dietetic interns I frequently have difficulty answering this question.

Recently, I embarked on a challenge to create 12 renal-friendly recipes that not only met nutritional guidelines but also looked and tasted great. Designed for patients undergoing dialysis, each recipe focused on three primary areas: minerals, protein and taste. The recipes had to be simple and quick to prepare, and most replaced salt with fresh grown herbs I had planted for patients to take home. This project taught me to ask myself: What would I do in a less-than-ideal situation? While it’s easy to turn to a textbook to find answers, it’s important to develop solutions that fit patients’ individual preferences and lifestyles. What is the best way to do this? Get to know those you are working with and put yourself in their shoes.

One of the recipes that worked best for my dialysis patients is this simple tiramisu containing 5 grams of protein, 111 milligrams of phosphorus, 105 milligrams of calcium and 129 milligrams of sodium. While renal-friendly, this is a tasty treat anyone can enjoy! 

Kidney-Friendly Tiramisu

Serves 8

Ingredients

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee
• 3 tablespoons water
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons raw sugar
• 1 10-ounce package shortbread cookies
• 8 ounces whipped topping
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat heavy cream on medium speed until stiff peaks form.
2. In a medium bowl, combine instant coffee with water and stir until dissolved. Add cream cheese and sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.
3. Fold in the whipped cream.
4. In an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish, layer ½ of the shortbread cookies and spread ½ of the cream cheese-whipped cream mixture on top. Repeat this step with the remaining cookies and topping.

To garnish, mix whipped topping with vanilla protein powder and place a dollop on each serving. Enjoy!

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FNCE is the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo that occurs annually across the country bringing dietetic and nutrition professionals together around the world. This is a time to be surrounded by the coolest people (no bias here) and greatly expand your network by interacting in various capacities at the expo, sessions or events. FNCE allows attendees to gain knowledge and skills that will improve interventions, patient participation and results, as well as build upon existing knowledge with emerging research and innovative tips and tricks of the trade.

Following FNCE be sure to:

Start Sending Those E-mails! 

Send e-mails and follow up with those you met. Fostering relationships is key to having a successful career. Thank the people you interacted with for sharing their advice, tips and research with you.

Put the New Information into Play 

Use the newly acquired skills and information gained by modifying interventions, adjusting research questions or starting new projects after being inspired by the experts you met.

Remember: Follow Your Passions

Say yes to things that excite you, take hold of opportunities that come your way and be patient!

Take Care of YOU

Being involved in multiple projects and various sectors within the nutrition field is great, but to optimally perform we need to get adequate sleep, fuel ourselves properly and maintain our social health. Although most RDNs or future RDNs are Type A and want everything to be perfect, the most important thing you can do for yourself is to take care of you.

And now you can look forward to entering the next 100 years of the Healthy Nutrition Academy with your robust network and newly acquired skills!

See you next year at FNCE in the nation’s capital where after the conference we will storm the Hill to advocate for the profession.

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Be Willing to Try Anything

During a visit to a medical center to learn more about the RDN’s role providing medical nutrition therapy, the center’s RDNs asked for a volunteer so that they could demonstrate how they safely insert feeding tubes. I volunteered. Remember that unique experiences will arise that force you out of your comfort zone and build confidence. Keep an open mind and try new things.

Stay Organized

Whether it’s an online calendar, planner, bullet journal, color-coding system or online chat with other interns, find a method that helps you stay organized. This will help you be successful with time management skills because you can visualize and prioritize what you need to accomplish in the weeks and months ahead.

Be Positive

During your internship, you’ll gain hands-on experience in the profession, including areas of clinical dietetics, community nutrition and management of food and nutrition services. There will be bumps in the road and times when you’re so stressed out you feel like quitting. Remember this all will help you be successful. One of the beauties of rotations is that you quickly learn what you like and don’t like in the field. So even if you’re not at your favorite rotation with the best preceptor, you will learn something new each day that will help your personal or professional growth. 

Say Thank You

Preceptors volunteer their time and energy to share their expertise. They support and help you achieve the competencies, knowledge and skills you need to become a RDN. Don’t forget to thank your preceptors, your internship director, your peers, the staff at each of your rotations and the wonderful barista making coffee for you at 6 a.m. A small thank-you can go a long way, and bonus points if the note is handwritten.

Have Fun and Practice Self-Care

I know this is technically two things, but I think they go hand in hand for the most important thing I learned. During your internship, you are also trying to find time for house-cleaning, working out, keeping in touch with family and managing a social life. Set aside time each day after rotation and on the weekends when you don’t do anything internship-related. Check out a museum, visit a thrift shop, go to a concert or read a book. There were many days when I was too exhausted to do anything but go for a walk or watch some TV and call it a night. And that’s OK. Self-care always comes first.  Do something that makes you happy because when you take care of yourself, everything else falls into place.

This past year was a journey beyond my wildest dreams. It was also the most rewarding — and challenging — nine months of my life. Washington, D.C., the Virginia Tech Internship Program and the dietitians I worked with will forever have a special place in my heart.

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As you lace up those stylish foodservice shoes, head into your program with a plan for how to “fuel” yourself along the way so that you don’t hit the wall and falter halfway through! Consider the following questions:

How can I plan ahead so that I continue to eat well, giving my body what it needs to function optimally? 

It can be tempting after spending 12 hours at a hospital to scarf down a bag of cheese puffs or some stale leftover doughnuts. Yet many of us know we won’t feel or operate our best if this is a daily pattern. With a little forethought, balanced eating during the week can happen. Purchase nutritious, ready-made foods, batch cook on the weekends and stock up on frozen fruits and vegetables to ensure that there always are healthy options close at hand that require minimal effort.

 How can I structure my day to ensure I have time for adequate rest?

Your internship may mean getting up much earlier or staying up much later than usual. As many of us are well aware, there is an increasing body of research linking poor sleep with poor health outcomes, and certainly, none of us feel fantastic operating on only a handful of hours of sleep. Figure out how many hours you need to feel your best and count backwards from your alarm time. Scale back a half hour further to allow for “getting ready for bed” activities, and this is your new bed time.

What relationships matter most to me and leave me feeling supported and rejuvenated?

As your commitments increase, free time and going out with friends may feel like a distant memory. Don’t cave to the pressure to eliminate social plans in order to accommodate your growing “must-do” list. Friendship and human interaction play a vital role in maintaining a positive mindset, which will carry you through the added stress of the internship. 

What activities or hobbies keep me level-headed? How can I structure my schedule so I still have time to do them?

​Just as food, sleep and relationships matter in our internship “fueling” plan, so do activities that bring us joy. Whether it’s hitting the gym and working up a sweat, poring through a romance novel or spending time in the kitchen creating a masterpiece, write your favorite de-stressing hobby into your planner like it’s a critical assignment. Allotting time for your passions allows you the mental space to regroup and attack whatever is next with renewed vigor and attention.

If you have ever run a marathon, you know that nourishment, rest and a cheering squad are pieces of the puzzle for a successful race. Similarly, your dietetic internship is both a physical and mental challenge where all these principles apply. By entering your program with a mental and physical “fueling” plan, you will be prepared to make the most of the experience.

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Green Tea with Mint

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

• 6 cups water
• 3 green tea bags
• 1 tablespoon mint-flavored simple syrup (available online and in specialty stores)
• Honey to taste
• Handful of mint leaves
• Optional: ¼ cup ginger tea or a few slices of fresh ginger

Directions

1. Bring water to boil.
2. Turn off heat and add green tea bags. Steep for about 2 minutes. Remove bags.
3. Add ginger tea, or add sliced ginger and let sit for 13 minutes.
4. Strain tea into a pitcher or teapot.
5. Stir in simple syrup and honey depending on how sweet you like your tea.
6. Let cool (if drinking iced) and add mint leaves. If drinking hot, let cool slightly before adding mint. Enjoy!

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Working out is a high-leverage activity that will be of great benefit to you while pursuing your degree.  You’ll feel better and have more energy to bring to all you do.

So with that said, here are some tips for staying active while pursuing your dietetics degree.

Plan Workouts Ahead

Sit down once a week and map out the coming week in your planner. Pencil your workouts in like appointments so you lessen the chances of being sedentary. Plan your work, then work your plan. Since adopting this method I have yet to miss a workout.

Focus on Full Body Workouts

If you are pressed for time, focus on doing full body workouts two or three times a week. Consider movements such as the squat, deadlift, bench press, overhead press and pullups.

Non-Exercise Physical Activity

My last tip is to get non-exercise physical activity! Take the stairs instead of the elevator. One of my favorite things to do is look up a video about whatever I am learning in school and listen to it while I take a walk. Whatever you do, just try to be a little more active today than you were yesterday.

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Stay Healthy

It is easy to feel so busy in your internship that you cut corners when it comes to your health. Make a conscious effort daily to eat well, be active, get enough sleep and address your stress. This will help you be your best, most-productive self and will give you firsthand health tips you can pass along to your clients during internship rotations.

Create a Routine

Develop a customized routine for your morning, evening and bedtime rituals and even weekends. When you get into the groove of a regular routine, you know exactly what you will do at what time, giving you more time for other activities.

Don’t Overload Yourself

Your internship is essentially your full-time job and a top priority. Keep this in mind when considering adding other commitments to your agenda, such as a part-time job. Give yourself permission to leave some commitment-free time to relax and recuperate.

Build Relationships

Your fellow interns can become a high-quality support team, valuable coworkers and close friends when you invest in developing relationships with them. Your preceptors and internship directors can provide support, advice, professional insights and job references to help you on your way to becoming an RDN. Developing strong connections with these people will help you achieve an enriching internship experience and could lead to lifelong relationships.

Become an Active Community Member

Starting an internship usually involves moving to a new city, which can be exciting and intimidating. If you have time, become an active member of your new community by attending or volunteering at public events. It’s a great way to meet new people and learn about the community you are now a part of.

Remember Why You’re Doing It

Some days are bound to be more exhausting than others. On hard days, take a moment to reflect on what sparked your passion for dietetics, the work it took to get into your position and the positive differences you can make in the lives of your patients and clients. Refuel your motivation with these reminders of how awesome it is to be a dietetic intern!

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My recent breakfast fix has been a shake involving lots of Greek yogurt and yummy protein sources! The recipe is below, and it is super quick and easy. I am a total skeptic of breakfast smoothies and shakes being able to keep you full, but this one always does the trick for me.  It also tastes very nutty from the sunflower butter without actually having any nuts in it — a total win-win!

Protein-Packed Breakfast Shake

Ingredients:

• 1 5.3-ounce container Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons sunflower seed butter
• 1 cup chocolate soy or coconut milk
• 1 scoop protein powder, optional
• ½ banana or other fruit of choice, optional

Directions:

Combine all ingredients listed above in a blender and blend until smooth.

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