My Professional Resolution

Happy New Year everyone!

Welcome to 2012!

I suspect many of you have made New Year’s resolutions. I have two resolutions for 2012…one personal and one professional. My personal one is to slow down. I am always rushing. Rushing my kids to get to school. Rushing to pack lunches. Rushing my dog to finish the walk. Rushing to clean up the house. Even my handwriting is rushed.

When I worked at The University of Chicago Medical Center my reviews stated my clinical judgment and recommendations were right on, but my handwriting in the charts was “difficult to read.” Perhaps this was because I managed 300 patients a day and my pager went off many times an hour. I had to rush to get the work done. Computerized charting systems were just being implemented when I left. I type quickly. I could have benefited.My professional resolution is to be grateful and thankful for those people, schools, restaurants and businesses that are doing a great job educating or feeding the American people.

I read loads about nutrition. (Those of you that have hired me as your dietitian will be glad to know that fact.) I read the current research and attend professional conferences, but also spend a great deal of time on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and reading health news. There are so many people bashing the food industry, government, school lunch programs, and restaurants.

I do not disagree with what some of these amazingly bright people are saying. We need their voices heard.

But I have decided to take a positive stance in 2012 and point out all the good that is taking place in food and nutrition in our country.

So if I see something remarkable, I am going to share it with you. If you see something remarkable, please… share it with me and I will spread the good news to others.My first thanks for this year is to a restaurant…The Natural Cafe. I was visiting one of my best friends in Oak Park, California last week and we took the kids (ages 8, 7, 5, 4) to eat there.

http://www.thenaturalcafe.com/index.php

I wish this restaurant was everywhere. I have been there three times and every time…delicious AND nutritious. If you are vegan…you will love that sauteed tofu. If you eat meat…that turkey burger is divine. Everyone loved their meal. So THANK YOU THANK YOU to The Natural Cafe. Keep doing what you are doing to provide food that is nutritious and delicious to everyone that walks through your doors.

About Melanie Silverman

Melanie is a pediatric registered dietitian nutritionist (RD) and a board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) working primarily in pediatric nutrition for well over 15 years. She spent seven years as a clinical dietitian at The University of Chicago Medical Center in the neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit, adult and pediatric burn units, and high risk pediatric follow-up clinic. She also served as an adjunct faculty member at Loyola University Chicago. Melanie has presented at state and national meetings for the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), March of Dimes, Prader-Willi California Foundation, Texas Prader-Willi Association, Oklahoma Prader Willi Syndrome Association, Foundation for Prader-Willi Research (FPWR) in the United States and Canada and the Prader-Willi Syndrome USA (PWSA). She worked hard for her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Spanish from Indiana University and a Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center. A member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, California Dietetic Association, Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group, Women’s Health Group, Nutrition Entrepreneurs and an active member of the International Lactation Consultant Association.