The US is in the midst of a fruit and vegetable consumption crisis. Ninety percent of us aren't eating the recommended daily servings of vegetables, and eighty percent aren't eating the recommended daily servings of fruits. To make matters worse, these percentages have actually declined over the past 30 years. What will it take to move the needle in the...
When it comes to addressing big challenges, sometimes we need a dose of inspiration. Other times we want a way forward. And at certain critical moments, we require both. ASPHN’s Checklist for Change rises to the critical challenge before us — a national vegetable and fruit consumption crisis that is costing us our health and well-being. An ASPHN Leadership Call for Innovation The...
What if? Asking this simple question to spark a brainstorming session can be one of the most powerful exercises you use in the workplace. This technique involves the process of divergent thinking, a fluid, non-linear approach to problem-solving where many ideas are created and explored. Divergent thinking was first introduced in 1956 by J.P. Guilford, a psychologist who was studying the...
For most of our members, the 2021 ASPHN Annual Meeting seemed to align perfectly with the issues, challenges and opportunities they care about most. For many, even though the meeting was held virtually, it felt like a homecoming. A gathering where they felt seen, heard and understood. “We’ve been championing public health nutritionists for nearly 70 years,” says Karen Probert, ASPHN Executive...
If you’re like many public health nutritionists, the pandemic upended nearly every aspect of your job as you responded to your community's immediate and changing public health needs. As a new normal emerges, so too does a new sense of gratitude for your team and the exceptional work they’ve done over the past year. There’s no time like the present to...
It’s not often that we derive health benefits from our daily work until you consider this: showing your appreciation for staff and colleagues can affect your brain chemistry and work performance in several favorable ways. According to Dr. Lou E. Whitaker, a neuro-education consultant, “Every thought releases some type of chemical. When positive thoughts are generated, when you’re feeling happy, or...
ASPHN members consistently cite their ability to learn from peers in other states as one of the leading benefits of membership. With states now reopening on different timetables and under varying directives, public health nutritionists are facing a host of new COVID-19-related challenges and scenarios. COVID-19 State Sharing Facebook Group ASPHN has set-up a new COVID-19 State Sharing private Facebook group for...
Over the past several months, we’ve been thrust into a number of new circumstances and roles that seemed almost inconceivable prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. While we are learning to adapt to our new reality, the uncertainty of the virus has remained constant and will continue to impact our work for the foreseeable future. As leaders in public health nutrition, it’s...
ASPHN’s Board of Directors wishes to acknowledge and thank the association’s members for their extraordinary leadership over the past several months. Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, our members have stepped up to the front lines of this public health emergency, ensuring our nation’s most vulnerable receive vital nutritional assistance. Thanks to their tireless work and expertise, millions of children...
Continuing education is vital to earning potential and career advancement, but did you know that the practice of lifelong learning offers benefits for your personal well-being as well as your job performance? According to Valamis, an online learning platform, “Lifelong learning is a form of self-initiated education that is focused on personal development.” It can be as simple as reaching out to a...