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s it possible for vegetarians and vegans to get all the protein they need? Is a vegetarian or vegan diet nutritionally adequate for pregnant women, children, and athletes?
These are just a few of the questions answered by “VEGucate Yourself: The Who, What, When, Where, & Why of Vegetarian & Vegan Diets” which I was invited to share with fellow FCS professionals at the United Associations Conference (UAC) in Wichita this March. This material is based on research presented by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and is a lesson shared by University of Delaware Extension at our National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) Conference in San Antonio last fall. Knowing that many people have questions about diets, including vegetarian diets, I requested and received permission to share the lesson in Kansas…Collaboration on a national level!
Surveys received indicated that the UAC audience did indeed understand more about vegetarian and vegan diets after hearing my presentation, and could name at least five of the seven main nutrients of concern that people choosing these diets may be lacking. Yes, it is possible for vegetarians and vegans to get enough protein, and yes, these diets can be nutritionally adequate for pregnant women, children and athletes. However, the bottom line is that, as one survey respondent put it, “Careful planning must be an integral part of following a vegan diet”, to ensure proper nutrition. I am hoping to share this lesson at several locations in our District in the upcoming months.
Teaming With District Agents
Creative co-worker collaborations are among my goals and some recent examples include:
Serving as Advisor for Montgomery County Family and Community Education (FCE) includes many tasks. One of those tasks is helping facilitate their annual FCE County Recognition Day including an educational program. This year our Diversified Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Jeri Geren, partnered with us to share about making cheese. Both Mozzarella and Ricotta cheeses were made and sampled with a salad of avocado, tomatoes and some crusty bread. In addition, among other acknowledgements, we recognized seven of our members with pins for years of service totaling 235 years. One was a 55 year pin! Wow! Thank you ladies, we appreciate your dedication!
“Eating Healthy On a Budget” was a collaborative effort with Family and Consumer Sciences agent Kylie Ludwig at a Labette Health Knowledge at Noon in Parsons. Around forty participants enjoyed a potato bar served by Labette Health as well as participating in our program activities which centered on defining what a “healthy” diet is and discovering various tips for getting the most out of available food dollars. Thank you to The Parsons Sun for publishing a photo and an extensive article outlining some quotes and information about the topics we shared! Kylie and I are already scheduled to share this information again in a couple of locations.