Digging in the dirt : a pilot study addressing sweat equity and its influence on registered dietitians' views about the local sustainable food system
(Book - Regular Print)

Thesis,MSFS,Green Mountain College,2017

Includes bibliographical references.

Registered Dietitians (RDs) can play a critical role in advocating for sustainable food systems (SFS) both on personal and professional levels. Thus, it is essential for RDs, our "food experts," to understand the complexities involved in our food system. Evidence shows that RDs are interested in promoting SFS issues, but the lack of knowledge is cited as a barrier, which results in the majority of RDs not incorporating SFS concepts into their professional practice. The reasons for conducting this pilot study were to 1) determine current attitudes and behaviors held by RDs in Cleveland, OH about locally-produced foods and 2) determine whether or not an experiential learning activity for this target group has the potential to influence those attitudes and behaviors. A three-hour experiential learning event (including an RD-led lecture, farm tour and farm chore) was conducted with five Greater Cleveland-area RDs. Topics of discussion included the impact locally-produced foods can have on increasing food security and biodiversity. Results show the experiential learning activity had positive influence on the attitudes and behaviors of the RDs related to the local SFS.