Nutrition Happenings
The UTRGV student nutrition club, Nutritional Sciences and Health Society (NSHS), held their End of Semester Party at the UTRGV gardens on May 3rd. The students shared food and drinks and supported each other right before finals. They also used this get-together as an opportunity to work on tending to their beautiful garden beds!
Congratulations to Rachel and Susana who received a proclamation from the city of Edinburg to honor National Nutrition Month
National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month of March, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits.
This year's theme, "Fuel for the Future," highlights the importance of fueling our bodies at every age and eating with the environment in mind. Practice gratitude for your body by giving it the fuel it needs with sustainable foods! A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered can teach you how nutrient needs may change with age, and give you personalized nutrition information to meet your health goals.
UTRGV hosts health day for more than 700 pre-K students
Dr. Salinas' research group sponsored a 700+ preschool student health fair at our UTRGV gym facilities over the course of 2 days. They taught 4-year-olds about proper nutrition as well as the importance of physical activity. They had 15 BS-Nutritional Sciences and MS in Dietetics students over the 2 days and they executed our 'nutrition stations.' The students really stood up to the challenge and did a great job!
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UTRGV hosted a two-day health fair, March 9-10, on the Edinburg Campus for more than 700 pre-K students, all from PSJA, to help make an early impact on their nutrition, fitness and hygiene habits. The South Texas Early Prevention Studies (STEPS) research group, from the UTRGV College of Health Affairs, hosted the health fair as part of a curriculum focused on obesity-reduction. |
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The students were split over two days. On both days, STEPS hosted half of the students in a health fair at the HPE II gymnasium, and the other half outside on the UTRGV track and field. After lunch, the groups swapped activities. |
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The outside group was led by students from the UTRGV departments of Health and Human Performance and Kinesiology, in field day activities like potato sack races, dances and fitness games. |
| (UTRGV Photos by David Pike) | |
Little Marco Alvarado is still in pre-K at PSJA, but he gets it. “My dad is strong and I’m strong!” he said. “And bad food will make your tummy hurt!”
He heard that valuable nutrition lesson reinforced during a special health fair hosted Thursday and Friday by UTRGV on the Edinburg Campus: Good food, like fruits and vegetables, will make him grow big and strong.
The two-day health fair was designed to make an early impact on the nutrition, fitness and hygiene habits of hundreds of pre-K children from the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo school district.
The South Texas Early Prevention Studies (STEPS) research group, from the UTRGV College of Health Professions, invited 750 PSJA pre-K students and their parents to participate in the health fair as part of a curriculum focused on obesity-reduction. Called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-ED) project, it is a multi-pronged approach that helps children learn how to make healthy choices.
Read the full articles here:
THE NEWSROOM - UTRGV hosts health day for more than 700 pre-K students
ValleyCentral.com - UTRGV: 2 day health fair for PSJA ISD pre-K students
Dr. Lisa Salinas, Clinical Assistant Professor in the BS in Nutritional Sciences, was interviewed as a nutrition expert for the Heart of the Valley on Channel 5 News. Great job Dr. Salinas discussing the role of nutrition in heart disease.
KRGV 5 News ABC - February 14, 2023 - Heart of the Valley: Experts discuss how fitness and nutrition can reduce your risk of heart disease, strokes
Food Preparation Fall 2021
The city of Edinburg has proclaimed March as National Nutrition Month!
National Nutrition Month is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month of March, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits. Recently, on March 3, 2021 our BSNS students along with Prof. Rachel Villarreal attended the City of Edinburg's council meeting where Mayor Richard Molina made a proclamation that March is National Nutrition Month. They encouraged the residents to personalize their plates through healthy food choices and to be more active. Happy National Nutrition Month!
Avoiding COVID complications, health experts urge moderation this holiday season
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (KVEO) November 29, 2020 — The holidays are typically a time for a little extra indulgence. But with COVID-19 proving especially dangerous for overweight individuals, moderation is recommended this year. “There’s just a lot of celebration, especially in our country with celebration comes food and drinks,” said Registered Dietician Dr. Lisa Salinas.
Dr. Salinas estimates people gain between five and 10 pounds around the holidays which can result in health complications. “There’s a change in the hormones running through our body, change in cortisol, also differences in insulin sensitivity,” she said. With the threat of COVID-19, Dr. Salinas says it’s especially important to not overdo it this year.
RGVision Magazine "Balanced Nutrition"
We are happy to announce that Dr. Lisa Salinas was interviewed for RGVision Magazine Health. She was asked for her expertise as a Registered Dietician Nutritionist and UTRGV Lecturer for the article.
Balanced Nutrition
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Though there is no perfect way of eating, putting in the effort to eat a balanced diet can lead to more energy and maintaining a healthy body mass index.
Registered Dietician Nutritionist and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Lecturer Dr. Lisa Salinas said the way people should eat is dependent on what outcome they are looking for. She worked in hospitals and private practice before joining UTRGV in 2018 and focuses on “big picture general health,” which generally leans in the direction of a more plant-based diet.
Nutrition students were in the Experimental Lab today making cheese. - Feb. 25, 2020
This morning the NSHS students attended the City of Edinburg health and wellness fair. They provided heart healthy nutrition information for attendees. February 25, 2020
2019 Holiday meal celebration by Nutrition students and faculty
Food Preparation End of Course Meal
BS-NS students in the Food Prep 3452 Lab A prepared a Japanese-themed end-of-course meal.
Healthy and 'Heart'-y Holiday with Lisa Salinas, Ph.D. and Deepu George, PhD
How does a hearty quinoa salad sound to accompany your Thanksgiving dinner? We had two special guests prepare a delicious protein-filled dish and discuss ways to start off the year on a positive note.
Lisa Salinas, Ph.D., from the College of Health Professions, prepared a delicious quinoa salad while discussing 3 ways to improve mental health with Dr. Deepu George, from our Behavioral Health department at UT Health RGV.
Recipe Link: http://bit.ly/QuinoaHolidays
BSNS students gave out information on diabetes for the diabetes awareness night with the UTRGV men’s basketball team.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's basketball team hosted Diabetes Awareness Night during its game against Texas A&M International on Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. The UTRGV men's basketball team is partnering with the Rio Grande Valley Diabetes Association to raise awareness about diabetes in the RGV by offering resources and information to fans while promoting a healthy lifestyle.
BSNS Students participated by giving out information and educating the community about diabetes and healthy eating.
The BSNS students participated in the breast cancer awareness expo in Edinburg.
UTRGV Community Garden at the Edinburg campus
October 1, 2019 - BSNS students planted vegetables in the community garden at the Edinburg campus.
Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, Ms. Rachel Villarreal participated in the 1 st Annual Community Health & Safety Fair at the Sekula Memorial Library and some students from the Nutrition program were also there to provide information about healthier food choices.
Pictured above are the Nutrition students encouraging the community to take the fruits, veggies, and pledge to eat more plants, and a group photo of the students, including Ms. Villarreal and David Torres, city of Edinburg Mayor Pro Team.
The BSNS Program is approved by the UT System, THECB, and SACSCOC, launching on August 27th, 2018.
The Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences Program (BSNS) is focused on graduating students with exceptional knowledge and skills in wellness and nutrition. The BSNS program is designed to prepare students for nutritional sciences careers and position them to pursue higher education at the levels of Masters and Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences, Dietetic programs at the Masters level, in addition to related fields at the UTRGV and other Higher Education institutions within the US. Nutritionists are specialists in the use of nutrition and food to promote health and wellness.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Rachel Villarreal is Making Headlines in the News for healthy eating lifestyles
Ms. Villarreal has been asked for her expert advice in Nutritional Sciences by news outlets for their healthy living articles. You can watch the video from KRGV here:
KRGV - March 28, 2019 - Heart of the Valley: Food Stamp Recipients Advised to Opt for Healthy Foods