At the Table: Unprocessed

There is so much information out there about exactly *what* healthy eating is- and much of it is contradictory. Sorting through the science and studies and marketing could easily be a full time job.

Some of the responsibility for sorting through the avalanche of information available falls on Registered Dieticians- the people that the medical community have declared to have the requisite education and knowledge to offer sound nutritional advice. They are regulated by a national professional organization and subject to professional guidelines.

That professional certification is what I am currently going back to school in pursuit of.

Which makes some of the news coming out of the 2011 ADA conference especially disappointing. This article circulating around facebook highlights the striking link between paid industry sponsors (major players like Kraft, Hershey's, and Coca Cola) and the topics of seminars and professional education for nutritional professionals.

Seriously. I include packaged/processed food when we need the variety or the convenience- although I put a lot of effort into using as much whole food as possible and limiting the impact of processed food. But should we really be recommending and endorsing it?