Dietitians as Teachers of Nutrition
by
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By CLARA M. KNOWLES, Dietitian, Mountain Sanitarium, North Carolina
Reports indicate that good work is being done reports cooking schools in connection with evangelistic meetings in many parts of the country. However, there seems to be no large-scale effort in this direction such as we would expect if the following admonitions were carried out: "Wherever the truth is proclaimed, instruction should be given in the preparation of healthful foods."—Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 532. "House-to-house instruction should be given in the art of cooking wholesome food."—Ibid., vol. 9, p, 161.
When we consider the large populations in some places, this "house-to-house instruction" may sound impossible. How could this ever be carried out? We would not expect such sporadic efforts as have been put forth to be a fulfillment of this counsel. It seems very clear that there should be a large number of persons engaged in this work. A few individuals, mostly untrained, undertaking a task of such magnitude would never suffice.
To think that all dietitians and home economists must be employed in our institutions is restricting their work and usefulness to a very narrow field. There is a need for such workers that may well be recognized. Many new converts are coming into the church who have not been instructed in the principles of healthful living. We also have a responsibility toward those who are already in the church. Every Seventh-day Adventist should have a thorough knowledge of our health message, and a better understanding of our relation to it.
In connection with evangelistic meetings, it is -a distinct advantage for a dietitian to have general supervision of the food demonstrations and lectures. Instruction given by someone who can speak both interestingly and with authority will inspire confidence in the message taught, as well as create interest in food preparation. Great care should be taken that the instruction in nutrition be well founded. It is essential that statements regarding diet and foods be authentic. The public expects health lessons to be taught by a -qualified instructor.
Occasionally enthusiastic workers who are permeated with radical notions about food and diet have a burden to teach health subjects. This is -quite understandable, since many of our people are interested in diet and read widely on this subject, yet they are not always able to discriminate between really well-established facts and quackish ideas. A graduate nutritionist, because of her technical training, has the advantage in this, over the average church member.
It would be an ideal arrangement for many of our larger conferences to employ at least one specially trained food worker, who could devote her entire time to health promotion exclusively along the lines of food and nutrition. In the past we have considered the need of a trained nurse in each conference. Is there any less need for trained help in this field ? Those who have ability as public speakers, those who are practical cooks, specialists in nutrition, and more important, those who have a real burden to be of help spiritually to the church, should be encouraged to engage in this activity.
If such a plan were inaugurated, there could be employment for all our graduates in our own denominational work, and none would need to seek positions in worldly institutions where our great health principles cannot be carried out. If there is a place for the graduates of our school of dietetics aside from an institutional capacity, it is where their scientific training and experience may be utilized in directing and promoting this highly specialized phase of health education. The need must be made known, and those who can fill this need must be made to realize their responsibility. Should not our schools extend their courses so that graduates may be turned out to meet the need of the field in this line?
This task can never be accomplished by trained workers alone, of ,course, and it would be a mistake to suppose that lay persons should have no part in it at all. It would seem appropriate that the trained food worker have charge of the diet feature in the evangelistic meetings, and elsewhere when needed, but many lay members would be needed to assist in this important work.
In evangelistic meetings the food lectures and demonstrations are of great value in breaking down prejudice and opening the way for religious instruction. They should be of such a nature that they will appeal to everyone. But these lessons are not sufficient for those who expect to become church members. New converts should receive instruction until they are well established in the basic principles of nutrition as applied to vegetarianism. Their instruction should prepare them to be able to plan adequate diets and should fortify them against extremes, so that they will not adopt some diet or fad that would injure the health.
They will need more than a smattering of food facts. And at no time will a well-outlined, though necessarily brief, course in nutrition in the light of the Testimonies be of greater value to them. It will serve as a factor in stabilizing them in their new-found faith, and enable them to proceed with confidence along the road of healthful living.
In the past we have been remiss in our duty toward new members in this respect. To emphasize the harmfulness of certain foods is only one phase of health education. Learning to construct a properly balanced vegetarian diet is of equal importance. Much of this teaching will have to be carried on in small groups ; thus the instruction will be more practical and impressive, and there will be opportunity for questions not possible in a large audience.
If this kind of procedure is important for new beginners, it is also important for the older members of our church. Here is a full-time job for the nutritionist. Our members generally consider themselves quite well informed on matters of health reform, although checking over the diets of large numbers reveals poorly constructed diets and the frequent occurrence of extreme faddish notions.
Generally speaking, more knowledge of foods is necessary to balance restricted than unrestricted diets; therefore, vegetarians especially need to be instructed in the fundamentals of nutrition. They should familiarize themselves with food values and learn to apply these principles in a practical way.
The trained food worker, directing the dietetic feature in the evangelistic meetings, training assistants, acting as consultant to the constituency, helping the people in their homes and in group meetings, can accomplish what no other worker can, and should be a valuable asset in preparing our people for the time to come when it may be necessary to further restrict our diet.