It is said that “sustainability is no longer about doing less harm. It’s about doing more good.” And for Chesha Hodge, the freshly minted Sustainable Food Systems Program Manager with the City of Newark, the “good” is helping to establish sustainable food systems and nutritional practices in a city she has been serving in many capacities for over a decade.
This is National Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week. And so, we invite you to help us celebrate the work of Elizabeth Goldstein, RDN, who specializes in using medical nutrition therapy to treat these conditions. She is also actively helping the AND to establish a GI specialist credential.
There are so many things to look forward to this time of year: holiday movie marathons, winter sports, spending time with loved ones and other festivities. It is essentially a season of celebration. And with each celebration, there are also so many foods we look forward to—maybe foods we only get to have once a year. So, imagine the devastation you may feel if you were told you could no longer enjoy your favorite holiday dish. For people living with celiac disease or other medically necessary dietary restrictions, this disappointment is unfortunately all too common. In fact, foods easily become the centerpiece at the table (no pun intended) and mealtimes may be more stressful than they are pleasurable.
November is quite a busy month! Some of us see it as the perfect time to slow down and embrace the chilly fall mornings, vibrant foliage, and earlier nights. Others see it as the start of another holiday season and feverishly begin their preparations.
In honor of Veteran’s Day, this month we focus the spotlight on retired Navy Commander, Kathy Maalouf who spent 23 years as a Navy Reservist but is now ranked an RDN. She earned her credentials during the COVID-19 pandemic having completed her entire course of study at Montclair State University. “I became an RDN mid-pandemic and after considering the employment landscape I decided to use the time to begin the process of starting a private practice while waiting out the pandemic,” said Kathy.
Chances are, you’ve heard of gluten before, but what about celiac? Celiac is an autoimmune condition characterized by damage to the small intestine—specifically, to the fingerlike projections (called villi) that line it and aid in nutrient absorption1. Every year on September 13th, National Celiac Disease Awareness Day encourages us to support those with the auto-immune disease affecting 3 million people. This month’s blog post will go into the specifics of celiac and help to bring further awareness.
It’s National Fruits & Veggies Month! And this year it is being commemorated under the theme, Every Time You Eat, Have A Plant.
In August, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrate the importance of healthful eating and active lifestyles for children and their families during the annual Kids Eat Right Month®. With the first day of school on the horizon, here are some breakfast ideas to make the morning mealtime rush a little easier.
They say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And that is exactly what Jane Siletto did many years ago when she took matters into her own hands to heal herself after suffering a series of health-related issues in high school. “I suffered from frequent headaches and stomachaches, and it was not until I made changes to my diet that my health improved. After witnessing the power of nutrition changes in my own health I knew that I wanted to go into the nutrition field,” Jane said.
It is said that opportunities don’t just happen, they are created. So, when Dr. Reshma Adwar’s career as an acute rehabilitation Physical Therapist at New York Presbyterian Hospital, treating patients with cardiac and neurological pathologies wasn’t yielding the desired returns, she knew it was time to get creative and inspire change.
The New Jersey Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics is the state’s leading professional organization for registered dietitian nutritionists, nutrition professionals, and students, representing over 1,500 members across the state.
© 2026 New Jersey Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
