The Galveston County Food Bank was my very first rotation in my Dietetics program at UTMB. I was very nervous, but nutrition director Candice Alfaro and nutrition educator Stephanie Bell have been incredibly welcoming and kind since my first day. I am honestly stunned at how great this rotation has been. The nutrition department office has become my safe haven over the past month.

In my first week, I was thrown right into nutrition education classes for the Texas City High School students. I participated every week for the entire duration of my rotation. Before this, I had only public speaking experience in a few class assignments. However, I was able to complete a food demonstration on my second day! Stephanie has been a great mentor through each class and always inspires me to improve. Through each class, I felt my confidence grow and blossom.

In my second week, I had the opportunity to make 150 meal kit boxes for the public. Each kit contained the ingredients to make two healthy meals and a folder filled with helpful nutrition information and recipes. Stephanie, Candice, and I handed out all of the boxes to the community first-hand, so I got to see who benefited from them with my own eyes. It was a truly fantastic experience! I enjoyed every aspect of it, even down to meticulously hand-packing each box.

I learned more about the Healthy Corner Store project during my third week. At first, I thought there was no way a corner store would agree to add healthier options. However, when Stephanie and I went to Kwik Stop in La Marque, a store they have been working with, my mind was blown. Multiple healthy changes had been made to the store, including adding produce, whole grains, dairy, signage, and more. I also met the store owner and witnessed how enthusiastic he was about making changes. It was remarkable to see how much of an influence the nutrition department truly has in the community.

During my last week, I had the pleasure of making a recipe card and food demonstration video to upload on YouTube. I have always been interested in recipe development and videography, so I jumped at the chance to learn the entire process. I am thrilled to be forever a part of the nutrition department’s recipe library. I plan to use my new skills to create my own recipes someday.

My time here has been truly unforgettable, and I am so grateful for every opportunity I was given. I have learned many skills that I will take with me throughout my career. I genuinely thank Stephanie and Candice for making my time both enjoyable and productive. I don’t want to say goodbye!

Until next time,

Cheyanne Schiff