Understanding food and nutrition

Obesity is misunderstood and BMI is misused. How can we provide clarity?

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

2 days ago
3 min

Obesity is misunderstood and BMI is misused. How can we provide clarity?

A nutrition topic that has gone through a major transformation in recent years is our understanding of the disease of obesity. When I was...

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What creates effective communication? Creating context for the audience is key.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Jul 14
4 min

What creates effective communication? Creating context for the audience is key.

What creates effective communication? This question is the focus of a series of posts featuring 8 key principles from Communicating...

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Are magical nutrition solutions real or a misconception? Learn the truth.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Jun 23
2 min

Are magical nutrition solutions real or a misconception? Learn the truth.

You’re scrolling social media or looking at magazine covers in the grocery check-out line… which of these ads have you seen? “Doctors...

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Why can’t nutrition experts agree? Conquer this misconception with truth and respect.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Jun 16
3 min

Why can’t nutrition experts agree? Conquer this misconception with truth and respect.

A common complaint about scientists in general and nutrition scientists, in particular, is that they can’t agree. One day they say coffee...

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Are dangers lurking in our food? Conquer this misconception with truth and respect.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Jun 9
4 min

Are dangers lurking in our food? Conquer this misconception with truth and respect.

Do you, or others you know or work with, have a fear of a particular food or food component? If so, why? Is there truly danger lurking?...

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Can we conquer the good food - bad food misconception? Yes. With truth and respect.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Jun 2
4 min

Can we conquer the good food - bad food misconception? Yes. With truth and respect.

One of the misconceptions about food and nutrition that drives nutrition professionals crazy is when people categorize food as all good...

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What misconceptions drive you crazy? Conquer them with truth and respect.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

May 26
3 min

What misconceptions drive you crazy? Conquer them with truth and respect.

Misconceptions are a nemesis to food and nutrition professionals. On one extreme are claims that a little gummy chew will melt away...

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Jargon is like a foreign language. Learn to speak so your audience understands.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

May 19
3 min

Jargon is like a foreign language. Learn to speak so your audience understands.

What is jargon? According to the dictionary, jargon is “special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group...

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Communicating about risk? Ask AI to help with clarity and examples.

Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Apr 7
7 min

Communicating about risk? Ask AI to help with clarity and examples.

In the field of food and nutrition, a common point of confusion is the concept of risk. Much of our dietary guidance stems from the goal...

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Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Aug 19, 2022
3 min

What does healthy mean?

When communicating about nutrition, the adjective “healthy” is used a LOT. Consider the many ways we use the word healthy as a descriptor...

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How can we illustrate data effectively and help audiences make sense of numbers?

Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Jul 22, 2022
5 min

How can we illustrate data effectively and help audiences make sense of numbers?

Numbers, data, and statistics make up much of what we communicate about nutrition. From simple statements like “make half your plate...

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Celebrate a world of flavors - without leaving home!

Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Mar 11, 2022
2 min

Celebrate a world of flavors - without leaving home!

Do your menus need a revamp? Do you find yourself eating the same things over and over and over? Boring! This year’s National Nutrition...

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Waste not, want not. A book review of Zero Waste Cooking for dummies.

Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Feb 25, 2022
3 min

Waste not, want not. A book review of Zero Waste Cooking for dummies.

Zero Waste Cooking for dummies, by Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN, is a book much needed by today’s western consumers who have been spoiled by a...

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4 Healthy Habits That Could Turn Unhealthy

Guest post by Taylor Lechner, MFN, RD, LD

Sep 3, 2021
4 min

4 Healthy Habits That Could Turn Unhealthy

As dietitians, we dedicate years to learning how to help people be the healthiest they can be. We learn what to eat in what amounts, how...

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Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Mar 12, 2021
2 min

#NNM2021 promotes a personalized plate

During my many years of counseling patients from all walks of life, a common perception they arrived with was the fear that meeting with...

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Guest post by Roberta Duyff, MS, RDN, FAND, FADA

May 16, 2020
4 min

Is Food Journalism for You?

Food journalism is about life, culture, and today’s cutting-edge issues, addressed through the lens of food.

2,091 views0 comments

Are you really an expert if you can’t communicate well?

Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Feb 21, 2020
2 min

Are you really an expert if you can’t communicate well?

Communication expertise is essential for nutrition professionals to make a difference and have an impact.

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Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Feb 7, 2020
3 min

5 Tips for Communicating Science

One of the biggest frustrations of credentialed food and nutrition professionals is helping the audiences they serve to make sense of the...

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Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Nov 1, 2019
3 min

Season to Taste

How often do you see the phrase “season to taste” in a recipe? That phrase will forever have a deeper meaning after experiencing the...

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Guest post by Julie Satterfeal, MS, RDN, LD

May 17, 2019
5 min

You are worth more than your weight

Our guest blog is written by registered dietitian nutritionist Julie Satterfeal. Get to know her better on the community page. Julie is...

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