Symposium focuses on food insecurity

The College of Health and Human Services Food and Nutrition program held their 8^th Annual Food and Nutrition Symposium on Food Insecurity November 4, 2016. More than 250 dietitians, students and health professionals attended to expand their knowledge of nutrition.

Marie Huff, dean of the College of Health and Human Services, provided opening remarks and expert speakers included Wendi Huntley, Esq., Interim CEO Feed Lucas County Children; Rosemary E. Riley, PhD, LD, President, Straight Talk: Nutrition, LLC; and Colleen Spees, PhD, MEd, RDN, LD, FAND, The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

In the afternoon attendees learned more about Food Insecurity Programs in Northwest Ohio during a panel presentation. Panelists included Autumn Richard, RD, Area Office on Aging; Gaye Martin, Hunger Free Ohio; Jason Hartigan, Common Good; Chloe Plummer, RD, ProMedica—Food Pharmacy; and Tom Dibling, Claver House Soup Kitchen at St. Martin de Porres.

According to Dawn Anderson, Ph.D., food and nutrition program coordinator, “The symposium provided many opportunities throughout the day for networking and inspired students to volunteer with local organizations that are addressing food insecurity.”

The college’s Optimal Aging Institute, that provides education, research and learning opportunities for older adults, sponsored the event. Local exhibitors including Area Office on Aging of Northwest Ohio, Inc., American Dairy Association Mid-East and Food for Thought also participated and CPEUs were available.

In recognition of hunger and food insecurity as the theme of the symposium, monetary and nonperishable food donations were collected to help those in Wood and Lucas counties who are food insecure.