Nutritious choices made simple ®
As a Registered Dietitian, Garrick brings knowledge of nutrition and public health to Guiding Stars. Garrick develops, manages and coordinates nutrition and wellness programs and tools utilizing Guiding Stars for our clients and community. He is passionate about helping people lead healthier lives and making the healthy choice the easy choice. Garrick has experience in community, research, and clinical nutrition and most recently worked for the University of New England as the Senior Nutrition Program Coordinator for Maine SNAP-Ed. There he managed and trained nutrition educators in a statewide nutrition education program for low-income Mainers.
Garrick earned his bachelor's in Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Maine and his master's in Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Rhode Island. Garrick grew up in central Maine and feels fortunate to be living and working back in Maine.
Instead of planning every weeknight meal, it works well for my family to grocery shop for three dinners and make them when we have the time. We also keep other key ingredients stocked, which allow us to quickly put together a balanced meal on busy nights. Here is an example from Cooking Light:
Another school year is upon us. Before sending their children to school, parents will weigh the pros and cons of participating in school lunch versus packing lunch at home. In addition to cost and convenience, nutrition is an obvious factor in this decision.
In most minds, dorm room dining does not evoke Instagram-worthy images of nutritious foods. Students typically do not have access to a kitchen and can feel resigned to warming up easy mac or ramen noodles in a microwave or splurging on a fast food delivery order. Yet, with some ingenuity, it’s possible to eat healthy and on a budget from a dorm room. Here are a few simple strategies and recipes from Guiding Stars to help college students eat healthy dorm room meals and snacks without spending all their cash.
College students will begin the fall semester in about a month. Freshmen will suddenly have the freedom to choose what they eat without any input from their parents. If they live on campus, students will make these decisions at an all-you-can-eat dining hall.
We know that good nutrition and regular physical activity are essential to health. Yet, other factors, like the environment we live and work in, also determine the health of our communities. Think of your community: where can residents safely enjoy physical activity? You likely thought of a public park, trails, or a recreation facility. July happens to be Park and Recreation Month and its purpose is to promote and recognize local parks and rec efforts. Let’s take this opportunity to discuss how public parks and trails improve our communities and promote good health for all.
When most people think about summer vacation, they imagine care-free children enjoying their freedom away from school. However, many children who rely on school meals struggle to get enough to eat during these months at home. In fact, it may be the hungriest time of the year for families that rely on food assistance. Let’s discuss what already exists to help, how many children are reached, and what we can all do to support these families in our communities.