We live in a world where information is available at the tips of our fingers (using computers and smartphones) - this accessibility may make people less enthusiastic about attending a professional conference.  Why spend hundreds (and potentially thousands) of dollars on traveling, hotel, and registration fees when google.com can do all of the hard work for you, and spit back results in 0.02 seconds.

Personally, I've had the opportunity to go to 3 conferences in the past 4 months. In October of 2015, I travelled to Nashville, Tennessee for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (#FNCE). I also attended the Greater Seattle Dietetic Association's Fall Conference. Last month, I traveled to Baltimore, Maryland for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention/US Youth Soccer Workshop (#bmorenscaa) to speak on nutrition as well as learn as a soccer coach. 

Afterwards, I began to think about the different ways that attending a professional event can impact your life in positive ways:

• Rejuvenate your passion for your profession

We all go into our own professions for a number of different reasons. After the novelty or luster wears off, things can potentially become stale and monotonous. Every time I leave a conference, I feel a sudden burst of energy and enthusiasm for my profession. All of these people are doing great and different things, and I am inspired to do more, to help out and get involved. It's an amazing feeling to be in the presence of 10,000+ like-minded individuals who are dedicated to their profession. 

• Meet online friends and colleagues face to face/Networking

​Social media is a great tool to network and connect with people. I have an extensive amount of professional friends on Facebook, followers on Twitters, and connections on LinkedIn. It is truly great when you get to meet with your connections in person. It provides an opportunity to network and chat during and hopefully after the professional conference. You may end up working on a project after this connection, or get to know an expert in a different niche and can reach out to them when the time comes, and vice versa

• Get up to date information on the latest industry trends

We are all enmeshed in our own world - I am working with geriatric home-bound Veterans or youth athletes. The  Greater Seattle Dietetic Association's Fall Conference "An RDs Role in Sustainable Food Systems," was a great 2 hours of enrichment with excellent speakers in Jenna Newbrey and Irana Hawkins.  I left the conference feeling enthusiastic about the nutrition profession. There are so many things that we can do in the nutrition profession and it was great to see and hear about the various ways that Registered Dietitians are helping to promote sustainability and educate about food waste. Listen in on topics familiar, but also be daring and listen to things that stimulate your curiosity - you never know, perhaps this one session may send your career into a different direction. 

• Education 

I am all about professional enrichment. There is always one or two or three things that you can take away from an educational session. Or better yet, you could think about the different ways that you would present or work in your setting. Stimulating your mind is great nourishment for your personal and professional aspirations. We need education credits for recertification and attending a conference is a great and easy way to gather 20-25 credits.

The truth of the matter is that there are so many local, state, national and international conferences to attend. Set a goal to attend at least one event a year (if possible) and work to see if your job-site will cover you. My payment back for attending FNCE is that I develop a presentation for my co-workers. It's a win-win - I learn new things, I develop a presentation (covering multiple topics), and I eventually present this information. This improves my skills as a speaker, and also keeps me up to date with the latest and greatest information.

Are there any other ways that attending a conference can have a positive impact? Leave a comment and let's hear it

I'm at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention/US Youth Soccer Workshop in Baltimore, Maryland. Today, I gave my presentation on nutrition in soccer titled "Fueling Tactics for Championship Performance." I feel very fortunate to work in an environment where I can blend both of my passions - nutrition and soccer. My undergraduate background includes exercise/sports sciences and psychology. My graduate degree was in nutrition and exercise physiology. I've been involved for 17-plus years in the health, wellness, and nutrition world. I have found one of my niches.

It makes me think about a piece of advise I received over a decade ago.. Beverly Price came to Teachers College, Columbia University in 2005 when I was in grad school to present her program on "Private Practice, Getting that Jump Start." Her course is excellent and I highly recommend it for any aspiring dietitians that want to enter the private practice arena. My quote on her website - "Beverly's program is outstanding. I am leaving motivated and ready to tackle the world!"
Angel Planells, Dietetic Student, New York, NY

Basically, we all need to find a way to feel valued and respected and be the nutrition expert by finding our niche. Otherwise, we run the risk of not spending enough time to develop and eventually will be a jack of all trades, and a master of none.

The biggest problem many of us will face in our career will be trying to find your own niche in the world. Some folks like to blog, and are damn great at it - kudos to you for the work that you put in. Others are great at recipe development, media, informatics, being an entrepreneur, focusing on renal, diabetes, oncology or whatever specialty that this wonderful field of food and nutrition has to offer.

Looking at social media and seeing all of the great things people do can make you go crazy - folks have become depressed and many feel like failures. I have many colleagues/former classmates that are doing amazing things. I am proud and happy for all of them, and wish them nothing but the best. One day, you will find your niche and you will be the expert in something - Rome was not built in a day, and finding your niche(s) won't happen overnight.

On a personal level, I have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. I am always trying to read, look at the latest research and try to stay versed in multiple topics. It is exhausting for our brains to try to retain all of this information. I dabble in a number of topics but throughout the years, my heart is in geriatrics (working with our home-bound Veterans and trying to improve their quality of life through nutrition), weight management (working with a number of folks and getting the adult weight management certificate), and sports nutrition. It took me a little while to get to this point but I have countless hours of experience and enthusiasm in these areas. I can work with a number of patients with a variety of nutritional issues, but when it gets to a very complex level, don't be afraid to reach out for the experts. Stay in your lane and be the expert in your area, and allow other experts to be the experts in their respective areas.

I've found my niches and am thankful and have lots of gratitude for being in this position. It may take weeks, months, or even years but eventually you will find your calling. That is the beauty of this profession, there are so many things that we can do.

Angel

I am very excited to present at the NSCAA Convention/US Youth Soccer Workshop in Baltimore, Maryland next weekend,

This coming Friday, January 15, I will be presenting an educational session titled, "Fueling Tactics for Championship Performance." This educational session will look at nutrition in soccer and provide an overview on a number of topics.

The presentation will be lots of fun and look at how nutrition can impact the performance of soccer players. We will first be looking at height, weight and body type of soccer players (looking at the NCAA final, MLS final, El Clasico, Bayern Munich, Fifa World Cup and FIFA Women's World Cup). Then the session looks at the science of the sport and how nutrition can impact performance with 10 tips for fueling success. The session then shifts to looking at the collegiate nutritional needs through their 4 seasons (pre-season, in-season, post-season, and off-season) and also look at the goals of nutrition during injuries (which unfortunately happen from time-to-time). As our athletes are trying to find a competitive edge, they may look into dietary supplements so will briefly discuss safety and also look at the NCAA banned supplements. On most weekends, many players around the country are playing 2 or more games on the weekend, so will provide some guidelines for preparing for these weekend events. The session will finish with looking at youth soccer and how we can effectively provide education in a youth soccer setting to help promote optimal health and performance for our youth soccer players now so they are more prepared to navigate the world as adults when they eventually hang up their boots.

Lots of great information and an amazing way to connect the two worlds that I am very passionate about - nutrition and soccer. The session takes place at 9:00 AM in CC324 - the link for the session is here - http://2016usyouthsoccerworkshop.sched.org/event/4Our/fueling-tactics-for-championship-performance

I also am going to participate on a panel discussion on "The Need to have a Good Plan for Regeneration and Recovery," which will take place on Saturday, January 16 at 11 AM in CC 323. I will serve on a panel with Ralph Perez, head coach of the University of the Redlands Men's program, and Bill Stara, Director of Recreation and Academy Programs for the Broomfield Soccer Club in Colorado. For information on the session, the link is here - http://2016usyouthsoccerworkshop.sched.org/event/5Cy6/the-need-to-have-a-good-plan-for-regeneration-and-recovery

Thanks and have a great weekend
Angel
ACP Nutrition
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Welcome to blog page for ACP Nutrition. Check back often for posts on random thoughts, news articles, and more.

Thanks

Angel

Coached the M04-M05 boys to the championshop at the 2013 Westsound FC Summer Classic

Became a coach in the Development Program at Emerald City Football Club in Seattle, Washington

I had the pleasure of presenting at the US Youth Soccer Adidas Workshop and Coaches Convention in St. Louis, Missouri
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What should your player eat during a day of tournament play? What choices are there? What is the overall understanding of nutrition among youth players and parents? What is the interest level of nutrition within a youth sports setting?
Presenter: Angel Planells, Clinical Dietitian, Sodexho Inc.
This session is based on a survey of nutrition knowledge and food choices of youth soccer players and parents. Consider the typical weekend at a youth soccer tournament: The players just played their first match, and now have two hours to prepare for the second match. The players go to the snack stand, and the only offerings are hamburgers, hot dogs and doughnuts. What is the player going to do? This survey attempted to assess the nutrition education levels and food choices of both youth soccer players and their parents. The objectives of this seminar are: 1) To discuss the results and information learned from the survey; and 2) To provide coaches and club officials with resources to disseminate to its members.

Article featuring Texaco "InRoads to the Stars Program"

Had the honor and privilege of being 1 of 50 recipients of the "InRoads to the Star Scholarship" program. 

Press Release below

press releaseTexaco Press Release - Texaco Announces Fifty Recipients of The New "Inroads to the Star Scholarship"

Recipients Begin Internships At Texaco Offices Nationwide This JuneFOR RELEASE: MONDAY, JUNE 9, 1997
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., June 9 - Texaco and INROADS, a national nonprofit organization that provides internships to minority students seeking careers in business and industry, announced the selection of 50 high school graduates to participate in the first year of the Inroads to the Star Scholarship program.


The Inroads to the Star Scholarship is designed to encourage academically proficient African American, Hispanic and Native American high school seniors entering college to major in areas such as engineering, the physical sciences, information systems and international business. In addition to receiving paid internships each summer at Texaco facilities, students will be granted scholarships of $2,000 to $3,000 per year for four years of higher education.


Beginning in early June and continuing throughout the summer, the graduates will intern at Texaco facilities across the nation supported by a program of mentoring by Texaco managers. The 1997 winners will work at Texaco facilities in New Orleans, La.; Houston, Texas; Denver, Colo.; Beacon, N.Y.; White Plains, N.Y.; Washington D.C.; Los Angeles, Calif.; and Puget Sound, Wash.. While Texaco has been providing paid internships to INROADS participants since 1987, this is the first year the company will award scholarships, making Texaco the first corporation to offer scholarships on a national basis through INROADS.


Texaco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter I. Bijur, who also serves on the INROADS national board of directors, stated, "Texaco takes pride in the successes of the many students we have sponsored and especially those who have joined Texaco as members of our corporate family. With this program, we aim to attract talented minority students to enroll in studies that represent critical job disciplines for Texaco, particularly engineering and the physical sciences, to diversify our work force base for the future. We look forward to the 50 graduating high school seniors who begin the pursuit of their careers with internships at Texaco facilities this summer."


INROADS Executive Vice President Otis A. Jackson noted, "We are pleased at the success achieved in the first year of this program in attracting talented minority youth. These 50 extraordinary students, who will be majoring in the fields of engineering, the physical sciences, information systems and international business, represent an average SAT (scholastic aptitude test) score of 1,200 and an average GPA (grade point average) of 3.5 in addition to their other achievements during high school."


A national committee appointed by INROADS selected the 50 scholarship recipients this year based on their academic records, achievements, leadership qualities, and community activities. Texaco's goal is to hire the majority of these interns as full-time Texaco employees in engineering and technical positions upon completion of their college studies.


INROADS, recognized as one of "America's Top 10 Internships" by the Princeton Review, was founded in 1970 in Chicago. Each year, with the support of major national corporations, INROADS selects approximately 1,200 to 1,500 high school graduates to participate in their internship program. The organization's presence has since grown to encompass 50 cities, serving more than 6,000 high school and college students, and 900 client corporations in 36 states, the District of Columbia, Mexico City, Mexico and Toronto, Canada.
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In addition to providing internships through organizations such as INROADS, Texaco sponsors many scholarship programs nationwide, including awards made through the United Negro College Fund, numerous university programs, and scholarships for children of Texaco employees and retirees.


Updated: June 1997