Fresh Focus

Fresh Focus

By Department of Veterans AffairsHealth & FitnessNutritionGovernment
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Fresh Focus episodes

  • Fresh Focus #30: Modifications At The Table

    Have ever been sitting at the kitchen table with your veteran loved one and notice them having difficulty feeding themselves?  If you are nodding YES, then you will understand how hard it is to figure out your role as the caregiver when your Veteran needs some additional support with eating their favorite foods. Episode #30 gives tips and tricks for making meaningful modifications at the table to increase confidence and get them eating again.

    10 min
  • Fresh Focus #29: When The One You Love Is Losing Weight
    When people think of seeing a Registered Dietitian, most often we think of eating healthier or losing weight, however for some of our veterans, gaining too much weight is not their problem it is actually quite the opposite. More often than you may think, we do see veterans who are dealing with malnutrition or unintended weight loss and are actually needing to find ways to increase food intake, and we are here to help with that too. Episode #29 provides our top 5 tips for what do when the one you love is losing weight unintentionally.
    12 min
  • Fresh Focus # 28: Personalize Your Plate for Weight Loss

    There can be so much information and misinformation out there when it comes to eating for weight loss, so we brought in Registered Dietitian and Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management, PJ Pivec, to help clear up some common myths and give you some actionable items to take away. 

     

    PJ talks all about how weight management (and weight loss) comes down to an energy balance, including how to choose foods that not only help keep you satisfied but also can help keep volume of food up while cutting down on calories. PJ takes a realistic approach and recognizes that food is more than just energy- it’s also a part of life! 

    14 min
  • Fresh Focus # 27: Tips for a Heart Healthy Plate

    Description: It’s common to hear that high sodium items should be avoided to promote heart health, but this episode dives into the “why” behind that recommendation, along with other heart healthy eating tips! Joining us is Lisa Conticello, cardiology dietitian at the Bay Pines VA is interviewed by Dietetic Intern, Megan Rivenburg.

    Lisa works specifically with Veterans with heart failure, Veterans enrolled in cardiac rehab, and Veterans enrolled in general cardiology clinics. Since she also leads Healthy Teaching Kitchen classes at Bay Pines, she has a good eye for applying nutrition information to the actual plate and making healthy swaps realistic. 

    9 min
  • Fresh Focus # 26: Healthy Teaching Kitchen
    The Fresh Focus team welcome Robin LaCroix, Dietitians from the Wayfort Junction VA in Vermont and Melanya Souza from the VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida to share their experiences with the Healthy Teaching Kitchen (HTK) program.
    HTK is dedicated to improving Veterans’ skills and confidence to prepare healthy meals. Increasing Veterans’ self-efficacy with regards to food selection and preparation in a home-like environment to develop life-long eating habits. Taking nutrition education that is traditionally taught in the clinic settings and helping Veteran’s put it in practice in their day to day meals.
    10 min
  • Fresh Focus # 25: Diversify your Plate
    Description: The Fresh Focus team welcomes YaQutullah Ibraheem Muhammad MS, RDN, LD from the VA Arcadia Primary Care Clinic to talk about adding diversity to your plate. This involves looking at alternative protein options, exploring local farmers markets, visiting ethnic grocery stores, and “vibe with veggies” to make your plate unique.
    15 min
  • Fresh Focus #24: MOVE! with a New Year
    MOVE’s core ideas are encouraging healthy eating, increasing physical activity, developing behavior change skills and promoting even small weight losses with an easy to follow evidenced based program. Take a listen as our husband and wife duo wrap up the lessons learned in episodes 19-23 and put some goals out on the table.
    16 min
  • Fresh Focus #22: MOVE! with Fiber
    Unfortunately, most people don’t get enough fiber in their diet, even though it is a crucial part of our MOVE to a healthier you toolbelt. Wondering how to increase your intake? Listen in as Dietitian Tori shares tips and tricks to help you meet your daily fiber goals.
    11 min
  • Fresh Focus #21: MOVE! with the Waves
    In our MOVE to a healthier you series, we take a dive into the important tool we should be using multiple times a day, water. Listen as our Dietetic Intern gives tips for increasing fluid intake, and specifically ways to liven up water.
    9 min

About Fresh Focus

From the publisher's feed

Fresh focus is a podcast delivering bites of nutrition information to veterans and their family between visits. Whether you are busy with a family, retired, or more isolated, you can stay connected for you. Dietitians from the Marion VA Health Care System will deliver evidenced based, consistent information to take on today's hot topics while promoting positive health outcomes.