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National Nutrition Month Success Stories from our Developmental Disabilities Division

This guest post was written by Madeline Rizzuti, registered dietitian with The Foundling

 

During the month of March, not only do we celebrate National Nutrition Month, but we also recognize Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The New York Foundling’s nutrition team works with individuals with developmental disabilities across our group homes to teach them about healthy living and nutrition. Here, we’re highlighting the progress and success of those individuals in their health journeys.

 

Two people from our group homes especially stand out as having made tremendous progress in their health status.

 

Since moving in to one of The Foundling’s group homes in the Bronx about a year and a half ago, Christopher has lost 65 pounds and is no longer considered obese. Staff and management at his group home do an amazing job cooking beautifully balanced and nutritious meals for their residents. Christopher has learned about portion control in addition to other skills in the kitchen, such as how to set the table and help clean up. He says he loves the food they cook — especially the hot lunches that he gets to bring to his daytime program. Christopher’s mother, his direct support staff, and the nutrition team are all very proud of his progress!

 

Jerry, a woman who also lives in one of The Foundling’s group homes, received a pre-diabetes diagnosis in 2016. Since then, she has turned her life around and lost 25 pounds. The team has seen tremendous improvement in her blood sugar control. Her mother is very proud of her progress and has praised the home and The Foundling’s daytime program for their hard work. Jerry decides on her own to select healthier foods to eat and discovered she loves salads. She is now more mindful of sugar-sweetened beverages and takes her lunches with her to her daytime activities. She is motivated and committed to becoming a healthier and more independent person.

 

The Foundling is so proud of Jerry and Christopher’s hard work!

 

The New York Foundling’s team of dietitians is a dedicated group of women who work hard to help the all individuals in their care from menu and recipe creation, to one-on-one counseling and staff training. From teen moms to those with developmental disabilities, the team works hard to build a healthy environment. Our team consists of three registered dietitians, one of whom is a certified diabetes educator, and multiple nutritionists. Learn more about their work here.

 

*Names have been changed to protect privacy.

 

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