It had to be the spinach cupcakes

I'm sure they were the inspiration....for a career as 
a Registered Dietitian for Emily (Hartline) Craft!

Let me explain....

When Emily was in kindergarten I wanted to send her to school with a healthy snack, so I BAKED (didn't buy) spinach cupcakes. Fun! (said no one ever). I was teaching in the building at the time, and I just happened to go to the kindergarten classroom just after snack.  I proudly asked her teacher, Ginny McCartin, how Emily liked her snack and Ginny said, "Steph, I told her, 'Honey, you don't have to eat that.'" Ginny gave her a substitute treat, and it's only because Ginny is my dear friend that I could accept that.

Perhaps this started Emily on a mission to make sure that NO KID EVER had to endure this maternal well-intended torture.

Emily, (Central Catholic class of '06---yes, I taught her Freshman English), is a 2010 grad of the University of Delaware. She earned a B.S. in Dietetics; after graduation she completed a 1 year internship program where students experience rotations in clinical (hospital), food service, and community components of this profession. Upon completion of the internship and after sitting for boards (which means passing an extensive exam), Emily was now a Registered Dietitian.

Emily furthered her career scope by earning a Certification in Pediatrics. She also became licensed in her state, making her:

Emily Craft, RDN, CSP, LDN......That's a lot of alphabet!

She is currently working on her Master's Degree in Health Education from St. Joseph's University; this will open up even more opportunities.

One of Emily's first jobs was at Dupont Children's Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware.

There she was an Outpatient Pediatrics Weight Management and Adolescent Bariatrics Dietitian. (To clarify, bariatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the control and treatment of obesity.) She saw patients at the hospital in conjunction with their pediatrician. She helped manage the children's food choices as well as educate both the kids and their parents about a healthy diet. Working with adolescents was a common ground for Emily and me, although she was preparing them for a serious surgery that could help them physically.

After 4 and a half years at Dupont, Emily Hartline became Emily Craft....and this involved a move to Baltimore, Maryland. Time to for a new job----still as a Dietitian, but with a different approach to healthy eating.

She is now a Retail Dietitian for Giant Foods. (Fortunately we were already Giant shoppers, so no loyalty switch was involved!)

Emily is a Giant Wellness Ambassador! Part of her 

job is seeing clients in the store. With them she

discusses concerns with diabetes, weight management,

picky eating, and heart-healthy choices. 

She conducts store tours to guide the clients to the 

"right" area of the store, and often has sampling

events and cooking demonstrations.

Emily especially enjoys the community outreach aspect of her job. She manages visits to schools (from preschool to college), rehab centers, and health fairs. We enjoyed  hearing her "Cooking With Beer" presentation last fall at the Annapolis Beer Fest!

Other presentations include " Label Reading for Health," "Oh Baby-- First Foods and More," Thriving with Diabetes and Pre-diabetes," and "School Time Nutrition."

(I'M GUESSING THAT SPINACH CUPCAKES ARE NOT ON THE LIST FOR THAT LAST ONE!)

There is even a glamorous aspect as a career as a Retail Dietitian. There are media events: she has contributed to an article in Prevention Magazine (April issue), and writes for online publications, including a blog.

Emily has appeared several times on a morning segment at Fox45News Baltimore.

This was a New Year's segment "Eat Healthy 2017."

There are many opportunities for Registered Dietitians. They can work in hospitals, schools, long-term care facilities, and sports centers. Some individuals choose a private practice. Some add classroom teaching to their repertoire! Emily says wherever food is involved, it is overseen by a Dietitian.

On a personal note, now my friends and colleagues can see why I have quinoa and chickpeas in the fridge and I choose oatmeal over home fries. Is there any other choice?

...although I do have my dark chocolate every night --  my Dietitian says it's OK ;)