Introduction:

My name is Carmen Goojha, I am a final year medical student who completed a Preventative Cardiology and Nutrition elective with Dr. Eaton and Dorothy DeLessio of the Brown Family Medicine Department. On completion of the elective, I was required to develop a project. The inspiration for my project sprung from watching and listening to the frustrations of many residents I have met when it comes to personal time, especially during demanding rotations. They often described themselves as exhausted,overwhelmed, with little time for proper diet and exercise. As a final year medical student on the brink of residency, hearing such things is concerning, and thus I wanted to help the residents feel better and perhaps prepare myself for the future simultaneously.

The residents all have a basic understanding of what a healthy diet consists of, but the combination of stress and little time can make less healthy options seem like a reward for hard work and the only quick option when they can make time to eat. I believe that providing the residents with practical nutrition tips will make them feel more confident, energetic, productive, and just plain happy! I evaluated the nutritional choices of the Brown Family Medicine residents during demanding rotations through a survey. I wanted to determine where they were buying their food and what they were eating in order to give them tips that corresponded to their specific nutritional needs and would benefit them most. I combined information from Dorothy L. DeLessio, M.S., R.D., L.D.N.,CDE, Senior Clinical Teaching Associate and Brown Medical School Graduate Medical Education Nutrition Specialist, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), the AHA (American Heart Association), the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and ATP III Cholesterol Lowering Guidelines to form the recommendations that would best match the needs of the residents based on the survey results. 

Aim of Webpage = Empower the family medicine residents to eat healthy through practical nutritional education and improve their quality of life.

Results:

Based on the survey results, the following learning objectives were determined as most beneficial for the residents.  Click on the following for healthy eating tips:

• To become competent in reading nutritional labels and ingredient lists.

• To learn practical application of the USDA's "My Plate" model in order to have healthier meals from the hospital cafeteria, at home, or at a restaurant.

• To learn healthier food options when dining out, specifically at Apsara!

• To gain coping mechanisms for "comfort food" cravings.

• To learn daily recommendations and easier ways to incorporate each food group into your diet. 

Results of Survey – 14/39 residents completed the survey. The findings are represented in the following graphs.