Written By: Carli Knott; SLU Dietetic Intern
As a dietetic intern class, we went to Jefferson City to the Capitol Building on March 21st to talk with Missouri Legislators on the importance of passing bills HR 845 and HB 873. These bills allow for a temporary license for new graduations to work until they pass the exam and apply for licensure.
Before this, one of our professors listed some reasons why our profession should care about policy that resonated with me:
1. It enhances the value of the registered dietitian
As someone who is going to the career of being a registered dietitian, I know the value and what we, as a profession, bring to the table. But unfortunately, not everyone else knows what a registered dietitian does. We have a unique role in public policy, where we are equipped with a solid understanding of scientific knowledge, counseling skills, and a desire to improve the well-being of others. Consistent bills and policy changes are being proposed that revolve around nutrition and healthcare. These individual policymakers do not have the knowledge or expertise that a registered dietitian has. That is why RDs can use their knowledge to enlighten the public by educating community members and policymakers to influence positive change on nutrition and healthcare issues!
2. It increases the awareness of legislation that is important to nutrition professionals
Some current Bills that are trying to be passed that nutrition professionals should be aware of and support:
Child Nutrition Reauthorization
HR8450 - Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act
Increases children’s access to free school meals by expanding community eligibility, allowing more high-need schools to offer free meals to all students at no charge
Expands access to summer meals, helping to close the summer hunger gap
Modernizes the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) by requiring WIC clinics to offer services over the phone and via video options
Extends WIC benefits to children up to the age of 6 years and extends certification periods to two years for infants, children, and postpartum individuals
Early Childhood
HR5919 – Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act of 2021
Allowance of additional meals or snacks for children in a full daycare
S1270 – Access to Healthy Foods for Young Child Act of 2021
Strengthens and expands the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) by:
HR2011 – Wise Investment in Children Act (WIC Act)
Extends the WIC certification period to two years
Extends program eligibility for children from 5 years until their sixth birthday
Extends postpartum eligibility to two years for all mothers
School-Based
S3979 – The Support Kids Not Red Tape Act
Extends the USDA authority to issue child nutrition waivers to address the impacts of COVID-19 through September 30. 2023, giving schools more time to recover from the pandemic-related constraints
HR6718 – Healthy Breakfasts Help Kids Learn Act
Provides schools with an additional 6 cents in commodity support for every school breakfast served
3. Being able to define our role as nutrition experts or others will define it for us
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, it is someone who is a food expert who has met the following criteria:
Completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree
Completed an accredited supervised practice program of 1,000 hours
Passed a national examination
Completed continuing professional educational requirements
Advocating for policies that directly affect our ability to do our job is necessary. It is easy for someone else to sell a policy that best suits their party, but being able to explain to the public how these bills will benefit them and their health could make all the difference to help better the public and to provide them with the resources they need to live a healthy life.
4. It affects us and our patients
Some of these bills that could be passed would benefit millions of Americans and give them the resources they need to live a healthy life.
Ways for you to get involved:
Find out who your legislator is
Become a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to stay updated on current policy and reach out to your local or state dietetic association to stay informed!
Joining the Academy’s Nutrition and Dietetics Advocacy Summit
Using your social media to speak out and bring light to these policies
“Support for Nutrition is not Good Public policy, it is Good Politics”
