Food Service

This week marks my last week in my school food service rotation.  I must admit that I'm ready to get back to my main site for a couple weeks of community/administration and a full week off for Christmas!  Then it's on to clinical.  I can tell that I'm changing (or maybe just adapting to reality!) already because the thought of going to my clinical rotation used to scare me.  At our clinical review session I was on the verge of tears and had to fight off having a very public meltdown.  But after food service I'm so ready for clinical. Bring it on!

You see, I've found out that food service just really isn't my thing.  I love kids and I love childhood nutrition, I also love school so by all accounts I should love food service but I don't.  I don't hate it but I've found that I'm definitely not a food service dietitian.  It's too far removed from the education piece and the client interaction. When I started this internship I really felt that I was a WIC dietitian deep down.  I think that's where my heart is but I've been trying to be open minded and to get the most from each of my experiences.  Ironically though, food service has just reminded me of how much I love the WIC population, the services the program provides and the client interaction.  Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for food service dietitians and directors and the work they do (especially given the new meal pattern requirements) but there is another side to their job that is too involved with personnel management.  My rotation is in a district with 300+ food service employees and the personnel and discipline issues have been overwhelming at times. Something is always going on at some school and the directors day is often interrupted as something comes up.  I like variety and knowing that every day is different but it weighs too heavily on me to have to constantly be writing up an employee or documenting an incident.  I just want to teach nutrition to kids and families. 

I'm glad that I had this experience and I'm glad that food service was my first outside rotation.  It was a great way to get out and experience a new side of dietetics but as I said before I'm so ready for a break (I plan to do as little as possible during my week off!) and for a new rotation.  I also miss seeing my fellow interns on a daily basis and can't wait to be back in our cubes again! :)