More notes to self

Not elegant or particularly innovative but it's been getting the jobs done this past week: the latest version of my daily worksheet:  Worksheet (version 2.0)

This version has a second page for recording information about patients who are eating.  In my work environment, this means keeping track of  dysphagic patients' specific diet modifications and intakes.

 Feel free to tweak the content and format to meet your needs.  I'm still aiming for a simpler format so you will probably see version 3.0.

Notes to self

 

Image credit: Squiggy gets things done in his dreams by bulldog1. 

 

Note to readers: This post likely will be of interest only to dietitians, dietetic interns, and dietetics students but as always, everyone is welcome to read it.  

Today I'm sharing a simple tool for coping with some of my workday complexity:  a template for recording patient information and workload measurement data.  Even though I read and/or print several computer lists and reports every morning (e.g., patients listed by unit, patients' diet orders, lab reports) as well as write nutrition notes in the medical record, I need a supplementary, quick-to-use system to keep me on track and on time. I also need a concise summary of patients' statuses and care plans for colleagues who may be taking on my patient assignment if I'm away.

So this afternoon I "tweaked" the latest version for tube feeding patients. (I have a slightly different form for dysphagic patients who are eating.)  While scrutinizing the form just before publishing this post, I thought of another helpful feature: a section to list time-sensitive tasks or activities such as meetings or project deadlines. Then,  after reviewing my calendar in the morning,  I wouldn't need to refer to it again that day,  except to record new entries.

Feel free to copy and adapt any parts of the worksheet that might help you cope with information volume and complexity,  competing demands on your time and attention,  detours and distractions.  This tool may not  come close to meeting your needs. But I also have another reason for sharing it: to stimulate discussion and find out  your preferred method for "remembering the milk" and freeing up your mind for thinking? Do you prefer paper-based or computer-based systems and tools?

Link to Worksheet

Greens, berries & other traditional foods of the Nuxalk Nation

 

Image credit: Yellow-salmonberries by Apv.

Today while helping a colleague find information on the nutritional composition of indigenous foods,   I discovered the Community Food System Data Tables of the Nuxalk Nation, part of the McGill University's Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment.

For quick and easy access, I'm including the links to the specific data tables here but I encourage you to read the  background information and user notes on the web page so you can appreciate the research behind the tables as well as understand and apply the food and nutrient information knowledgeably.

Fish and Seafood [.pdf]
Game [.pdf]
Wild Berries [.pdf]
Greens, Roots and Other Plants [.pdf]

Even if you don't need this information now or think you will in the near future, it's fascinating and well worth a look.  In particular and not unexpectedly,  I'm interested in learning more about the wild greens and berries.

What to Eat: Personal Responsibility versus Social Responsibility

 

Image credit: InsideLoeb by Sean Lavallée

Usually I don't recommend a resource until I've finished reading it -- or in this case, listening to it. But I think it's safe to make this exception:  What to Eat: Personal Responsibility versus Social Responsibility, the podcast of Marion Nestle's presentation at Stanford University on iTunes U.

Yesterday during my afterwork walk,  I listened to  Dr. Nestle discuss research on why people eat more, supermarket "rules" and marketing to children. Her talk entertained, informed and, I admit, dismayed me.  But I think my dismay will be turning into optimism.  I've saved the  last 25 minutes for this afternoon's listening pleasure.  The topic:  the social movements arising from current food issues, e.g.,  eating local, slow food, organic food, humane treatment of animals.

Here's how to find this podcast on iTunes U.

• Go to the iTunes Store. 
• Select iTunes U. 
• Then select these links:  Stanford -> Health and Medicine ->  Healthy Living. This talk is #13.

Diet for a hungry planet

Image credit: Rice by Andrew Butko

I know I've "borrowed" the title of this post* -- I just can't recall from whom or from where. But I'm writing this on this fly because in less than 60 minutes Frances Moore Lappé  will be the guest on CBC Radio's Sunday Edition and I wanted to give you advance notice. And now I realize that it's probably after-the-fact for listeners east of the Rockies. Well, not to despair, we should be able to download it as a podcast tomorrow. I will post a link as soon as it's up.

In the meantime, if you missed the interview you can visit the Small Planet Institute and Anna Lappé's new site and blog.

I also found some podcasts by the Lappés on iTunes University.  I've downloaded them but haven't listened to them yet:

• Eat Grub! Putting Justice on Your Plate   Anna Lappé    Nicholas Talks (Duke University)
• Simply Delicious    Frances Moore Lappé, Alice Waters    The Aurora Forum at Stanford University   (Stanford->Arts&Humanties->Culture)
• Choosing Courage in a Culture of Fear    Frances Moore Lappé    The Aurora Forum at Stanford University  
  

Unfortunately I can't insert links to the podcasts, but you can find them with a few clicks:

(1) Go the iTunes store and simply enter "lappe" into the Search field (Anna and Frances are artists 147, 148 & 149); or
(2) Go to iTunes U. Select Duke University , then select  Nicholas School of Environmental Science and the Nicholas Talks; Anna is artist 8.
(3) Select Stanford University and then from the offerings on the next page, select Aurora Forum. Browse the listings to find  Frances' talks (11,36).

Addendum: I found the inspiration for this post's title: (1) a series on CBC' Radio's The Current and (2) Peter Menzel's book. Earlier this year I heard a few portions of the broadcast and viewed a few of the book's pages on a blog. Time now for a closer look and listen.