Meet the dietitian: Tara Parsons is here to serve

This fall, a new face appeared on cafeteria napkin dispensers.

Tara Parsons joined the dining team as a district campus dietitian for Sodexo, Lipscomb’s dining service, in July. With a Master of Science in nutrition, along with the credentials of registered dietitian nutritionist and licensed dietitian, Parsons is qualified to serve not only Lipscomb students but also students at Trevecca, Fisk, UT Martin and Lee universities.

Parsons’ main office is on Lipscomb’s campus. She said everyone in her new environment has been warm and welcoming, including President Candice McQueen.

“She immediately took a moment, stopped, introduced herself, already knew my name, and I just thought, ‘wow, what a nice way to welcome someone to campus,’” Parsons said of meeting McQueen at the beginning of her job.

Parsons’ new job combines several aspects of her career. She works in clinical nutrition through education, counseling, food service and public speaking. She also works with the university’s chefs and food service workers to review menus and ensure they meet nutritional requirements.

She highlighted the “Mindful” options in the cafeteria, which meet requirements in calories, fat, sodium and cholesterol set by United States Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Many students might not realize the level of nutritional analysis that takes place before food reaches their plate.

If students have nutrition-related needs, Parsons can help them find dining options that fit their diet. For example, if a student has celiac disease, Parsons can direct them to the gluten-free options at Simple Servings and in the gluten-free zone behind the station.

“I’m going to walk step-by-step with them through the process to make sure that they have the help that they need here on campus,” Parsons said.

Parsons also works with athletics, giving nutrition presentations and offering one-on-one counseling. She has even had athletes from other schools reach out for nutrition advice.

One of Parsons’ favorite parts of her job is campus outreach. She often sets up tables around campus for nutrition campaigns, either in partnership with campus events or as individual pop-up events.

Some of these events give students the opportunity to meet Parsons and learn about the services she offers. Others provide more specific nutrition advice. At a “Pack It and Snack It” table, she discussed what balanced snacks can look like. During “Mood Boost Friday,” she handed out anti-anxiety stickers, taught breathing exercises and offered samples of kombucha to promote gut health.

Parsons hopes her events will teach students how nutrition factors into living a healthy life. In an era when social media gives college students both accurate and misleading nutrition advice, the dietitian serves as an important resource.

Although Parsons acknowledges the positive aspects of social media, she also sees the dangers of following trendy advice. She highlighted movements focused on increasing protein or fiber intake, which influencers sometimes take too far.

“There’s a lot of pressure to meet somebody else’s standard, and I think it’s really hard to maintain other people’s standards. What works for one person may not work for another,” Parsons said.

Parsons wants to help students navigate life changes and new food options in a healthy way.

“University students are at an interesting point in life… you’re developing habits that are going to influence your health beyond college. So this is an opportunity that I have that I can help students build a healthier relationship with food and nutrition,” Parsons said.

Students can look forward to more of Parsons events, including a “Sleepy Girl Snack Station,” which will discuss smarter snacking during busy academic seasons, and a “Warm and Well” hydration bar in November.

Feature image courtesy of Tara Parsons.