Flik Independent School Dining has expanded its staff at MICDS. Danielle Beck has joined the team at MICDS as a Senior Wellness Coordinator. She will play a key role in driving health and wellness initiatives as well as serve as a point person regarding health and wellness communication.
Ms. Beck’s responsibilities include managing special dietary needs, conducting and managing wellness events, reviewing menus, developing wellness curriculum and acting as a nutrition education resource for students, parents, faculty and staff.
She completed her undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech, then went on to complete her dietetic internship at Saint Louis University. During this time, she also earned her Master of Science degree in nutrition and physical performance. She has well-rounded experience in health promotion, counseling, sports training, and menu development. In her free time, you can find her running a long-distance race in the woods, experimenting in the kitchen, or reading a good book. She hopes her skill set coupled with her philosophy that sound nutrition helps us live life to the fullest will enhance the lives of those she serves.
“It’s apparent that MICDS has pride in their community and I’m excited to introduce some new wellness initiatives to grow the community further. I hope to enhance the nutrition programming by having tastings in the dining halls, posting education pieces on various social media platforms, and making guest appearances in the classrooms for nutrition education,” she says. “In addition to programming, I hope to serve as a valuable resource for those students with allergies or other dietary concerns. I love what I do, and I encourage anyone who has a concern or suggestion to please reach out to me!”
Look for a regular column from Ms. Beck in future issues of the Weekly News. This week her focus is “Fruits Matter: Peaches”:
Fruits Matter: Peaches
This month, Flik is highlighting one of September’s fuzziest fruits: peaches. Fruits, like peaches, comprise one of the five food groups which make up a balanced, healthy diet. Peaches in particular are a good source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps fight off infections and promotes tissue growth and repair in our bodies. Throughout the month, there will be peach sampling booths in all of the dining halls, starting with a peach tasting in the middle school cafeteria on Monday, September 21. Flik’s Fruits Matter program is part of our ongoing commitment to promote nutrient-dense, whole foods in the dining halls. Be sure to tell your student to stop by the Fruits Matter booth to grab a sample of fresh, local peaches as well as a recipe card for peach and yogurt slaw!
If you have any questions or would like to set up a meeting, please contact Ms. Beck via email at dbeck@micds.org