Olivia Routhier, our community nutrition intern this summer, and a dietetics major in UConn CAHNR shares her experiences:

This past summer, I have had the pleasure of working with Heather Peracchio, RDN at Fairfield County UConn Extension on a variety of programs ranging from summer school programs to senior center lessons to farmer’s market nutrition classes. I have gained invaluable experience and skills throughout my time as an intern. This opportunity has shown me first-hand how SNAP-Ed and EFNEP programs can improve the lives of those who are involved through education, companionship, and support. 

My favorite program that I helped to run this summer is Growing Gardens, Growing Health that is held at Fodor Farm in Norwalk with the help of the Norwalk Health Department. This joint SNAP-Ed and EFNEP program pairs nutrition education with gardening lessons for adults and their children to promote family discussion about a healthy diet and how fruits and vegetables are grown. Once a week for 6 weeks, the children and adults receive separate nutrition lessons tailored to their learning levels and needs. Families who participate are also given a garden plot for the season at Fodor Farm where they can grow their own fruits and vegetables. I truly enjoyed working with the families of this program and seeing them learn how to eat healthier while saving money. Seeing them get involved with growing the food they eat at home and harvesting their own crops was an extremely rewarding experience. 

This internship allowed me to get a better understanding of how community nutrition programming is managed to maximize public benefit. My experiences during this internship have also given me the opportunity to meet many esteemed professionals in my field, which I greatly appreciate. With the guidance of Heather, I had a wonderful summer providing nutrition education to the people of Fairfield County.