Nutrition facts and diet fantasies

There's a lot going on these days regarding food, nutrition, and how to stay healthy; with it comes a whole bunch of misinformation and gobbledygook.

If you're asking yourself what's real and what's not in the world of human nutrition, come to The Belfry Thursday, May 15, and listen to Dr. Julie Hood Gonsalves, COCC associate professor of human biology. Doors open at 6 p.m.; program starts at 7 p.m.

Her talk, "Nutrition Facts and Diet Fantasy," may be what you need to hear.

"I come from a family of scientists dedicated to improving people's health," Hood Gonsalves says. "I have always loved science, and I have always loved the sensory wonderfulness of food. Nutrition is the perfect blend of science, food and improving people's lives. Being a registered dietitian combines all aspects of the holistic use of food for health."

Hood Gonsalves credits her parents with her lifetime commitment to helping others. Her physician father and humanitarian mother traveled worldwide sharing their talents and resources. Between high school and college, she spent a year helping them start a hospital in a tiny, war-torn Nigerian village without electricity or running water.

"It was hard seeing the suffering, and the impact that year had on me was life-changing. It became clear to me that education was a way to help people to take the best care of themselves, their families, their society - even to save lives."

Hood Gonsalves says that her background in medicine has influenced her teaching style. Instead of memorization, she prefers realistic case studies to help students understand the interrelationships among the body's systems.

"I want students to connect what they are learning and how they will use it in their lives. I hope I can inspire my students to love to learn - not to think that sitting in a classroom and passing exams is the end, but the beginning of truly learning. When students tell me that they have connected something they learned in class and something outside of class, that's really the best."

In addition to human nutrition, Hood Gonsalves teaches anatomy and physiology. She designed, implemented and served as director of COCC's Dietary Management Program for 11 years. She has also served on numerous college committees. At Bend Memorial Clinic, she maintained a private practice as a nutrition therapist from 1979 to 2001. Her interest in improving learning motivated her to earn a doctorate in educational leadership two years ago, based on her own research about how students can improve their learning.

This will be the last science presentation put on by the Sisters Science Club for this season.