Happy birthday! The older I get, the faster the time seems to go. It is hard to believe that is has been about a year since Eat Fit Health was launched and wow what a year it has been! We just got back from a much needed family vacation at Ocean City, Maryland. 
Growing up in Maryland, I love heading “home” to the beach. Vacation is a time to rest, recharge, reflect and spend quality time with family and friends. So, I thought it would be a great time to reflect on Eat Fit Health’s first year.
Starting and running your own business is not the easiest thing to do, but it is fun, exciting, educational and rewarding. As an alumni of Drexel University, a renowned cooperative education school in Philadelphia, I was taught early on that you learn by doing or “learn by DUing” (why don’t they use this anymore it is great?). I have small business plan and many of the details of running a business I had researched and planned, but there are always unexpected things that you encounter and new opportunities. One aspect that is hard to calculate in the planning period is how much time is spent that is considered in the business world, “non-billable”. This is all of the time spent networking, updating the website, writing and editing blog posts, answering emails and phone calls, doing medical documentation, completing continuing eduction, marketing, mentoring students, researching and more.
Ten highlights of this past year for Eat Fit Health include:
- Seeing improved health for my nutrition and health coaching clients
- Getting new clients referred from current clients that have been happy with their services, testimonial page on my to do list
- Becoming a credentialed network provider for Independence Blue Cross and learning how to bill insurance
- Working with many corporate clients to bring health and wellness activities to the work place from lunch and learn seminars, health fairs, comprehensive programs and more
- Helping those with pre-diabetes and diabetes take control of their health, taught 30 diabetes self-management courses in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania for ABC Diabetes, worked with many clients in my office to provide 1-on-1 help, and provided grocery store tours to help clients make healthier choices where they shop
- Receiving the Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (FAND) distinction
- Mentoring six graduate students from Drexel University’s MS in Human Nutrition program in route to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists; four past interns now onto their next stage and two current interns
- Expanding the resource section of the website which include resource pages for Food Allergy & Intolerance, Thyroid , and Various topics
- Teaching at Drexel University for the 2014 Winter Quarter, taught the graduate course in Medical Nutrition Therapy II
- Publishing 30 blog posts with 8 different contributors
My daughter, not the correct way to measure!
I have grown personally and professionally over the past year learning new skills and meeting new people. One thing I am passionate about is life long learning and education. I have attended conferences and completed many continuing education programs over this past year, well beyond the minimum requirement to maintain my credentials. Continued professional growth is always a goal of mine and I have set some new professional goals for the next year.
Remember I am a network provider for Independence Blue Cross which means 6 nutrition visits in 12 months (benefit period) with no out of pocket cost to you, as always check with your plan for eligibility and benefits by calling the number on the back of your health insurance card.
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Let’s make it a great year ahead together!
Castillo de Chapultepec
Be Well,
Lori Enriquez,
MPH, RDN, LDN, CHES, FAND