ON THE JOB with Dining Services

The Bulletin sat down with Stephanie Ewing, Dining Services Nutritionist.

What do people think you do?

When people hear the word dietician they generally tend to think that I’m responsible for creating and maintaining the menus for all the dining facilities on campus.

What do you really do?

There are three main facets of my responsibilities here at Sacramento State. One of my main concerns is that all the food on campus is safe. This includes conducting health inspections for all of the dining outlets on campus and also working with the Sacramento County health inspector. I also actively advise and offer nutritional information for the residence halls on campus. If a resident has a question or concern about his or her nutritional habits I’m the person they can talk to. That leads into the third aspect of my duties, which is counseling. If a student wants to increase their health awareness, that student can come in and we can set up a meal plan to fit their needs. Eating the right things in moderation is usually what’s best.

Describe your office.

There are two other people who work in the office. One is the business analyst who primarily handles payroll and the budget for the dining services on campus. The other works with the invoicing and general paperwork that comes through the office. It’s pretty laid-back.

What surprises people?

Most students on campus don’t even know that I exist. I’m here for the benefit of the students on campus and it surprises them to know that they have access to this kind of service.

What is your biggest challenge?

Meeting the needs of all the students on campus is definitely the most challenging part of what I do. But my job is made easier because Sacramento State has such a great variety of dining choices. From fine dining to buffets, from Chinese to Italian, the campus offers a surprising range of food, which only benefits the students.

What do you get asked the most?

Just general questions about what and where healthy food is on campus. And again, with the amount of dining services on campus, it’s pretty much everywhere.