Understanding the Puerto Rican diet: food and culture

Presented by: 

Karla Merced-Fraguada, RDN, LDN

Date & time: 
Thursday, November 17, 2022 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Location: 

Virtual (Zoom)

About the Speaker:Karla Merced-Fraguada is a bilingual registered dietitian with more than ten years of healthcare and community leadership experience. Currently, Karla works as a Clinical Inpatient Dietitian II at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico in 2008 and completed her internship at the Department of Public Health in 2011. Karla is licensed to practice dietetics in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico. She is a former Director of the WIC Program in Springfield, where she worked for almost 9 years, and with her leadership the program became one of the top five in the state of Massachusetts. She has been a member of the Academy since she was a student and is a firm believer that proper nutrition interventions can positively improve health outcomes. Above all else, Karla enjoys providing nutrition education that empowers patients to make knowledgeable and positive choices about their health.

Puerto Rican cuisine is a reflection of the island’s history and the various cultures. The “cocina criolla”, or native cooking, is a blend of indigenous, Spanish, African, Mexican, and North American influences. For the most part, Puerto Rican food is pretty healthy, featuring lots of delicious tropical fruits along with plentiful fresh seafood. As with any national or regional cuisine, however, there are a few nutritional pitfalls to watch out for. Come and learn about Puerto Rican culture and its traditional foods and dishes.

Program Objectives:

  • Define “cocina criolla”
  • Better understand the Puerto Rican culture
  • Know 3 main food items that Puerto Ricans often incorporate in their daily diet
  • Identify the popular and traditional Puerto Rican foods
  • *2 RD CEU’s for attending*

    Location: Virtual (Zoom)

    Cost of Event: WAMDA Members $10, Non-Members $15, Students/Interns Free (Students/Interns -- RSVP via email only)

    Cash or Check payable to:
    WAMDA c/o Program Planning Committee
    PO Box 934
    West Springfield, MA 01090

    OR, pay via PayPal:

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