(Updated: 2/5/09)
When I was an undergraduate student majoring in nutrition, I began writing a weekly health column in my college newspaper. Writing about nutrition became such a passion of mine that I created the Nutrition and Fitness Writer's Association (NAFWA). There was no such association for nutrition and fitness writers at the time so I decided to create one. This was all before the web 2.0 explosion.

As I started to develop NAFWA, I soon realized that my true underlying passion was (and always will be) helping everyone interested in nutrition--students, dietitians, educators, researchers--not just writers. Since I have a wide range of interests besides writing, the Nutrition and Fitness Writer's Association was changed to the Nutrition and Food Web Archive. This opened up a whole new window of opportunity.

After changing NAFWA's focus, site development slowed down because of my busy school and work schedule. With money being tight, I was forced to limit book purchases and turn to the web for learning. It turned out to be a good thing. I found myself using the web more than any of the books I purchased for research and studying. While doing this though, I found that most websites failed to go to the depth that I needed, or those that did charged a service fee.

As my 'research' skills improved I began building an online collection of helpful, and FREE, material to share with others; mainly classmates and dietetic interns. We would share presentations, documents, useful resources, and collaborate on projects. My dream for NAFWA was understood and appreciated from the small group that learned to love it.

Starting as a small internal network site, NAFWA has blossomed into a significant high-traffic resource on the web. Hours, upon hours have been spent to provide up-to-date information, presentations, documents, and more to nutrition professionals, dietitians, and students. There are close to 40,000 links in almost 4,000 directory categories, free documents and scripts (including Calorie Queen), games, blog, movies, forum, clinical calculators...well you get the idea.

This was all done by someone who enjoys helping others. Today I am the Director of Nutrition in a community health center consulting patients and leading a fitness program called Heart and Sole. I also continue developing NAFWA and do web development for a list of clientele. Hard work pays off!

Please enjoy your stay at NAFWA and be sure to take your time going through the website. I use it everyday, but I know how to find what I need (I built it ;). If there is something you cannot find, please send me an email and I will do my best to make it happen.

Be Healthy,

Christopher Theberge, RD, LDN


          2008/2009

Please stay tuned for NAFWA 2.0 coming late in 2009.


Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something special in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

~ Christian D Larson
Your Forces and How to Use Them 1912

 

 

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