From the Classroom to the Community: My Internship Experience with K-State Extension

Megan H., Community Health & Wellness Intern

My time as a dietetic intern with the K-State Douglas County Extension has allowed me to experience many different sides of nutrition education and community programming. Throughout my internship, I have applied what I have learned in my graduate nutrition program to real-world situations while working with individuals and groups across the community.

One of the most meaningful parts of my internship has been developing and teaching nutrition education for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities from Cottonwood Inc. I created lessons focused on physical activity, healthy eating, and food safety, while considering how to make nutrition education accessible and engaging for a variety of abilities. This included developing simple handouts, discussion questions, activities, and hands-on cooking and food-prep experiences. I learned how important it is to adapt nutrition education so that information is easy to understand and, most importantly, practical for participants to use in their everyday lives.

I also had the opportunity to teach a Food Is Medicine class with Heartland Community Healthcare, which helped me explore the connection between nutrition and overall health. Through this class, I was able to share practical information about how food can support health and well-being for different chronic conditions while incorporating hands-on learning. Teaching this class showed me how nutrition education can be used as a tool to help individuals make meaningful changes in their daily lives.

Cooking education has been an important part of my internship. These experiences showed me that cooking classes can be much more than simply preparing a recipe. They can provide opportunities to practice independence, learn about balanced meals, build confidence in the kitchen, and make healthy eating feel achievable.

Another important part of my internship has been volunteering weekly at the Heartland Community Health Center Care Cupboard. This experience has allowed me to see firsthand the importance of food access. By helping at the Care Cupboard, I have been able to interact with community members and better understand how access to nutritious food can influence health. This experience reinforced for me that nutrition is not simply about knowing what foods are healthy—it is also about whether individuals have access to those foods and the resources needed to prepare them.

Overall, my internship with the K-State Extension has allowed me to experience many different sides of community nutrition. From teaching cooking and nutrition classes to volunteering at a community food resource, I have gained a deeper understanding of the role nutrition professionals can play in improving community health. I am grateful for the experiences I have gained through the Extension, and I look forward to carrying these lessons into my future career as a registered dietitian!