More than just going on a diet Published March 16, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Jessica McConnell Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- People go to her when they have a hard time losing weight. Others meet with her when they can't seem to gain any weight. People also seek her help with nutrition when they are diagnosed with a disease or other ailment. Most important, she's available to help with the concerns and frustrations so many people face when dealing with food. Whether it's as simple as not knowing what to eat or as difficult as a life threatening condition, she has the knowledge, experience and enthusiasm it takes to assist Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen in meeting their goal. Sandra Horob is the new health promotion registered dietitian at the Health and Wellness Center here. When she meets clients, she greets them with a smile and an eagerness to help. And through her interaction with clients, one could see she loves her job. A native of North Dakota, Ms. Horob graduated from North Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science in dietetics. She went on to get her Master in Education from Lesley University in Massachusetts. With more than 30 years of experience under her belt, she's excited to finally serve servicemembers and their families in the health promotion field. "I haven't been able to devote my time to wellness and health promotion," she said. "Before, I was working in disease management. While that was more focused on working with sick people, this is focused on working with well people." Her willingness to help others is what drives her to continue working in this career field. "This is a very fulfilling job," she said. "Getting to meet and help others is why I love this job." Some of the services she provides include individual consultations and appointments, medical nutrition therapy and referrals. Aside from providing these mainstay services, she is motivated to be proactive in the base community, rather than waiting for people to come to her. "I plan on conducting classes for agencies around base, such as the enlisted and officers' spouses clubs," Ms. Horob said. "I will also conduct commissary tours during the work week." She explained these commissary tours are a way to educate people on how to make good food purchasing choices. "We go through the commissary and look at different products shoppers would normally buy," she said. "The tour is tailored to what they eat. If they pick something considered unhealthy, I would then show them a good alternative." Also in the works is a program geared towards on-base gardening. "I'm looking at working with the Youth Center in getting young kids involved in gardening," she said. "Teaching kids how to eat right early in life is key to setting them up for a healthy lifestyle. Parents would also be able to cook healthy meals with their children from the food the children grew in the garden." With all of these programs in place for the community, Ms. Horob also wants to highlight an important asset at the HAWC: the Bod Pod. "The Bod Pod uses whole body densitometry to estimate an individual's fat and lean body mass, the resting metabolic rate and total energy expenditure," she said. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, and the state of the art equipment available to work with, Ms. Horob said she is excited to be here and ready to help. To schedule an appointment, call Ms. Horob at the HAWC at 723-2990.