Nutrition Services

Ready to make an appointment with a dietician?

Contact Rochelle Sward with questions.

All information shared in individual appointments remains confidential.

Individual nutrition appointments generally consist of an overview of your current nutrition questions, goals, and resources.

Appointments are part of the wellness services available to Luther students, faculty, and staff, and are typically held virtually but in person are also available on campus. They are generally 50 to 60 minutes in length. Any follow-ups are agreed upon and scheduled with the dietitian. Follow-up sessions are typically limited to two to three visits. .

To schedule an individual appointment with the dietitian, please email Rochelle Sward (rochelle.sward@sodexo.com).

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, contact your health-care provider or call the area’s emergency phone number immediately.

Food allergies are an immune system reaction affecting numerous organs of the body. Food allergies are the result of the body mistakenly attacking a food protein. The offending food may trigger the release of histamine, resulting in such symptoms as hives, itching, swelling of the tongue and throat, trouble breathing, wheezing, drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and death. Symptoms may appear within minutes to hours after the person has been exposed to the allergen.

Diagnosis

A skin prick test or the allergen specific IgE antibody test are commonly used to determine if an allergy exists. The skin prick test can be done in a doctor’s office.

Common 8

The eight foods listed in food allergy labeling account for approximately 90 percent of allergic reactions.

• Milk
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (such as cashews, almonds, walnuts)
• Fish
• Shellfish (such as crab, shrimp, lobster)
• Soy
• Wheat

Treatment

At this time the only way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid the offending food. If a product doesn’t have a label, it is best to avoid eating that food. There is no cure for food allergies.

Epinephrine is used to control severe allergic reactions. It is only available by prescription as a self-injectable device.