All Dietitians

Sugarless Heart Cookies by MaryJo from Minnesota

Sugarless Heart Cookies will satisfy that sweet tooth and show someone you care. Because they’re sugarless, people with diabetics can enjoy them, too.

MaryJo from Minnesota had no idea she would become a renal dietitian. She says she “drew the short straw” while attending the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota and found herself “stuck” with a renal rotation. Fortunately, MaryJo reports, “I ended up loving renal disease and pursued a position in this area.” She’s been a DaVita dietitian for 10 years.

Mary Jo describes her approach to working with patients as, “empowering them to be in control and to take responsibility for what they eat and drink. They need to do it for themselves, and no one else. If they drink too much, they will feel the effects, not the dialysis staff. The most important things patients can do to improve their health are to follow the diet and take medications correctly.”

MaryJo says the most rewarding aspect of her job is when someone who has been avoiding dialysis admits how much better they feel after starting treatment. The challenging aspect of her job is, “trying to make people understand that they can be in control of their diet and lab results, and that they will feel better if they do so. Also, I try to teach that the dietitian is not the ‘food police.’ My purpose is to help them better understand the rationale for the diet and fluid restriction and let them know they will feel better if they follow both.”

MaryJo states that her patients and her teammates are the number one reasons she enjoys her job. She also appreciates that she drives the opposite way of traffic every morning and her center is close to her home.

You’ll appreciate MaryJo’s mouthwatering Sugarless Heart Cookies. A special treat for Valentine’s Day or any day.

Recipe

• Sugarless Heart Cookies