Ravin’s Journey: Finding Community and Empowering Inclusive Nutrition Care
Ravin Garrett, Future RDN
“The connections I’ve built through DD are more than just short-term networking—they’ve become lasting relationships. That’s why I’m so glad I decided to be part of this community.”
In the world of nutrition and dietetics, the journey to success is often shaped by the communities we build and the support we receive along the way. For Ravin, a passionate aspiring dietitian, joining the Diversify Dietetics (DD) community has been a transformative experience. Through mentorship, networking, and resources, Ravin has gained the skills and confidence needed to pursue her goals and advocate for more culturally inclusive care in the field.
In this post, Ravin shares her story of growth, the importance of building meaningful connections, and her vision for reshaping nutrition care to better meet the diverse needs of our communities.
Q: We’re so grateful to have you as part of the DD community, can you share what Diversify Dietetics Programs you participated in/ how you’ve engaged with DD?
I’m part of other groups within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), but I found DD while exploring different organizations that could support my professional development. During my search, I came across DD and saw they were hosting a conference that year. I was immediately excited and decided to attend.
Last year, I also participated in DD’s mentorship program, which was incredibly beneficial. It helped me develop key skills like resume building and made me stand out as I prepared for my dietetic internship. Overall, DD has been amazing. One of the biggest reasons I joined was the opportunity to meet so many supportive people who continue to guide me on my journey. The connections I’ve built through DD are more than just short-term networking—they’ve become lasting relationships. That’s why I’m so glad I decided to be part of this community.
Q: Why did (or why do) you want to become a nutrition professional (registered dietitian, registered dietetic technician, etc)?
I was initially a nursing major, but I took an Intro to Nutrition class one year and fell in love with nutrition, and decided to change my major to nutrition and dietetics. From there, I completed my DPD at Texas Southern University in Houston. Upon graduation, I decided to work in the field first before completing my dietetic internship (DI). I was a formula room tech for a few years at Texas Children's Hospital. In that role, I gained experience working with other diet techs and different dietitians in the NICU, with a metabolic and ketogenic focus. This role gave me experience which helped me get accepted into my DI.
Afterwards, I found the ACU program which has a nutrition and poverty focus in community settings, and I fell in love with that as well. We talked a lot about culture and cultural inclusion. In terms of what I would like to do now, I am kind of open to everything. But, I do have interests in working in community settings, public policy, food is medicine, teaching kitchens, and/or Food Rx.
Q: Is there a person or group or activity/event you’ve been able to get connected to thanks to DD - what has that looked like and how has it impacted your personal or professional growth?
To this day, I still reference the DD Summit. It provides so many different ways that we can provide patient care or care at a community level from a nutrition perspective. It’s been very beneficial to be able to go back and reference various sessions via the Summit recordings.
I haven't even started my DI yet but I’ve shared various sessions in our discussion boards, and it's been beneficial for other people that did not attend the DD Summit. I learned so much within those few days [at the DD Summit] that really changed my outlook on dietetics and made me more culturally aware of patient care or how to look at various situations.
Q: How did you feel after finding the DD community? Did anything change once you got connected with DD?
I had signed up for DD before but didn’t take full advantage of it at first. This time around, I knew people who were already part of the community, and they encouraged me to get involved. They told me, “Ravin, this is beneficial—make the most of it.” So I did, and it made a big difference.
Through DD, I was able to meet so many supportive individuals who genuinely want to see you succeed. Being in that environment completely changed my outlook. Even now, if I reach out to someone with a question, they’ll respond right away and provide the help I need. Initially, I felt a little nervous coming in, but now I truly feel like I’m part of the community. It’s been such a rewarding experience.
Q: Do you have any advice to share for others who may be struggling on this journey?
I would say number one, look out for your mental health on this journey. If I'm feeling a certain way, or if I feel that I'm shutting down, I get myself together by taking a bath, soaking in the tub, or just give myself a few minutes to relax at the end of the night. I prioritize self-care and putting my phone down instead of getting on Instagram and scrolling or something. I know I’m going to use a lot of brain power the next day. So I make sure that I'm putting my brain power into what I need to rejuvenate, versus draining myself. My teacher tells me, “Ravin, when you're done, go home and go to sleep.”
Q: What would the field of nutrition & dietetics look like if we were to reshape it?
If I were to reshape the field, I’d start by moving away from the idea of a “standard” plate because that’s not representative of everyone’s reality. Nutrition care needs to be more culturally inclusive and truly individualized. While we often say care is personalized, in practice, that’s not always the case. For example, in clinical settings, we see situations where care could be more tailored, but systemic changes aren’t happening fast enough to push this forward.
Another crucial area is addressing hunger and food insecurity. The debt-to-income ratio in the U.S. doesn’t align with the cost of living, and programs like food stamps haven’t been adjusted to reflect inflation. A lot of people are falling through the cracks. We need policies and legislation that address these gaps to create real change. Focusing on these areas—culturally inclusive care and systemic hunger issues—would make a significant difference in the field.