Community Dietitian Receives Award for Community Work

The University of Illinois Extension Lake County Unit has awarded Toby Smithson, the Lake County Health Department's Community Dietitian, with the Hall of Fame award for community partnership in food and nutrition education.

Smithson, a resident of Vernon Hills, received the award during an awards ceremony last week. She has partnered with the University of Illinois Extension for many years. That partnership included supporting a group called C.H.A.N.G.E. that reached out to the community to deliver research information on nutrition. It included collaboration with Extension staff, the Lake County Health Department, school nurses, local grocery store dietitians and other community members.

For the past 21 years, Toby has worked as the community dietitian with the Health Department with responsibilities that include educating consumers about healthy eating and active living through a media venue. Currently, Toby is involved with the Physical Education Program grant for eight elementary schools in Waukegan. She is an active team member helping to improve the health in over 4,000 students.

Along with being a registered and certified diabetes educator, she is also a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.