Christine Palumbo

Speaker | Writer | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

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September 4, 2022

Shared Commitment: Sustainable Food Production Practices

I jumped at the chance to see for myself how soybean farmers practice sustainable farming when I was invited to “Gather Around the Table” held at OC Farms in Kankakee County last month. OC Farms is a working soybean farm owned by Jeff O’Connor and his wife, Gina.

During the tour, we were reminded of some basic facts about soybean farming:

  • There are 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois.
  • Illinois is the number one soybean producer in the country.
  • 98 percent of farms are owned by families.

Dinner Is Served

Talk about “farm to table,” we were served a delectable four course dinner that evening under a tent. The menu items were prepared with sustainably-produced plenish® high oleic soybean oil and fresh honey from the farm.

After nibbling on hors d’oeuvres while enjoying cocktails, we were seated and served a seasonal Caprese Salad along with a Delightful Tempeh Salad.

 

The “duet” entrée consisted of Grilled Prime Beef Tenderloin that had been marinated in shoyu, and with miso butter, and a Tuscan Turkey Roulade. A delectable Baby Vegetable Bundle was also on the plate.

Afterwards, we were served a trio of desserts including a scrumptious Chocolate Tofu Pot de Crème.

And yes, I felt stuffed!

Reducing Negative Environmental Impact

During the dinner and subsequent tour of the farm, we learned….

  • Planting cover crops help to protect the soil and also sequesters more carbon. In the spring, the rich organic matter they contain are recycled back into the soil, thus reducing the need for fertilizer.
  • Creating biodiesel from soybeans into fuel for farm equipment helps to reduce carbon emissions.
  • Over the last 22 years, more than half a million acres of farmland have been converted back to wetlands.
  • All these practices have reduced land use impacts, total greenhouse gas emissions and soil erosion, plus boosted energy use efficiency.

Other industry representatives were there from Corteva Agriscience, Mayasari Tempeh and the National Turkey Federation. Each speaker wove in the role of soybeans in meeting consumer functional food and sustainability demands. I was interested to learn that the increased demand for protein in the American diet is being met by including soy protein in many popular consumer products.

In addition, attendees received a gift box of steaks and burgers from soy-fed Hoosier Steaks . My husband and I truly enjoyed eating them and hope to order from them when we need a special gift for someone!

One other cool note: President Joe Biden visited OC Farms in May of this year with a mere five days’ notice. When I have guests arriving in a few days, I know what a flutter of activity that takes place to get everything ready. I can’t imagine how it must have felt for the O’Connor Family to prepare for a visit from the President of the United States, the Secret Service and whatever it takes to bring him here!

In sum, soybeans have a significant role in meeting consumer demands for both sustainability and functional food.

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Christine M. Palumbo, MBA, RDN, FAND


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Speaking Client List

Over 400 presentations, including several keynotes (partial list):

Corporate:

  • AAR Corporation
  • Abrasive Technologies
  • Ace Hardware Corporate Headquarters
  • Acres Enterprises
  • Advanced Urology Associates
  • Ambrosi Corp.
  • American Association of Endodontists
  • American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
  • American Board of Pediatric Dentists
  • American Hotel Register
  • American Service Insurance
  • Arlington Automotive Services
  • Aquion
  • Associated Agencies
  • Associated Integrated Supply Chain Solutions
  • Baker Tilly Virchow Krause
  • Barilla USA
  • Benet Academy
  • Berry Health Benefits Symposium
  • Blue Plate Catering
  • BP/ Amoco
  • Canopy Realtors
  • Carol Stream Fire Department
  • CBS Radio’s Spring into Shape Expo
  • Chapman and Cutler LLP
  • Chicago Dental Society
  • Chicago Dental Society-West Suburban Region
  • Chicago Heart Association
  • Club of Indian Women
  • Countryside Associates
  • Crown Media/Hallmark Channel
  • Discover Card Services
  • Dominick’s Finer Foods
  • DuPage County Police Chiefs’ Secretaries Association
  • Entertainment Cruises
  • EPKO
  • Family Festival of Surprises
  • Farm Foundation
  • Farmers Insurance Exchanges
  • Feeding America
  • Food Executive Women
  • Fox River Foods
  • Freedman Andelmo Lindberg
  • Girl Scouts of Fox Valley Council
  • Harbortown
  • Healthy Living Summit
  • Heartland Spa
  • Home Run Inn Pizza Corporate Headquarters
  • Horizon Publishing
  • HSBC Finance Corporation
  • Illinois Alliance for the Aging
  • Illinois Probation and Court Services Association
  • Ingredion
  • International Truck and Engine Corp.
  • INX International Ink
  • JPMC
  • Kellogg’s Marketing and Innovations Group
  • Lanco International
  • Land of Lincoln Soybean Association
  • Lawson Products
  • Lucent Technologies
  • Meeker-Magner Company
  • Mobil Oil
  • Moneris Solutions
  • Museum of Science & Industry
  • MultiPlan, Inc.
  • Naperville School District #203
  • Naperville Women’s Forum
  • National Association of REALTORS
  • National Lead Information Center
  • Navistar
  • NBC5 Health & Fitness Expo
  • NB Coatings
  • Near North Health Service Corporation
  • Nestle
  • Network Services Inc.
  • Norkol Converting
  • Northern Illinois University Graduate Colloquium
  • Northwestern University
  • Odontographic Society of Chicago
  • OptumHealth Care Solutions
  • OSG Tap & Die
  • Palos Community Hospital 30th Anniversary Keynote
  • Pangere Corporation
  • Parksite Inc.
  • Pekin Insurance
  • Perkins + Will
  • Radiological Society of North America
  • Rail Europe
  • Realtick
  • River Glen Church
  • Rippinger Financial Group
  • Rush-Copley Medical Center
  • Saint Catherine University Alumnae Association
  • School District U-46
  • SEKO
  • Sidley Brown Austin & Wood Law
  • Sigma Foods
  • Smithfield Foods
  • Southlake Auto Mall
  • Spartan Stores
  • Sunset Foods
  • Sysco/Continental-Keil Food Show
  • Taste of Colorado
  • TD Bank
  • The Nova Network
  • The Wooden Door Spa
  • Tishman Speyer
  • True Value Company
  • Ukrops Pharmacy Managers
  • Unilever Food Solutions
  • United Healthcare
  • USDA – FSIS
  • Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network
  • U.S. Bank
  • U.S. Soy Symposium
  • Vitas Healthcare Corporation
  • WellCare
  • West Suburban Dental Hygienists Society
  • Wheaton College
  • YMCA of the USA
  • Zurich North America

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its affiliates:

  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Arkansas Dietetic Association
  • Dietitians in Business and Communications
  • California Dietetic Association
  • Central Illinois Dietetic Association
  • Dietitians of West Michigan
  • Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Hines VA Dietetic Internship
  • Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Indiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Ingalls Hospital Dietetic Internship
  • Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • New Mexico Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • New York Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Chicago Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • North Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Oklahoma Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • South Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Tennessee Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • West Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Corporate Consulting List

  • A Fresh Look
  • AHA Marketing
  • Bimbo Bakeries USA
  • California Raisin Marketing Board
  • California Walnut Commission
  • Cargill
  • Cyberdiet.com
  • Dairy Management Inc.
  • Eastside Cafe Pizza Manufacturers
  • Edelman
  • Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association
  • Food Marketing Support Services
  • Fox Metro Water Reclamation District
  • Fran’s Healthy Helpings
  • Golin Harris
  • Integer Group
  • Jokari Healthy Steps
  • Market Day
  • Marina Maher Communications
  • McDonald’s
  • Mongolian Barbecue Restaurant
  • Naperville YMCA
  • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
  • National Cheese Institute
  • Northwestern Hospital
  • Old London Melba Toast
  • Popchips
  • Popcorn Institute
  • Publicis Dialogue
  • Quaker Oats Health Institute Speakers Network
  • Red Robin Restaurants
  • Sara Lee
  • Smithfield Foods, Inc.
  • Smuckers
  • Suntory Water Group/Hinckley Springs
  • SuperTarget
  • Tishman-Speyer
  • United Healthcare
  • United States Potato Board
  • Vegetarian Times magazine
  • Weber Shandwick
  • Weight Watchers
  • Welch’s

Spokesperson Client List

  • American Egg Board
  • American Plastics Council (Food Safety)
  • Bimbo Bakeries (Arnold/Oroweat/Brownberry)
  • Boca Foods
  • California Raisin Marketing Board
  • Campbell’s Select Harvest Soups
  • Dean Foods
  • Dominick’s (Safeway)
  • Driscoll’s
  • Florida Department of Citrus
  • Giovanni Rana
  • Kellogg’s
  • Kraft Cheese
  • Lifeway Foods
  • Louis Rich Fat Free Turkey
  • McCain Foods
  • Mead Johnson
  • Michigan Cherries
  • Milk Processor Education Program
  • National Turkey Federation
  • Nature Well natural beef
  • Popchips
  • Quaker Oats
  • Sargento Foods
  • SuperTarget
  • United States Soybean Board
  • Welch’s
  • Wrigley Healthcare
  • ZESPRI Kiwifruit
Speaking

Cutting-edge nutrition that’s easy to understand

Topics for Groups

•  Making Positive Changes That Stick: Five Steps to Moving Out of That Cycle You’re Stuck In
• Supermarket Smarts: Avoid Food Marketers’ Tricks and Traps
• Anti-Stress Eating
• Cut the Fad Out of Diets: Select the Best Plan for You
• Defensive Dining: How to Eat Out & Keep Your Waistline
• Foods You Think Are Healthy….That Really Aren’t
• Forever Young: What You Can (& Can’t) Do To Slow the Aging Process
• How to Energize Your Life
• Is Your Job Making You Fat/Diet Wreckers in Your Desk
• Meal Solutions for Busy People
• Power Foods for Heart Health
• The Healthy Refrigerator: Stock Yours to Guarantee Nutritious Eating
• Top Five Nutrition Myths for Kids
• Top Ten Nutrition Strategies for Better Health

Specifically for Health Professionals
• Becoming an Expert Communicator: Making Communications Concise, Clear and Compelling
• Image 2020: What You Need for Professional Success
• Making Connections: Relationship Building for Career Success
• Engaging Readers: Nutrition Writing that Shines
• Keeping Current: Make Today’s Nutrition and Food Trends Work for You
• If the Media Calls: Are You Ready?

Corporate Consuling
Christine consults with public relations firms, food companies, restaurants, and not-for-profits.

She is available for:
• Developing nutrition education materials
• Spokesperson
• Exhibiting at professional meetings
• Writing/Marketing/PR
• Partnering with you on special projects
• Ideation sessions

Past clients
Over 500 presentations including Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and many of its affiliates, AAR Corporation,  Ace Hardware Corporate Headquarters, American Association of Endodontists, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, American Board of Pediatric Dentists, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, Barilla USA, Berry Health Benefits Symposium, BP/ Amoco, Chicago Dental Society, Crown Media/Hallmark Channel, Discover Card Services, Entertainment Cruises, Feeding America, International Truck and Engine Corp., Kellogg’s Marketing and Innovations Group, Lucent Technologies, Mobil Oil, National Association of REALTORS, Navistar, Radiological Society of North America, Unilever Food Solutions, United Healthcare, U.S. Bank, Women’s Athletic Club of Chicago, YMCA of the USA, Zurich North America.
Full list available upon request.

Nutrient Analysis
Analyze recipes for nutrient values:
• Accurate
• Quick turnaround

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