Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Extension
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1571
Healthy Heart Beats
January-March 2007
Vol 28, Issue 1
Spotlight
Edie McSherry
Edie McSherry grew up in Massachusetts and first moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, in 1985 where she earned a B.S. degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Colorado State University. Edie held a position as a nutrition educator in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Food program in Fort Collins for several years. In 1997 she moved to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, when her husband took a position with the National Marine Fisheries Service. For five years Edie served as senior nutritionist for the Cape Cod WIC program and regularly traveled to the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard to conduct clinics. Edie completed the Lactation Counselor certificate program at The Breastfeeding Center in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
When an opportunity arose to return to Colorado, Edie's family was excited to return to Fort Collins. In January 2003 Edie began working part-time for Colorado State University Extension in Larimer County as an Extension agent coordinating the Rx: Health Program. Rx: Health was a 3-year Colorado Trust Healthy People 2010 grant initiative that focused on obesity prevention through increased physical activity and improved nutrition. Rx: Health program participants were encouraged to increase their daily physical activity by walking and monitoring total daily steps using pedometers.
In January 2005 Edie added conducting safe food handler classes to her Larimer County Extension responsibilities. When the Rx: Health grant ended in August 2005, Edie had the opportunity to remain with Larimer County Extension as a Consumer and Family Science agent concentrating on food safety and health promotion. Edie has expanded safe food handler classes and regularly conducts Food Safety Works trainings throughout the county for food service workers in retail establishments and food bank agencies. Edie assumed responsibility for the Master Food Safety Advisor Volunteer Program and this year certified five new volunteers in Larimer County. In addition to assisting consumers with safe food preparation and preservation questions, Edie has conducted numerous presentations and workshops in the community.
In November 2005 Edie was certified to instruct the StrongWomen strength training program and has been offering classes for Larimer County employees for the past year. She is one of the first StrongWomen instructors to conduct work-site StrongWomen classes. Due to the popularity of the program, there is a waiting list for both a lunch-time class and after-work class that meet twice each week. Edie is excited to see the women in her classes progress and learn the value of strength training to reduce the risk for osteoporosis and maintain muscle mass as they age. Additionally, Edie is involved in community health promotion as a member of the Larimer County Wellness Committee and the Fort Collins area Coalition for Activity and Nutrition to Defeat Obesity (CanDo).
Edie is married to Mike McSherry and they have two grown children. She enjoys cooking, reading, hiking and traveling.
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