Meet Kara Sample, RDN, SNS | Assistant Director of Nutrition & Wellness Services

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kara Sample, RDN, SNS and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kara, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
As a school nutrition professional, I am very lucky in terms of work life balance in two particular ways. First off, our ‘business’ operates only five days a week with weekends, evenings and holidays off. Additionally, in my position, I also get the amazing opportunity to oversee our student and staff wellness team. Combined, these two perks allow me the chance to maximize my work life balance to ensure that I have optimal time with my family and the ability to take care of myself in terms of physical, mental, social and emotional wellness.

Over the course of my career, my work life balance has certainly changed. Specifically, as I have grown and developed in my career, I have also taken on more responsibility. Thankfully, this growth has happened gradually and has allowed me to continuously adjust my work life balance. Also of particular note, eight years ago my husband and I welcomed our one and only daughter. She is the greatest blessing in our lives, but also created the most significant shift related to my work life balance. Eight years later, I am still working to dedicate more quality time to my daughter and husband. I will always be a work in progress!

Ultimately, during my 42 years on earth, I have learned that I highly benefit for carving out time for exercise and time alone. I strive for that each and every day.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
In my career, I get the opportunity to serve as the Assistant Director of Nutrition & Wellness Services for Greeley-Evans School District 6. In this role I have the chance to provide nourishment and healthy environments for 23,000 students and 2,500 staff members.

Often, school nutrition programs are met with negative connotations related to poor presentation, quality and taste. Here in Greeley, we are so very proud of our made-from-scratch meals and our robust local purchasing program. Our students are lucky enough to enjoy homemade menu items such as: hand rolled breakfast burritos with local green chili sauce, made-from-scratch lasagna with a red sauce chock full of nutrient rich vegetables and much, much more.

Beyond meals, our students are exposed to wellness programs including: Culinary Classroom, non-food rewards, school gardens and more. Our staff members also enjoy wellness programs throughout the year focused on physical activity, healthy eating, mental health, financial stability and-so-on.

My career journey was somewhat unexpected. Halfway through my college education, I fell in love with the culinary arts. Rather than transitioning to culinary school, my parents encouraged me to stay the course and gain my Bachelor’s degree. After graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition, I completed a Dietetic Internship in La Jolla, CA. When I returned to CO, I ‘accidentally’ got the first job I applied for and started my career as an Administrative Dietitian for School District 11 in Colorado Springs. What I have learned along the way since then is that I was certainly meant to land a career in school nutrition and wellness. Every day that I get to feed kids is more rewarding that I can explain!

I want the world to know that school meals are hugely important for student success and academic achievement. Food is like fuel for the brain. At School District 6 in Greeley, focus on the highest quality, whole and local ‘fuel’ is put first and foremost. And, just like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we believe that you must focus on a child’s basic needs to ensure their accomplishment in the classroom.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a lazy weekend to spend in Greeley, this is what I would do…

On Saturday, I would start my day at Aunt Helen’s Coffee Shop with a pastry and the most amazing coffee ever. Then I would take my eight year old daughter to the Colorado Railroad Museum for some learn and fun engagement with history. Then we would hit Luna’s Tacos and Tequila and enjoy some street tacos for lunch. After that, we would head to Tower 56 Distilling for a cocktail (just the adults, not the eight year old!). Finally, we would head to The Greeley Chophouse for dinner (their cedar plank salmon is my favorite!).

Sunday morning, we would start the day will a walk on the Poudre River Trail. Then we would head to Pope Farms Produce and Garden Center to pick up some local produce and products to dine on for the remainder of the week. Next, we would head home for a Sunday afternoon nap.

That would be the perfect weekend in Greeley!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My boss, Danielle Bock, is an amazing inspiration in my life and career and I am so lucky to have her as a mentor and friend. She is a fantastic leader and innovator and encourages me to be a strong and successful human being every day. I would certainly not be the person or the nutrition and wellness professional that I am today if I had not been graced by her presence.

Website: https://www.greeleyschools.org/Domain/817

Facebook: Greeley-Evans District 6 Nutrition Services